G
Together
PROJECT OVERVIEW
Timeline
5 weeks
My Role
UX/UI Designer
Tools
Figma
Deliverables
User research, Journey map, Persona, Usability test, Wireframe and prototype
Building a platform for Senior Adult
TOGETHER is a community service that provides physical and digital tools to help older people and their households stay connected with families and society.
The Problem
Older people struggling to stay connected during COVID-19 felt they lacked support.
The Goal
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Increase regular online contact between older people and their family members
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Provide care for older people‘s mental health
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Make elders feel involved
The Oppotunity
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How might we create a platform with technology strategies to help elders stay connected with families and friends anytime?
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How might we offer a practical toolbox they may enjoy, such as crosswords and puzzles, that can keep them entertained and connected?
The Solution
1. Online platform
‘free, easy-to-use lessons… that provide step‑by-step help to get older Australians started with technology.’
2. Offline practical support
To help older adults feel involved, purposeful, and less lonely during the pandemic,
The
Approach -
01
Empathy
User research
Online survey
Empathy map
Personas
User Journey map
02
Define
Problem Statement
03
Ideation
The solution
04
Design
Paper wireframe
Mockup
Hi-fi prototype
05
Validate
Impact creation
Final thoughts
User Research -
Why this is the problem?
Older and more isolated
Older people struggled more with staying in touch, with just 23% of people over the age of 70 reporting daily contact with their family – almost half that of people under the age of 40 (40%).
Ten per cent of people over 70 also reported having less-than-weekly contact with loved ones, compared to just 4% of people under 40.
Online Survey -
Understanding the social experience and uncovering user needs
Goal: I used an online survey to gather data from a large number of senior adults to get the general perception of the experience of contacting with families/ friends.
Outcome: Over three days, we received 24 responses from a senior adult who looking for learning new skills, a senior adult who lack a social chance during Covid, senior who seek tech help.
Findings
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A lot of older respondents shared that they were struggling with video calls and new online technologies;
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30 per cent of people over 70 used handwritten letters to stay in touch but were delayed in receiving mail
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Many older Australians still depended on face-to-face visits for contact and support.”
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Many seniors live alone and are less likely to be leaving their homes because of COVID-19 fears.
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Many elderly people would benefit if someone just spent a bit of time setting it up for them,” she says.
Empathy Map
Persona -
Identify needs of our target group
By consolidating both findings from research and online survey, I generated user personas to help me identify potential user needs and their end goals.
Describe your image
Describe your image
Describe your image
User Journey Map
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The
Approach -
01
Empathy
User research
Online survey
Empathy map
Personas
User Journey map
02
Define
Problem Statement
03
Ideation
The solution
04
Design
Paper wireframe
Mockup
Hi-fi prototype
05
Validate
Impact creation
Final thoughts
Problem Statement -
What Users Want != What They Think != The Reality
#1
Laura is a retired person living alone
who needs a platform to teach older Australians to develop digital and online skills,
because maintaining social connections and staying in touch are critical to her wellbeing.
#2
Peter is a JP volunteer
who needs a practical toolbox that they may enjoy, such as online crosswords and puzzles, music, theatre or sports recordings, or virtual tours of museums, little seed pack and other popular tourist destinations.
because older adults still need to socialize with friends and families during Coronavirus.
User Insights
Older adults are way more open to new technology than we expected
User needs
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a platform can teach them to use video call
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creative ideas/activities can do with family and friends
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user-friendly app/ web, easy to use
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receive more concern about their feeling
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the opportunity to meet with people who live nearby
User goals
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Learn new technology
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Connect with family and friends in a fun way
The
Approach -
01
Empathy
User research
Online survey
Empathy map
Personas
User Journey map
02
Define
Problem Statement
03
Ideation
The solution
04
Design
Paper wireframe
Mockup
Hi-fi prototype
05
Validate
Impact creation
Final thoughts
The Solution -
#1 Online Platform
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Show them how to video chat with others using smartphones, laptops or tablets.
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Use apps on these devices to provide captions for adults with hearing challenges.
Coming up with online and offline solutions. I wanted the solution to be easily accessible to all senior adults. I decided that a mobile platform would be the best idea.
# 2 Offline Practical Creative Box
To help older adults feel involved, purposeful, and less lonely during the pandemic, We deliver a practical support box with creative ideas such as connecting crosswords and puzzles, music, theatre or sports recordings, virtual tours of museums, and little seed packs other popular tourist destinations. These ideas inspired elderly adults on the way to connect with friends and families.
The
Approach -
01
Empathy
User research
Online survey
Empathy map
Personas
User Journey map
02
Define
Problem Statement
03
Ideation
The solution
04
Design
Paper wireframe
Mockup
Hi-fi prototype
05
Validate
Impact creation
Final thoughts
UI Design Decision-
Usability vs. Beauty
I generated about 6 iterations on the "onboding page" interface design. The design goal was to make the screen look simple and avoid cognitive overload for older users.
UI Design Decision
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Use real-life examples and mind the processes in-app
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Put the most important navigation elements upfront
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Clear, objective, and educational language
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Color & accessibility
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Provide large enough fonts that the operating system can adjust dynamically
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Touch input is in use as many seniors find it easier and more intuitive
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Give an option to put text next to icons and navigation elements when designing apps for seniors
The
Approach -
01
Empathy
User research
Online survey
Empathy map
Personas
User Journey map
02
Define
Problem Statement
03
Ideation
The solution
04
Design
Paper wireframe
Mockup
Hi-fi prototype
05
Validate
Impact creation
Final thoughts
Impact Creation
Measuring its Success
Final Thoughts
We are empathizers
As user experience designers, we are empathizers. Everything we do is focused on our users and trying to understand them. To understand and emphasize, user experience designers are trained to ask the right questions. How does my project help users with their problems? Do I know enough about the users to address any unspoken pain points?