ALERTA GUATE: GOBIERNO DE GUATEMALA
DESIGNING APPS FOR GOVERNMENT EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION SYSTEMS
PURPOSE
Alerta Guate aimed to enhance public awareness and safety in Guatemala through a direct government-to-citizen ENS, using patented 'Silent'-overriding alerts to effectively provide credible information during the COVID-19 pandemic.
TIMELINE
8-month Lean UX process from July 9, 2019 – March 18, 2020.
TEAM SIZE
As the sole product designer, I led scenario development, nation branding research, UI kit arrangement, and progressive interface prototyping. I worked directly with stakeholders including our CEO, in-house developer, and offshore development team.
PRODUCT FOUNDATION
Alerta Guate was conceived through collaboration with the Guatemalan Government to develop a mobile emergency notification system (ENS) using patented 'Silent'-override technology.
Tenlot Group, an international lottery company, facilitated communication & supported devevlopment as part of its social investment projects.
The Government provided conceptual wireframes demonstrating features they might expect in their app:
• Authority-managed alert categories
• Citizen chat with verified authorities (within categories)
• Distinct alert types for urgency levels
DEFINITION & SYNTHESIS
I designed a lo-fi prototype based on Government-provided wireframes.
Mockups included:
• Home screen with categorized alert “Groups”
• Group Alerts screen with three alert types: General, Critical, Emergency
• Specific Alert screen with expanded details
Critical & Emergency alerts featured patented Silent-override capability.
Group Alerts screen also integrated:
• a “Contact Group Manager” button for citizen-authority communication
• an “SOS” button to dial the national 9-1-1 equivalent.
IDEATION DESIGN
These scenarios shaped the problem statement & value proposition: enhancing public safety through credible, effective communication.
The lo-fi prototype was approved by the Guatemalan Government in June 2019, initiating development.
I created a mid-fi prototype with six alert categories:
• Severe Weather
• Dangerous Materials
• Animal Protection
• Public Health
• Political Affairs
• Natural Disasters
Based on these categories, I defined 6 user scenarios: 4 “Emergency” alerts (loud horn) and 2 “Critical” alerts (moderate ping), reflecting authority (primary) & citizen (secondary) user roles.
RESEARCH & FINDINGS
I partnered with Tenlot in August 2019, leveraging their international network to identify 20+ potential government clients.
Alerta Guate was adapted into a customizable white-label ENS while retaining core functionality.
I conducted nation branding research to tailor each app:
• Flag-inspired UI styling
• Official seals for alert credibility
• Language localization for user comprehension
Each app was published on the App Store & Play Store prior to proposal meetings, showcasing ease of deployment & commitment to national interests.
ITERATIVE PROTOTYPES
I designed UI kit assets & digital mockups using Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. Mockups were reviewed & approved by the CEO before handoff to developers.
After delivering Alerta Guate’s mid-fi prototype in July 2019, focus shifted to other countries until March 17, 2020 — six days after WHO declared COVID-19 a global pandemic.
With misinformation spreading, the Guatemalan Government requested:
• A hi-fi prototype for approval
• A functional app delivered as quickly as possible
USABILITY TESTING & FINDINGS
Within two business days, Alerta Guate underwent two rapid hi-fi prototype iterations based on Government testing and feedback.
First iteration:
• Expanded six categories into regional groups
• Added groups for “Guatemala,” Tenlot, “Gobierno de Guatemala,” and “CONRED” (National Coordination for Disaster Reduction)
Second iteration:
• Groups reduced to “Gobierno” & “CONRED”
• Branding updates applied
• White-label features added, including logged-out “SOS” capability and a Hamburger Menu
INSIGHTS & OUTCOME
Within 72 hours of launch, Alerta Guate reached over 600,000 downloads across platforms.
Media backlash over data privacy led to removal within a month, impacting most potential partnerships.
Despite this, the project provided valuable experience:
• Collaboration with an international government
• Growth in project management skills
• Refinement of UI design processes, improving workflow & productivity
In hindsight, proactive transparency explaining app permissions prior to launch may have changed the outcome.
PROJECT SNAPSHOT
DESIGN PROCESS
Our “Lean UX” process was guided by client-defined parameters and CEO-directed negotiations, with continuous prototype refinement based on research and feedback. I was tasked with researching and prototyping a white label application equipping national authorities with effective ways to deliver credible information to citizens.
MY INPUTS
• Created user scenarios for six government-defined alert categories
• Identified a key user insight & reframed it into a problem statement
• Constructed a value proposition highlighting the solution’s offerings
• Conducted nation branding research & designed 50 white label UI kits
• Developed four iterative prototypes
TOOLS USED
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