Pooping in Public

Project Type

Mobile Application

Year

2025

Collaborator

Fortmindz

Tools Used

Figma, Miro

Project Overview

Pooping in Public is a community-driven mobile app designed to help daily commuters and tourists across the USA locate reliable public restrooms during emergencies. By leveraging user-generated data and genuine peer reviews, the platform ensures accessible and trustworthy sanitation solutions through a transparent, crowdsourced network.

Mobile app UI animation showreel for Pooping in Public, featuring map interactions, restroom filters, and community-driven user interface design.

The Opportunity

While digital navigation is ubiquitous, a significant gap exists in providing real-time, verified data regarding the accessibility and hygiene of public sanitation. This creates a critical opportunity to solve the urban "emergency search" dilemma by replacing guesswork with a reliable, community-validated infrastructure.

User Personas

user persona of a daily commuter for pooping in public application's user research

Marcus Chen

Male, 34

Financial Analyst & Daily Train Commuter

Background:

A busy professional living in Jersey City who commutes into Manhattan daily and spends a lot of time walking between client meetings.

Goals:

To find clean, safe, and accessible restrooms quickly without having to purchase a coffee or meal just to use a facility.

Pain Points:

Constantly encounters "Out of Order" signs or restrooms locked behind digital codes available only on purchase receipts.

*To protect participant privacy, names and photos are fictional representations based on real research data.

Marcus Chen

Male, 34

Financial Analyst & Daily Train Commuter

Background:

A busy professional living in Jersey City who commutes into Manhattan daily and spends a lot of time walking between client meetings.

Goals:

To find clean, safe, and accessible restrooms quickly without having to purchase a coffee or meal just to use a facility.

Pain Points:

Constantly encounters "Out of Order" signs or restrooms locked behind digital codes available only on purchase receipts.

*To protect participant privacy, names and photos are fictional representations based on real research data.

Marcus Chen

Male, 34

Financial Analyst & Daily Train Commuter

Background:

A busy professional living in Jersey City who commutes into Manhattan daily and spends a lot of time walking between client meetings.

Goals:

To find clean, safe, and accessible restrooms quickly without having to purchase a coffee or meal just to use a facility.

Pain Points:

Constantly encounters "Out of Order" signs or restrooms locked behind digital codes available only on purchase receipts.

*To protect participant privacy, names and photos are fictional representations based on real research data.

user persona of a traveller for pooping in public application's user research

Sarah Jenkins

Female, 28

Freelance Photographer & Solo Traveler

Background:

Currently on a cross-country road trip exploring major US cities and documenting local street art and culture.

Goals:

To identify community-verified restrooms in unfamiliar neighborhoods that are open late and have high hygiene ratings.

Pain Points:

Struggles with the unreliability of general map apps that often list restrooms in parks that are closed or in sketchy, poorly-lit areas.

*To protect participant privacy, names and photos are fictional representations based on real research data.

Sarah Jenkins

Female, 28

Freelance Photographer & Solo Traveler

Background:

Currently on a cross-country road trip exploring major US cities and documenting local street art and culture.

Goals:

To identify community-verified restrooms in unfamiliar neighborhoods that are open late and have high hygiene ratings.

Pain Points:

Struggles with the unreliability of general map apps that often list restrooms in parks that are closed or in sketchy, poorly-lit areas.

*To protect participant privacy, names and photos are fictional representations based on real research data.

Sarah Jenkins

Female, 28

Freelance Photographer & Solo Traveler

Background:

Currently on a cross-country road trip exploring major US cities and documenting local street art and culture.

Goals:

To identify community-verified restrooms in unfamiliar neighborhoods that are open late and have high hygiene ratings.

Pain Points:

Constantly encounters "Out of Order" signs or restrooms locked behind digital codes available only on purchase receipts.

*To protect participant privacy, names and photos are fictional representations based on real research data.

Research & Insights

Extensive market research reveals that despite digital mapping, commuters and tourists in the USA struggle with inaccessible, locked, or poorly maintained public restrooms. User insights indicate a reliance on private establishments like cafes, highlighting a critical need for a dedicated, community-verified platform that eliminates the "emergency search" uncertainty.

Strategy & Information Architecture

The strategy prioritizes a low-friction, "map-first" architecture that utilizes real-time geolocation and scannable tags to deliver instant restroom data without the barrier of a mandatory login. By integrating QR-code quick reviews and community-driven verification, the design ensures high engagement while maintaining a minimalist interface optimized for high-pressure emergency situations.

Detailed Information Architecture (IA) map for the Pooping in Public app, showing the hierarchical structure and navigation paths for restroom discovery.

Low-fidelity wireframes for the Pooping in Public app, showcasing the initial structural layout of the map and search interface.

Interaction & Visual Design

The visual strategy employs a minimalist, rounded interface and a restricted brand palette to ensure a friendly, high-clarity user experience that remains focused on utility. By pairing the readability of Manrope with quirky micro-copy and a high-energy splash animation, the design maintains a professional balance between functional minimalism and a playful brand identity.

Mobile app splash screen animation for Pooping in Public, featuring a quirky and engaging motion design sequence.

Challenges & Results

The primary challenge involved synthesizing diverse user criteria into a unified, utility-first solution that balances high-speed functionality with community trust. The result is a unique, high-engagement platform that successfully bridges the gap between crowdsourced data and reliable urban navigation for essential public services.