SafeBook

iPhone
  • Team

    Janny Gao

    Lina (Jiayu) Wang

    Ruohan Li

  • Instructors

    Daniella Kim, Ph. D

    TA: Lubna Razaq

  • Project

    Created for HCDE 518Cby Team iSPY

  • Year

    Autumn 2025(10 weeks)

Design Question

How might we help young adult travelers feel confident in their privacy throughout the travel process to empower them to act decisively if their privacy is violated?

Project Background

With the advancement of image capturing technology, consent surrounding one’s image has been brought to the forefront. Particularly in private spaces such as public restroom stalls, changing rooms, and travel stays, various privacy violations regarding image capture have been reported. Hidden surveillance in travel stays has become an increasingly common concern, leaving travelers feeling vulnerable. SafeBook was designed as a tool to support travelers—from cautious planners to last-minute bookers—in safeguarding their privacy, encouraging them to feel confident, informed, and safe when choosing where to stay.

The Cautious Traveler

The cautious traveler travels frequently, is experienced with travel routines, plans, and bookings, and they take more precautions toward their personal safety and privacy. The cautious traveler invests a significant amount of time researching and planning the details of their trip, paying more attention to brand reputation and carefully sorting through reviews when considering their booking choices. When visiting a new destination, they carefully investigate all the details of their trip and organize an itinerary, ensuring a well-planned trip with no surprises.

 

The Trusting Optimist

The trusting optimist tends not to sweat the details and waste time on planning, believing that they can figure it out as they go and that the trip will work out in the end. They tend to go with the flow, prioritizing the booking convenience and location proximity to transport over the potential risks of safety and privacy during their stay.

 

 

 

SafeBook

Our project empowers people to safeguard their privacy from the very first step—choosing where to book. We created SafeBook, a browser extension that filters booking sites to show only verified, surveillance-free properties, complete with privacy inspection reports, incident history, and privacy scores. SafeBook integrates seamlessly into traveler’s existing booking flow, making privacy transparent, accessible, and effortless. 

Try our Protptype!

Design Solution

A browser extension that filters surveillance free verified stays for travelers.
  • Surveillance -Free tags and filters
  • Safety Risks & Verification Reports

    No Risk

    Low Risk

    High Risk

  • A corresponding SafeBook mode for mobile booking apps

The Design Should...

  • Be Built on User Consent

    Consent should be easily understood and can be easily withdrawn.

  • Be Transparent

    Design is transparent, simple, and straightforward about functions: no unnecessary features or steps, no extra knowledge required.

  • Not Disturb User Flow

    Design can be easily integrated into travelers' original travel routines.

Personas

  • Travelers

    Seeking reassurance that their private moments are secure when visiting unfamiliar spaces

  • Hosts

    Aim to maintain guest’s trust while comply with privacy regulations while maintaining property security.

  • Booking Platforms

    Serving as mediators to reinforce privacy policies and protect user trust

Overview

User Research

Iterations

Final Design

Prototypes

01 Web Extension

Our browser extension integrates directly into users’ existing booking workflows across any booking website they prefer. Once users turn on the extension, a badge appears on listings that are verified surveillance-free, and search results are automatically prefiltered to prioritize properties by their safety scores. This approach preserves the usual user experience and trust while introducing an essential layer of protection, ensuring safer booking decisions without disrupting their natural browsing behavior.

Check out our video on how the web extension works!

02 Mobile Prototype

Usability testing revealed a significant user preference for booking stays through mobile applications rather than web browsers. To address this insight and extend our solution’s reach, we developed "SafeBook" mode — a mobile app feature that replicates the protective functionality of our browser extension within native booking applications. This prototype, built using Bolt, ensures users receive the same level of safety verification and scam detection regardless of their preferred booking platform, creating a seamless and secure experience across all touchpoints.

Acknowledgements

This project would not have been possible without the support and contributions of many individuals and institutions.

Academic Support

We extend our sincere gratitude to the Human Centered Design and Engineering program and the University of Washington for providing the resources, framework, and intellectual environment that made this project possible.

