AlarmSMS – Designing a simple, accessible security service

AlarmSMS is a simplified security service designed to make alarm notifications accessible to everyone — without requiring an app or user account. The goal was to take inspiration from an existing solution (Connect), but distill it to its core functionality, focusing on clarity, trust, and ease of use.

The challenge

The company already offered an alarm system that alerted selected recipients through a mobile app in case of an ongoing alarm. While effective, the app required installation, account creation, and came with a somewhat complex interface.

User research revealed a clear insight: most users preferred to skip the app altogether and receive alarm notifications directly via SMS. This finding became the foundation for the new concept — a lightweight, web-based experience triggered through a simple SMS link.

The solution

When an alarm is activated, selected users receive an SMS containing a secure link to the web interface. By tapping the link, they can view the alarm details and communicate with other participants — without needing to install anything or log in.
To maintain privacy and security, each link expires automatically after one week.

The design process focused on minimizing friction at every step. The interface was stripped down to essential elements, with clear hierarchy, concise messaging, and intuitive navigation to support users under stress.

Key insight: trust through transparency

During early stakeholder discussions, there was hesitation about showing participant information in the alarm chat. However, through interviews and testing, it became clear that users wanted to know who else was involved in the response — this visibility made communication feel safer and more coordinated.

Based on this insight, a feature displaying participant names was added, significantly improving user confidence and engagement.

The prototype was met with very positive feedback from existing clients, who appreciated its simplicity and the ability to access the system instantly via SMS.