BILLBOARD INTERFACE

Redesigned BVG Billboard

Including info on night refuge bed spots.

Project

Passion Project

ROLE

UX/UI Designer

TOOLS

Pen & Paper, Figma

YEAR

2024

Project description

One freezing night in Berlin, as I waited for the subway, I couldn’t help but feel a deep ache in my chest. The sight of homeless people lying in the cold at the station hit me hard. It was like the chill in the air wasn’t just outside but had found its way inside me too.

In another world, this could be the solution: public transit billboards offering quick access to nearby shelters and real-time bed availability to help people experiencing homelessness.

- Resources: Shelter Map 2024, Berliner Stadtmission, Kaelte Hilfe, Deutsches Rotes Kreuz, BVG

Timeline

4 weeks

Overview

The current interface displays only the transport passing through the station, including the name, date, time, station name, arrival time, and final destination.

  • I integrated the real-time availability of beds at the closest night shelter using the interface from BVG - Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (Berlin's transport for metro, busses, and trams).

  • To maintain consistency, I utilized BVG colors but changed the typeface due to the unavailability of the specific one used by BVG.

  • Additionally, I created a version of the BVG logo with a different logo typeface and a heart shape.

  • I used Material Icons for all the information and reviewed the BVG brand guidelines in their design system introduction.

  • In an alternate context, this concept could serve as a means to aid individuals experiencing homelessness by delivering rapid access to information regarding nearby shelters and current bed availability through public transit billboards, potentially contributing to the mitigation of homelessness.

The current interface displays only the means of transport passing through that station. It includes the name, date, time, station name, arrival time, and the last stop of the means of transport.

  • I integrated the real-time availability of beds at the closest night shelter using the interface from BVG - Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (Berlin's transport for metro, busses, and trams).

  • To maintain consistency, I utilized BVG colors but changed the typeface due to the unavailability of the specific one used by BVG.

  • Additionally, I created a version of the BVG logo with a different logo typeface and a heart shape.

  • I intentionally utilized Material Icons for all the information.
    Read guidelines of the BVG brand in their design system introduction.

  • In an alternate context, this concept could serve as a means to aid individuals experiencing homelessness by delivering rapid access to information regarding nearby shelters and current bed availability through public transit billboards, potentially contributing to the mitigation of homelessness.

The current interface displays only the means of transport passing through that station. It includes the name, date, time, station name, arrival time, and the last stop of the means of transport.

  • I integrated the real-time availability of beds at the closest night shelter using the interface from BVG - Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (Berlin's transport for metro, busses, and trams).

  • To maintain consistency, I utilized BVG colors but changed the typeface due to the unavailability of the specific one used by BVG.

  • Additionally, I created a version of the BVG logo with a different logo typeface and a heart shape.

  • I intentionally utilized Material Icons for all the information.
    Read guidelines of the BVG brand in their design system introduction.

  • In an alternate context, this concept could serve as a means to aid individuals experiencing homelessness by delivering rapid access to information regarding nearby shelters and current bed availability through public transit billboards, potentially contributing to the mitigation of homelessness.

Problem

The existing BVG billboard features plenty of white space and direction details for all modes of transport, including their names, dates, times, station identifiers, arrival schedules, and the final destinations of the transportation units.

Current Constrains:

Real-time Data

  • The interface cannot display up-to-date information on shelter availability due to the lack of a reliable and continuous data feed from the shelters.

Laws & Regulations

  • Adherence to local advertising and public information display laws and resrictions.

Weather Conditions & Energy Durations

  • Various weather conditions and potential vandalism, limited power resources.

MOCKUP of the July 2024 public transport billboard

Process

Research & Planning

  • Conducted market research to identify existing travel time challenges and groups of public transport users.

  • Defined target audience segments and outlined vital features based on user needs.

  • Researched how homeless individuals find shelters in Berlin.

  • Discovered and informed why individuals in need choose not to utilize night shelters despite harsh weather conditions while sleeping outdoors.

  • I utilized AI to collect more structured data and integrate inclusive UX design with information from the mentioned resources.

  • Conducted market research to identify existing travel time challenges and groups of public transport users.

  • Defined target audience segments and outlined vital features based on user needs.

  • Researched how homeless individuals find shelters in Berlin.

  • Discovered and informed why individuals in need choose not to utilize night shelters despite harsh weather conditions while sleeping outdoors.

  • I used AI to help gather more structured data.

  • Conducted market research to identify existing travel time challenges and groups of public transport users.

  • Defined target audience segments and outlined vital features based on user needs.

  • Researched how homeless individuals find shelters in Berlin.

  • Discovered and informed why individuals in need choose not to utilize night shelters despite harsh weather conditions while sleeping outdoors.

  • I used AI to help gather more structured data.

Design & Prototyping

  • Demanded input from developers and designers to develop an intuitive, user-centric interface.

  • Demanded input from developers and designers to develop an intuitive, user-centric interface.

  • Consistently adjusted designs based on feedback to boost UI visuals and functionality.

  • Demanded input from developers and designers to develop an intuitive, user-centric interface.

  • Consistently adjusted designs based on feedback to boost UI visuals and functionality.