Research Participants and Peers

We are deeply thankful to the participants who generously shared their time, experiences, and perspectives during our user research and usability testing phases. Your insights were invaluable in shaping the direction and outcomes of the iSPY project. We would also like to thank our classmates for their genuine feedback, collaborative spirit, and constructive critique throughout the design process. Your diverse perspectives enriched our work at every stage.

Instruction and Mentorship

Special thanks to our instructors, Daniela Kim and Lubna Razaq, whose guidance, encouragement, and expertise helped us navigate the complexities of designing for data privacy and surveillance. Your mentorship was instrumental in bringing this project to fruition.

Personal Support

Finally, we are grateful to our friends and family for their patience, understanding, and unwavering support throughout this journey. Your encouragement sustained us through the challenges and celebrated with us through the successes.

Thank you for being part of the journey!

Thank You!

User Flow

Information Architecture

Design System

Find out more about our design specifications in our design solution document!

Design Document

Phone

SafeBook

Data points on top of landscape
  • Team

    Janny Gao

    Lina (Jiayu) Wang

    Ruohan Li

  • Instructors

    Daniella Kim, Ph. D

    TA: Lubna Razaq

  • Project

    Created for HCDE 518Cby Team iSPY

  • Year

    Autumn 2025(10 weeks)

Project Overview

Project Background

With the advancement of image capturing technology, consent surrounding one’s image has been brought to the forefront. Particularly in private spaces such as public restroom stalls, changing rooms, and travel stays, various privacy violations regarding image capture have been reported. Hidden surveillance in travel stays has become an increasingly common concern, leaving travelers feeling vulnerable. SafeBook was designed as a tool to support travelers—from cautious planners to last-minute bookers—in safeguarding their privacy, encouraging them to feel confident, informed, and safe when choosing where to stay.

Design Question

How might we help young adult travelers feel confident in their privacy throughout the travel process to empower them to act decisively if their privacy is violated?

Design Solution

SafeBook

Our project empowers people to safeguard their privacy from the very first step—choosing where to book. We created SafeBook, a browser extension that filters booking sites to show only verified, surveillance-free properties, complete with privacy inspection reports, incident history, and privacy scores. SafeBook integrates seamlessly into traveler’s existing booking flow, making privacy transparent, accessible, and effortless. 

Try our Prototype!

A render of three white cylindrical columns, against a warm creme background
A browser extension that filters surveillance free verified stays for travelers.
  • Surveillance -Free tags and filters
  • Safety Risks & Verification Reports

    No Risk

    Low Risk

    High Risk

  • A corresponding SafeBook mode for mobile booking apps

The Design Should...

  • Be Built on User Consent

    Consent should be easily understood and can be easily withdrawn.

  • Be Transparent

    Design is transparent, simple, and straightforward about functions: no unnecessary features or steps, no extra knowledge required.

  • Not Disturb User Flow

    Design can be easily integrated into travelers' original travel routines.

Personas

The Cautious Traveler

The cautious traveler travels frequently, is experienced with travel routines, plans, and bookings, and they take more precautions toward their personal safety and privacy. The cautious traveler invests a significant amount of time researching and planning the details of their trip, paying more attention to brand reputation and carefully sorting through reviews when considering their booking choices. When visiting a new destination, they carefully investigate all the details of their trip and organize an itinerary, ensuring a well-planned trip with no surprises.

 

The Trusting Optimist

The trusting optimist tends not to sweat the details and waste time on planning, believing that they can figure it out as they go and that the trip will work out in the end. They tend to go with the flow, prioritizing the booking convenience and location proximity to transport over the potential risks of safety and privacy during their stay.

 

 

 

  • Travelers

    Seeking reassurance that their private moments are secure when visiting unfamiliar spaces

  • Hosts

    Aim to maintain guest’s trust while comply with privacy regulations while maintaining property security.

  • Booking Platforms

    Serving as mediators to reinforce privacy policies and protect user trust

User Flow

Design System

Information Architecture

Find out more about our design specifications in our design solution document!

Design Document

Phone

Prototypes

01 Web Extension

Our browser extension integrates directly into users’ existing booking workflows across any booking website they prefer. Once users turn on the extension, a badge appears on listings that are verified surveillance-free, and search results are automatically prefiltered to prioritize properties by their safety scores. This approach preserves the usual user experience and trust while introducing an essential layer of protection, ensuring safer booking decisions without disrupting their natural browsing behavior.

