Helped LOCI identify key product opportunities and designed a research playbook for future teams to drive product thinking
Context
LOCI was part of a course project where each team was paired with a first responder client. LOCI transforms safety training into real-world simulations to reduce workplace risk.
They wanted to research their current goals, product, and its shortcomings.
Together with the client and a passionate team of researchers, I reimagined LOCI by designing a detailed research outline and methodology — creating a strong foundation for future deep-dive research at LOCI.
MY ROLE
Lead UX Researcher
TOOLS
Figma, Qualtrics, Otter AI
TAGS
B2B • EMS
DURATION
3 months, Spring 2023
CONTRIBUTION
Stakeholder Interviews
Competitor Analysis
Test Planning
Surveys
Contextual Study
COLLABORATORS
3 UX Researchers
1 UX Designer
Client
LOCI approached us to conduct exploratory UX research to uncover key gaps in their product experience. The goal was to uncover missed opportunities around personalization, accessibility, and scenario design.
Led in-depth research to understand user experiences, identify systemic gaps, and define clear research themes
★ Delivered a research playbook with 3 future exploration tracks → aimed at improving safety, personalization, and accessibility in fire drills
★ Our approach was highly appreciated by the LOCI team, earning 100% client satisfaction and is now being actively integrated into their product development
How research shaped the solution
Approach 1
Clustering
Studying building clusters and its relationship with occupants instead of individual buildings
Approach 2
Personalization
Improving app's experience by personalized features
Approach 3
Accessibility
Catering to the needs of under represented population
CONTEXT
LOCI turns safety training into real-world simulations to reduce workplace risk
1
Get building plans
2
Convert them to 3D
3
Design its training mods
Asynchronous drills
Training modules
Proof of compliance
Real time insights
……?
<- Our focus
Project Expectations
Help them improve efficiency and inclusivity for their platform
Our research focus
University Dorms
PROBLEM
What was broken before we began?
Fire safety drills are inconsistently conducted and often fail to address real user needs. LOCI needed clarity on
what makes a drill effective?
how users experience them?
what factors impact engagement?
RESEARCH GOAL
Research goal
"Conduct exploratory research to uncover core challenges and opportunities, helping LOCI define a user-centered research direction for future development"
RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES
I first studied about what methods would work in this research scope
Literature Review
Understanding the domain
Environmental Breakdown
Working of fire drills
Stakeholder Interview
Solving queries
Competitor Analysis
Understanding market
Contextual Study
Validating Results
LITERATURE RESEARCH
Understanding 0 -> 1 about fire drills
We researched about the factors, influences, impact, of fire drills on people and surroundings.
Crowd following mentality
Accessibility Challenges
Use of exit signages
ENVIRONMENTAL BREAKDOWN
Then AEIOU analysis gave a perfect breakdown - reasoning behind fire drills
1
Study of the structure of the process of conducting the fire drills.
2
Opportunities for scenario construction, info modules, quizzes etc in digital twin
3
Significance of psychological environment, challenging but crucial to stimulate
COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS
I learnt that personalization and accessibility was top priority for major products
Challenge
No direct competitors to compare the business model with.
Solution
Divided the domain in 5 areas and explored the best players
We conducted this analysis in 5 major areas to cover everything
Wayfinding
Retention
Occupancy Management
Compliance
Content Reoccurence
COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS INSIGHTS
Analysis showed personalization is the most important aspect when considering retention, wayfinding and content based product
All products we studied involved a level of personalization and it helped in enhancing user engagement and satisfaction and makes products more relevant increasing loyalty and competitive advantage.
Feedback Assessment
Personalization
Accessibility
STAKEHOLDER INTERVIEW
Interviews with 2 dorm officials revealed differences in the team's work and approach to conducting fire drills for students
Need for Online Platform
Officials agreed with an online platform going hand in hand with offline drills
Present Accessibility Problems
Disables have to wait for trained personnel and pet owners run midway to get their pets
Environmental Factors Impact
Impact of drills due to the social and outdoor environment
Challenges with current practice
Absence of students during drills and lack of motivation to comply with the rules
CONTEXTUAL STUDY
In the end a contextual study was carried out to validate our data collected and develop potential hypothesis to LOCI
6 Participants
University Dorm
1 session was for around 20 mins with quick follow up interview
Our major findings were kind of indirectly related to the previous research
Furnitures were the recalling factor
Exit signs were ambiguous
Not aware about the shortest route
Bringing everything together
🙇♀️
"This research was initial outline user study plan which will build the road for future teams working on this project"
LOCI wanted us to help them identify missing areas and we did!
Project constraints
Does not account for factors like rural vs urban campuses, metropolitan areas and traffic etc
The data collected is limited to IUPUI dormitories and students.
The study excluded use of immersive technology due to initial constraints.
The study does not account for psychological impact of fire drills.
Reflecting my journey
Working on LOCI taught me the real-world etiquette and structure of conducting research thoughtfully and ethically. I had the chance to hear powerful stories from firefighters and dorm officials about evacuations, fire drills, and the emotional weight of real emergencies. One of the most rewarding parts was learning how to structure messy, raw data, organize it meaningfully, and spot hidden patterns that weren’t obvious at first. It deepened my appreciation for the impact of good research and the clarity it brings to complex problems.