Implementation, Testing & Optimization

  • Consistently adjusted designs based on feedback to boost UI visuals and functionality.

Solution

The public transport billboard integrated with night shelter bed availability ensures a fluid user interaction, enabling each person, particularly those in distress, to locate support with ease.

Key features include:

Real-Time of Bed Availability can Increase Access to Shelter

  • Providing real-time shelter availability on billboards can help homeless individuals find a place to stay more quickly.

Accessibility & Clear Information

  • The interface has to be easy to read and accessible to everyone, regardless of their literacy or language skills.

  • It has to include including multiple languages and Iconography.

Implementation of QR Codes to guide and establish a source to the closest and every city shelter

  • Scanning the QR code with a smartphone instantly directs users to a map or website showing the closest shelters, their availability, and additional details like hours of operation and services provided.

  • QR codes must also be linked to medical services or food distribution centers.

  • Multiple languages and iconography are essential to ensure more straightforward and faster information delivery.

  • Billboard with public transport + real time availability of the free beds in night shellters
  • Mobile version of the 3 closest Night Shelters

    Resource: Shelter Map 2024

  • Billboard with public transport + real time availability of the free beds in night shellters
  • Mobile version of the 3 closest Night Shelters

    Resource: Shelter Map 2024

What other impacts could billboard have on night shelter availability?

A billboard interface that shows the availability of the closest homeless shelter can have several positive impacts:

Reduced Street Homelessness

  • By making shelter information easily accessible, the billboard can help decrease the number of people sleeping on the streets, especially during extreme weather conditions.

Enhanced Awareness

  • The billboard raises public awareness about homelessness, encouraging community involvement and support for local shelters.

  • Seeing the billboard might inspire others to volunteer, donate, or support local shelters, leading to a more engaged and compassionate community.

Improved Safety

  • Guiding people to safe places can lower the risks of sleeping in unsafe or exposed spots, making things a lot safer for homeless individuals overall.

What other impacts could billboard have on night shelter availability?

A billboard interface that shows the availability of the closest homeless shelter can have several positive impacts:

Reduced Street Homelessness

  • By making shelter information easily accessible, the billboard can help decrease the number of people sleeping on the streets, especially during extreme weather conditions.

Enhanced Awareness

  • The billboard raises public awareness about homelessness, encouraging community involvement and support for local shelters.

  • Seeing the billboard might inspire others to volunteer, donate, or support local shelters, leading to a more engaged and compassionate community.

Improved Safety

  • Guiding people to safe places can lower the risks of sleeping in unsafe or exposed spots, making things a lot safer for homeless individuals overall.

Learnings

Despite this project only scratching the surface of a very complex subject, its development has led to an extensive acquisition of knowledge and skills, contributing to significant personal and intellectual growth.

Working within the constraints of real life pushes you out of your comfort zone, forcing you to think on all levels.

It makes you wonder how things could work in a different world, even though it's a paradoxical question.

I've faced moments where I wanted to give up, but something always pushes me forward.

With every failure, I learn something new, and that's what it's all about - and the most important.

Learnings

Even though this project only scratches the surface of a complex issue, it’s been a huge learning experience for me, leading to significant personal and intellectual growth.

Dealing with real-life constraints pushes you out of your comfort zone and makes you think on every level.

It’s fascinating to imagine how things might work differently in another world, even if it seems paradoxical at first.

I’ve had moments where giving up felt tempting, but something always keeps me going.

With every failure, I learn something new, and that’s what really matters.

Next case - Breezy
Next case - Breezy
Next case - Breezy
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© 2025 – Blanka Calija Design

Imprint

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VSCO

Navigation

Home

Work

About me

Case studies

Suvera Fresh

Billboard Redesign

Breezy

Bia

Vint

© 2025 – Blanka Calija Design

Imprint

Social Media

LinkedIn

VSCO

Navigation

Home

Work

About me

Case studies

Suvera Fresh

Billboard Redesign

Breezy

Bia

Vint

© 2025 – Blanka Calija Design

Imprint

MOCKUP of the July 2024 public transport billboard

Back on top

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Learnings

Despite this project only scratching the surface of a very complex subject, its development has led to an extensive acquisition of knowledge and skills, contributing to significant personal and intellectual growth.

Working within the constraints of real life pushes you out of your comfort zone, forcing you to think on all levels.

It makes you wonder how things could work in a different world, even though it's a paradoxical question.

I've faced moments where I wanted to give up, but something always pushes me forward.

With every failure, I learn something new, and that's what it's all about - and the most important.

What other impacts could billboard have on night shelter availability?

A billboard interface that shows the availability of the closest homeless shelter can have several positive impacts:

Reduced Street Homelessness

  • By making shelter information easily accessible, the billboard can help decrease the number of people sleeping on the streets, especially during extreme weather conditions.

Enhanced Awareness

  • The billboard raises public awareness about homelessness, encouraging community involvement and support for local shelters.

  • Seeing the billboard might inspire others to volunteer, donate, or support local shelters, leading to a more engaged and compassionate community.

Improved Safety

  • Guiding people to safe places can lower the risks of sleeping in unsafe or exposed spots, making things a lot safer for homeless individuals overall.