Check out our video on how the web extension works!

02 Mobile Prototype

Usability testing revealed a significant user preference for booking stays through mobile applications rather than web browsers. To address this insight and extend our solution’s reach, we developed "SafeBook" mode — a mobile app feature that replicates the protective functionality of our browser extension within native booking applications. This prototype, built using Bolt, ensures users receive the same level of safety verification and scam detection regardless of their preferred booking platform, creating a seamless and secure experience across all touchpoints.

Acknowledgements

This project would not have been possible without the support and contributions of many individuals and institutions.

Academic Support

We extend our sincere gratitude to the Human Centered Design and Engineering program and the University of Washington for providing the resources, framework, and intellectual environment that made this project possible.

Research Participants and Peers

We are deeply thankful to the participants who generously shared their time, experiences, and perspectives during our user research and usability testing phases. Your insights were invaluable in shaping the direction and outcomes of the iSPY project. We would also like to thank our classmates for their genuine feedback, collaborative spirit, and constructive critique throughout the design process. Your diverse perspectives enriched our work at every stage.

Instruction and Mentorship

Special thanks to our instructors, Daniela Kim and Lubna Razaq, whose guidance, encouragement, and expertise helped us navigate the complexities of designing for data privacy and surveillance. Your mentorship was instrumental in bringing this project to fruition.

Personal Support

Finally, we are grateful to our friends and family for their patience, understanding, and unwavering support throughout this journey. Your encouragement sustained us through the challenges and celebrated with us through the successes.

Thank you for being part of the journey!

Thank You!

Overview

User Research

Iterations

Final Design

    Overview

    User Research

    Iterations

    Final Design

    SafeBook

    Data points on top of landscape
    • Team

      Janny Gao

      Lina (Jiayu) Wang

      Ruohan Li

    • Instructors

      Daniella Kim, Ph. D

      TA: Lubna Razaq

    • Project

      Created for HCDE 518Cby Team iSPY

    • Year

      Autumn 2025(10 weeks)

    Project Overview

    Project Background

    With the advancement of image capturing technology, consent surrounding one’s image has been brought to the forefront. Particularly in private spaces such as public restroom stalls, changing rooms, and travel stays, various privacy violations regarding image capture have been reported. Hidden surveillance in travel stays has become an increasingly common concern, leaving travelers feeling vulnerable. SafeBook was designed as a tool to support travelers—from cautious planners to last-minute bookers—in safeguarding their privacy, encouraging them to feel confident, informed, and safe when choosing where to stay.

    Design Question

    How might we help young adult travelers feel confident in their privacy throughout the travel process to empower them to act decisively if their privacy is violated?

    Design Solution

    SafeBook

    Our project empowers people to safeguard their privacy from the very first step—choosing where to book. We created SafeBook, a browser extension that filters booking sites to show only verified, surveillance-free properties, complete with privacy inspection reports, incident history, and privacy scores. SafeBook integrates seamlessly into traveler’s existing booking flow, making privacy transparent, accessible, and effortless. 

    Try Our Prototype ↓

    A render of three white cylindrical columns, against a warm creme background
    A browser extension that filters surveillance free verified stays for travelers.
    • Surveillance -Free tags and filters
    • Safety Risks & Verification Reports

      No Risk

      Low Risk

      High Risk

    • A corresponding SafeBook mode for mobile booking apps

    User Research

    • User Survey

      Conducted a literature review on 21 published news reports and academic journals.

    • Ethnographic Research

      Gathered insights about people’s experiences, fears, and overall attitudes towards surveillance privacy violations through 3 Red Note posts.

    • Secondary Research

      Explored users’ experiences with surveillance cameras, locations where they expect privacy, and their knowledge of how to discover surveillance cameras.

    • User Interview

      Conducted 6 user interviews to understand their feelings regarding surveillance and their preferences towards products and services that help them identify hidden surveillance.

    Key Findings

    • 01 Surveillance Reality

      Varying privacy laws leave travelers uncertain about their rights, while hidden cameras and accessible spyware make surveillance increasingly common. Being recorded alters behavior and fosters “passive trust in invisibility”, where people assume privacy only when no evidence of monitoring is visible.

