Tinkl

An App to Pee in Peace

Tinkl is a bathroom finder app that enables people with a need for gender-neutral bathrooms, or any kind of specific need, to access bathrooms on the go.

The goal was to prototype user-centric improvements to a first generation app.

Background

OG Tinkl

Tinkl is a bathroom-finder app that locates nearby gender-neutral bathrooms in the Twin Cities. A staggering statistic shows that 60% of trans Americans have avoided using a public bathroom in the past year due to fear of repercussions or violence. Tinkl aims to empower trans individuals and anyone else with specific needs to find accessible bathrooms, whether for handicapped access or changing tables, for example.

Tinkl was very freshly launched. The app is not actually available. It currently functions as a website and users can add it to their phone’s Home Screen to access it. For the purposes of this case study, I will refer to it as an app.

It is still in its early stages but has significant potential in both its ethos, and practical applications. I was tasked with conducting a usability study, specifically a contextual inquiry, observing context in order to make improvements that would not have been otherwise noticed.

Currently, there are several minor usability pain points within the website, which is to be expected on a 1.0 version. However, this was not the main focus of my study. My ideas were small ones that did not have a massive impact on the design of the app, but that could make a significant difference in the ability for the app to be used and trusted.

Methodologies

  • Contextual inquiry

  • Cognitive walkthrough

  • Usability testing in interview form, with script

  • Prototyping

Solutions

Research Findings

  • ARE RESTROOMS FOR CUSTOMERS ONLY? First, users entering a bathroom in a business often find it unclear whether the restroom is for customers only. This information is crucial for users' comfort and safety when using Tinkl. In the current website, when adding a bathroom, there is an option to tick a box stating “Open to the public,” but its purpose is unclear. Once users have this information, they can choose to make a purchase or enter without buying anything, ultimately leaving that decision to them. On the other hand, if businesses are approached about being listed on Tinkl and opt to offer their restrooms to Tinkl users without a purchase requirement, this could foster a Tinkl-approved business community. A network of businesses aligned with trans activism that could display a “Tinkl Approved” sticker in their windows, enhancing activism and improving the community.

  • ORGANIC GROWTH OF TINKL. The second finding emphasizes community. When Tinkl was launched, its founder, Essie Schlotterbeck, emphasized its grassroots nature. Currently, it operates only in the Twin Cities to maintain manageability. The founder values the local aspect making expansion difficult to envision at this time. However, if a user visiting the Twin Cities enjoys Tinkl and wants to bring it to their market, they should have the ability to contact the stakeholders. This presents an opportunity for Tinkl to grow organically while staying true to its grassroots, community-focused vision.

Recommendations

  • When entering a bathroom, include a checkbox for “Restrooms for customers only” to clarify what information users need regarding a business.

  • When searching for a bathroom, display the “Restrooms for customers only” option when applicable.

  • In the “About” section of Tinkl, add a button at the bottom of the page that says “Help Tinkl grow.”

Selected Screenshots of my High Fidelity Prototype

Narrated Video Walkthrough of Interactive Prototype

Outcome

The contextual inquiry uncovered pain points that the stakeholders had not previously been able to see. Tinkl will continue to grow in a more user focussed way.