Lovable SheBuilds · 2026
Softroute
Navigation without overwhelm: a travel app for neurodivergent people in Barcelona.
- Context
- Lovable SheBuilds hackathon
- Role
- Product designer & builder
- Tools
- Lovable, Figma, Claude, public APIs
- Timeline
- 1 day · Mar 2026
- Outcome
- Working prototype in under 24h
The idea
For highly sensitive and neurodivergent people, getting around Barcelona by public transport is a sensory challenge, not just a logistical one. I used a one-day hackathon on purpose: to test whether a strong insight could become a meaningful product direction, fast.
<24h
From idea to working prototype
3
Shifts away from classic navigation
The insight
Route planners show travel time, but not how a trip might feel.
Noise, crowd density and unpredictability shape every journey. For some people, that’s the difference between a trip they can manage and one they avoid.
I wanted to consider sensory load alongside journey time.
Approach
A one-day prototype to explore the idea.
I deliberately constrained the project to a single-day build. The goal wasn’t polish or completeness. It was to test three things:
- Does the problem resonate beyond my own experience?
- Can a lightweight prototype make the idea tangible?
- Do today’s tools let a personal pain point become a usable product, quickly?
Key decisions
A route can take longer and still be the easier choice.
- A
Predictability over speed
Show expected noise and crowd levels before boarding.
- B
Optionality over optimisation
Offer calmer alternative routes, not just the fastest one.
- C
Cognitive relief over control
Save recurring routes to cut daily decision fatigue.
SignalsCrowd and noise indicators for every route.
SavedRecurring routes for low-energy days.
Feedback
The feedback wasn’t about features. It was about recognition.
I shared the prototype publicly and it resonated strongly with people who identify as highly sensitive or neurodivergent. The problem space is real, and underserved.
“I’ve never seen a navigation app that considers this.”
What’s next
Does calmer change behaviour?
- Do people choose a slightly longer but calmer route?
- Does predictability reduce perceived stress during travel?
- Which signal matters most: noise, crowd or predictability?
I’d validate this with route comparison tests, post-journey interviews and lightweight behavioural tracking.
Reflection
The one-day prototype gave me something concrete to show people and get reactions to. I still need to test whether information about noise and crowds changes the routes people choose.
twowords →