    • 02 Privacy Expectations

      Cameras in public hotel spaces (lobbies, hallways) are accepted as legitimate security measures. However, any surveillance in bedrooms and bathrooms is seen as invasive.

    • 03 User Preferences

      Travelers typically book stays based on Convenience, Cleanliness, Crowd-proofing, and Consensus—focusing on location, hygiene, safety cues, and customer reviews. Most rely on trust built through online feedback and visible upkeep rather than actively checking for surveillance devices. While they care about privacy, travelers prefer low-effort, time-efficient solutions that ensure safety without disrupting their travel routines.

    The Design Should...

    • Be Built on User Consent

      Consent should be easily understood and can be easily withdrawn.

    • Be Transparent

      Design is transparent, simple, and straightforward about functions: no unnecessary features or steps, no extra knowledge required.

    • Not Disturb User Flow

      Design can be easily integrated into travelers' original travel routines.

    Stakeholders

    • Travelers

      Seeking reassurance that their private moments are secure when visiting unfamiliar spaces

    • Hosts

      Aim to maintain guest’s trust while comply with privacy regulations while maintaining property security.

    • Booking Platforms

      Serving as mediators to reinforce privacy policies and protect user trust

    Personas

    The Cautious Traveler

    The cautious traveler travels frequently, is experienced with travel routines, plans, and bookings, and they take more precautions toward their personal safety and privacy. The cautious traveler invests a significant amount of time researching and planning the details of their trip, paying more attention to brand reputation and carefully sorting through reviews when considering their booking choices. When visiting a new destination, they carefully investigate all the details of their trip and organize an itinerary, ensuring a well-planned trip with no surprises.

     

    The Trusting Optimist

    The trusting optimist tends not to sweat the details and waste time on planning, believing that they can figure it out as they go and that the trip will work out in the end. They tend to go with the flow, prioritizing the booking convenience and location proximity to transport over the potential risks of safety and privacy during their stay.

     

     

     

    Changes & Iterations

    Final Design

    User Flow

    Information Architecture

    Design System

    Find out more about our design specifications in our design solution document!

    Design Document

    Phone

    Prototypes

    01 Web Extension

    Our browser extension integrates directly into users’ existing booking workflows across any booking website they prefer. Once users turn on the extension, a badge appears on listings that are verified surveillance-free, and search results are automatically prefiltered to prioritize properties by their safety scores. This approach preserves the usual user experience and trust while introducing an essential layer of protection, ensuring safer booking decisions without disrupting their natural browsing behavior.

    Check out our video on how the web extension works!

    02 Mobile Prototype

    Usability testing revealed a significant user preference for booking stays through mobile applications rather than web browsers. To address this insight and extend our solution’s reach, we developed "SafeBook" mode — a mobile app feature that replicates the protective functionality of our browser extension within native booking applications. This prototype, built using Bolt, ensures users receive the same level of safety verification and scam detection regardless of their preferred booking platform, creating a seamless and secure experience across all touchpoints.

    Acknowledgements

    This project would not have been possible without the support and contributions of many individuals and institutions.

    Academic Support

    We extend our sincere gratitude to the Human Centered Design and Engineering program and the University of Washington for providing the resources, framework, and intellectual environment that made this project possible.

    Research Participants and Peers

    We are deeply thankful to the participants who generously shared their time, experiences, and perspectives during our user research and usability testing phases. Your insights were invaluable in shaping the direction and outcomes of the iSPY project. We would also like to thank our classmates for their genuine feedback, collaborative spirit, and constructive critique throughout the design process. Your diverse perspectives enriched our work at every stage.

    Instruction and Mentorship

    Special thanks to our instructors, Daniela Kim and Lubna Razaq, whose guidance, encouragement, and expertise helped us navigate the complexities of designing for data privacy and surveillance. Your mentorship was instrumental in bringing this project to fruition.

    Personal Support

    Finally, we are grateful to our friends and family for their patience, understanding, and unwavering support throughout this journey. Your encouragement sustained us through the challenges and celebrated with us through the successes.

    Thank you for being part of the journey!