Worun: Feeling Safer by Design. Reflections on Gender Inequalities in Female Urban Running

The Worun: Feeling Safer by Design project addresses gender-based disparities in urban running among women in Chile, presenting a design-led solution to improve safety and reduce perceived vulnerability. This mixed-method study involved 177 participants and combined in-depth interviews, autoethnographic observation, narrative cartography, and journey mapping to identify the barriers female runners face and their unmet needs. Drawing on these insights, the team co-created process a mobile application—Worun—that connects female runners based on shared preferences. Worun leverages community-building and connection to address safety concerns, highlighting the potential of human-centered design to advance gender equity and empowerment. The app was evaluated through a survey that incorporated a promotional video to simulate its use. Results suggest that the proposed solution may help reduce perceived vulnerability. The study found that all female runners experienced some level of vulnerability regardless of age, running pace, or distance. Participants reported a range of urban and social barriers, including inadequate lighting and harassment. By facilitating safer running experiences through connection and community, Worun demonstrates how design can operate as a tactical intervention to improve well-being and autonomy in public spaces. This research contributes to broader conversations on feminist and socially responsive design, emphasizing the need for context-specific solutions that address complex societal issues and support women’s active engagement in urban life.