CLIENT:
Personal project
ROLE:
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PRODUCT DESIGN
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UX RESEARCH
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PROTOTYPING
TIMELINE:
ONGOING
TOOL:
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FIGMA
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AI Development tool
A caregiving journey transformed into an app
This project began from personal experience — both my friend and I unexpectedly became caregivers for our loved ones. As new, informal caregivers for our loved ones, we experienced firsthand the emotional and cognitive challenges of the role. These experiences inspired us to explore how technology can empower and support caregivers, rather than add to their burden.
The Challenge
Family caregivers juggle multiple tasks, medications, and emotional stress, often losing connection to the outside world and their own well-being. Most tools optimize reminders—but few address confidence and calm. How can we address needs without adding more burden?
Problem
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Caregivers struggle with isolation and burnout
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Fragmented communication among various parties (eg. nurses, family members)
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Constant mental load tracking tasks and updates
Opportunity
Create a simple, emotionally supportive tool that brings clarity and collaboration—without adding work.
Research
We conducted lightweight discovery: 1:1 informal interviews with family caregivers and performed a light competitive review (3 apps).
The interviews revealed a gap – most existing apps focus on practical task management, but ignore the emotional cost.
Pain Points
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Feels like they're navigating care alone
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Frustrated when things aren't accounted for
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Overwhelmed with scattered data
Behaviour
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Actively seek guidance and a sense of support
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Prefer simple, intuitive digital tools that save time
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Engage with online communities options
Key Insights
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“Support” = feeling seen and capable
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Reduce cognitive load, not add to it
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Caregiver seeks for accessible resources
Problem Statement
How might we create a central hub for caregivers to manage care, communicate, and find support — without adding more stress or complexity?
Process
We followed a focused Double Diamond process — Discover → Define → Design → Deliver to help us stay clear on what mattered most. We kept it lean with an MVP that feels calm and easy to use.
Early concepts and sketches
Initial wireframes of keyframes
Solution
The design direction was guided by three pillars: Clarity (simple task tracking), Collaboration (easy sharing), and Empowerment (emotional support). We deliberately limited the MVP to three key features to reduce cognitive load and reinforcing confidence.
Dashboard
A calm, minimal overview of the most critical daily care tasks, reducing decision fatigue immediately upon opening the app.
Easy Share
A simple tool to instantly compile and share necessary files to other family care team without needing to write long, stressful texts.
Support AI Chat
An uplifting AI chat offering caregiving tips, gentle prompts, and emotional support — encouraging caregivers to share, reflect, and build confidence in a safe space.
Design & Prototype
We wanted to ensure the product wasn't just functional—but felt supportive and not stressful. So we ensured in accessibility and clarity from the start. Every screen aims to streamline the caregiver flow: clarity in actions, familiar language, and minimal steps so they won't feel bombarded or the interface isn't too crowded.
Personas developed from user research
Initial flowchart
MVP Keyframes
Dashboard
Track - Activities
Track - Documents
AI Chat for support and resources
Proud to be finalists at the SUSS Geronpreneurship Innovation Festival 2024
While developing the prototype, we pitched our concept at the SUSS Geronpreneurship Innovation Festival. Making it to the finalists validated our direction and strengthened our belief in the project’s potential.
Reflection and Next Step
We created final designs that simplify caregiving, tested and refined based on user feedback and observations.
Key Takeaway & Learning
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Empathy first: Even brief interviews uncovered deep emotional needs — reminding me to design with both function and feeling in mind.
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Strategic scoping: Focusing the MVP on three core features kept the experience clear, useful, and not overwhelming.
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Designing with intent: This project strengthened my ability to think strategically and create tools that care for caregivers.
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Learning from AI: I discovered how AI can be used to personalize support and ease caregivers’ mental load — when applied thoughtfully and empathetically.
Future Roadmap
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Test the MVP with real caregivers for usability and emotional response.
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Refine the AI experience to personalize support based on each caregiver’s unique journey and caregiving context.
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Explore community integration to bring real human connection and peer support into the experience.
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Explore integration with external healthcare services to help caregivers access professional support more easily.
