tinkl
Pee in Peace
“The need exists, but nothing's there yet.”
James Woods - coder
Background
Tinkl is a user-friendly app designed to address the needs of transgender individuals by helping them locate gender-neutral or single-stall restrooms throughout Minneapolis, MN, ensuring they can “pee in peace.” The app is expanding its functionality to provide valuable information on additional accessibility features, such as whether restrooms are wheelchair accessible or equipped with infant changing tables. Tinkl is dedicated to fostering a more inclusive and accommodating environment for all.
Role - Researcher, prototyper
Date - October, 2024
Methods - Contextual Evaluations, Primary App Administration Research, Affinity Diagram, Design Critique, Information Architecture Diagram
Tools - Figma, Google Slides, Google Docs
Defining the Problem
According to a survey by the National Center for Transgender Equality, approximately 60% of transgender Americans have reported avoiding public restrooms due to fear of confrontation or harassment. This underscores a significant and pervasive challenge faced by the trans community. Recognizing this need, Tinkl’s coder, James Woods, identified the gap for a discreet restroom locator app that prioritizes safety and inclusivity. Tinkl is actively working to fill this void, providing a vital resource to help transgender individuals navigate public spaces with confidence and dignity.
On average, the United States has only eight public toilets per 100,000 people
Public Toilet Index, (2021 report by the British company QS Bathrooms Supplies)
In 2019, more than 160,000 businesses in the U.S. have a gender-neutral restroom.
Sloan.com
Purpose
The primary objective of my project was to empower Tinkl’s administrative team by developing and prototyping robust features aimed at optimizing their operational workflow. This included designing an intuitive system for the evaluation and approval of new administrator applications and implementing a comprehensive review and verification process for user-submitted photos. As Tinkl scales and its user base expands, establishing streamlined, scalable, and efficient administrative solutions will be critical in maintaining the platform’s integrity, enhancing operational efficiency, and ensuring a seamless experience for both administrators and users.
Iteration and Evaluation
I was tasked with evaluating the performance of the Tinkl application from an administrator’s perspective and providing actionable suggestions for incremental improvements. My approach involved refining existing features and introducing new ones, informed by research findings and user needs. To achieve this, I conducted a comprehensive usability evaluation, identifying key issues related to consistency, visibility, and feedback in the admin’s primary workflows. Additionally, I performed contextual evaluations with current administrators, observing their interactions with the application in its real-world context of use, to ensure that proposed enhancements align with their practical requirements and challenges.
During this process, one of the Tinkl coders highlighted the need for a feature allowing users to apply for administrative positions within the app. To address this requirement, I designed and developed a prototype enabling current administrators to efficiently review, approve, or deny applications. This solution streamlines the onboarding process for new admins, ensuring that the growing needs of the platform can be met effectively.
The coder also expressed interest in a feature allowing users to submit photos of restrooms, enabling others to preview facilities before visiting a new location. To address this concern, I designed and developed a prototype for administrators to efficiently review and approve user-submitted photographs. This feature aims to enhance the app’s usability by providing valuable visual information to users while maintaining quality and appropriateness through administrative oversight.
This video provides a walkthrough of the updates and enhancements made to the Tinkl application, presented from the perspective of a fictional administrator. It demonstrates the newly implemented features, including the streamlined processes for reviewing and approving administrative applications and user-submitted restroom photos, showcasing how these changes improve efficiency and usability for administrators.
Next Steps
Looking ahead, I envision continuing to collaborate closely with the Tinkl admin team to identify additional needs and opportunities for improvement. By conducting comprehensive interviews and usability studies, I could uncover more efficient ways to organize user and restroom data. For instance, as the platform’s popularity grows, it may become essential to implement sorting options, allowing admins to filter information by user, restroom location, or submission date.
Additionally, users might benefit from features like marking restrooms as “favorites” for convenient access or flagging restrooms to avoidbased on personal experiences or community feedback.
Ultimately, Tinkl is a fantastic concept with immense potential, and dedicating time to refining its layout and usability for both users and administrators will ensure it continues to grow as a valuable resource for its community.