Friends Forever
Developed UX solutions to help seniors manage social isolation and loneliness while maintaining overall mental and physical well-being.
SOLO Project, time frame FIVE months, part-time.
End-to-end UX Processes
Market Research ⎮ User Interviews ⎮ Affinity Mapping ⎮ Defining User Archetype ⎮ User Flows ⎮ OST ⎮ Effort/Impact Matrix ⎮ Competitive/ Comparative Analysis ⎮ Sketching ⎮ Wireframing ⎮ Prototyping ⎮ Usability Testing ⎮ Documentation and Handover
TOOLS
PLATFORM
‘Friends Forever’ is a web-based digital platform tailored to people aged 65 and over. The focus of this project was on designing MVP for the desktop site.
SCOPE
UX research, synthesise, develop and test a solution, producing a high-fidelity prototype.
PROBLEM SPACE
One in three older Australians faces challenges and stresses associated with retirement and ageing, such as loneliness and increased social isolation, which can impact their mental health and well-being. People struggle to stay connected with others, be active, recognise signs of loneliness and reach out to others for support.
OUTCOME
Friends Forever is a secure online platform designed specifically for individuals 65 years old and older. The website provides a safe space for seniors to connect with like-minded people within their local community. They can participate in various activities, discuss overcoming loneliness, and receive prompt assistance.
While recruiting seniors for the study, I connected with a local aged-care centre. I presented my research findings to their stakeholders team, who were impressed with my presentation. They saw it as a valuable source of ideas for improving the centre's services and sparking many more ideas for future initiatives.
MY APPROACH
I conducted thorough research to identify the primary user pain points and requirements. First, I studied published data on platforms related to FF, statistics, and expert opinions to gain a comprehensive understanding of the issue's scope. I continued my desktop research with in-person interviews to comprehend personal experiences and difficulties related to the issue.
User Interface (UI) was built upon the best practices and guidelines discovered in the Research and UX Design phases, focusing on meeting The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 level AA accessibility criteria so no users are left behind.
UX Consulting provided service design recommendations for an aged care centre to improve current services and identify future initiatives.
01 DISCOVER
Data Analysis
The data analysis clearly showed the magnitude of the problem and its impact on people's health and well-being. It is urgent that we take action to address this issue and work towards social change to prevent further damage.
User Interviews
Six Interviews with people over 65 were powerful in discovering more about people’s experiences with loneliness to inform the solution needed.
STRUGGLES
Recruiting interviewees proved challenging despite outreach through social media and ads. A collaboration with the local aged-care centre, however, proved mutually beneficial.
LEARNINGS
Recruiting people for research had its challenges, but at the same time, it was a great way to learn about the target audience before the interviews started.
I conducted face-to-face interviews. Talking to people in their natural environment allowed me to empathise and uncover additional insights that would otherwise stay hidden. There is so much to learn just by observing people in their native habitat.
02 DEFINE
Refined Goals/Opportunities based on my research phase
Create a community where people look after each other, share their experiences and get support and advice if loneliness affects them.
Create a safe environment for older people to connect with others with similar interests, stay active and share their experiences.
Provide the opportunity to meet people face-to-face.
Due to low technology literacy, design a digital platform with simple features and streamlined user flows, paying attention to the accessibility of the platform due to disabilities that develop with age.
When thinking about solutions to help people fight social isolation, focus on cost-effective or free options.
Raise conversation about the issue of loneliness to reduce stigma.
Educate people on how to prevent social isolation, how to recognise the issue in themselves and others and how to act on it.
PROBLEM STATEMENT
Older people need a simple and safe way to connect with like-minded individuals and stay active to fight loneliness and maintain their mental and physical well-being.
03 DEVELOP
The project prioritized usability and accessibility, focusing on designing a website that was easy to navigate and appropriate for older audiences. Based on research and testing, the MVP was optimized for desktop use.
Moderated Usability testing was done to understand how this website performs in real life and to discover issues in the current flow and friction points where further iteration is needed.
Focusing on UI
My screen design was based on research insight, including heuristics and best design practices.
To make a website accessible to older individuals, I focused on meeting The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 level AA accessibility criteria. That clarified the best options regarding colour, topography, and other visual elements.
High-fidelity Prototype
NEXT STEPS
Continue testing high-fidelity prototypes with users to improve website usability and accessibility.
Through user feedback, I discovered the need to further tailor the ‘Friends Forever’ platform to people with very low or no interest in the digital space. I want to explore the idea of making the platform inclusive of this persona and work on a solution to reach out to seniors in ways other than digital.
Project development will depend on Government funding and donations to enable cost-effective or free solutions for the users. The recommendation emerged from the understanding that money is often a barrier to making social connections.
LEARNINGS & TAKEAWAYS
Experimenting with AI technology for research was another experience that I will continue exploring in the future. How can I use AI as a collaborative tool to increase productivity? The biggest concern about using AI is the potential for inaccurate or incomplete analysis. Space is worth watching as the current shortcomings keep improving!
Going through the process of Competitive /Comparative Analysis, I came across valuable thoughts:
‘Instead of focusing on your competition, focus on your user’. Create a product in line with user needs and use the best technology to create a point of difference in the market.’ ( from the book ‘Inspired’ by Marty Cagan)
