Chinwag

Roles & Responsabilities

User Research: Literature Review, User Interviews, User Surveys

Design: Ideation, Sketching, Prototyping, Iterative Design

Project Context

September 2023 – December 2023

Group Project

Team: Ayushi Saxena, Farzad Jahanfard, Gouri Jangid, Preksha Sakaria and Akram Atmani

Tools Used

Figma

Figjam

Userbery

The Problem

According to The World Health Organization, at least 1 in 3 older people are lonely, that is more than 250 million older people worldwide.

We decided to tackle this problem because we recognize the significant impact social isolation and loneliness have on older people’s quality of life, including detrimental effects on their physical and mental health, ultimately leading to shortened lifespans, emphasizing the urgent need for intervention.

How do we address widespread loneliness and isolation among elderly individuals?

Research

Starting with white paper research, we began to draw from studies and research papers on the topic of elderly social isolation, the contributing factors, how the issue has been addressed in the past and also the accessibility considerations.

Prevalence & Impact: Social isolation among older adults leads to health issues like cardiovascular disease, cognitive decline, and depression.
Contributing Factors: Health conditions, life transitions, societal aspects, and socio-economic factors contribute to this issue.
Addressing the Issue: Strategies include digital inclusion, community design, volunteering, and policy integration for social connections.

User Survey

We also conducted a survey to get more quantitative data from our potential users, and we asked them questions to validate some of the things we learned from our previous research. The survey was carried out through Microsoft forms and 23 responses were received of which 8 were female and 8 were male and 7 unidentified, across age 60+

Survey Insights

User Interviews

We then interviewed 10 potential users over phone calls to understand the challenges they face, to know if they feel lonely and also how they tackle loneliness.

Define

Personas were developed by drawing insights from our extensive research, user interviews, and demographic data analysis to accurately represent the diverse user base.

Ideate

The next step we took after research and defining was ideation, where we brainstormed creative solutions to address the identified user needs and challenges.

Following the brainstorming, we conducted a card sorting exercise to organize and prioritize the multitude of ideas we generated.

We then translated our ideas into paper prototypes through sketching sessions, refining our concepts for further development and testing.

Design & Testing

The design underwent three iterative cycles, refining and improving upon previous versions based on user feedback and usability testing.

Design & Testing 1

To conduct the tests we used Userbery which allowed us to record what the users were saying, the heatmaps of what they were clicking as well as other things. For the first test we asked 10 users to create an account, book an appointment, and navigate to the home screen. The results were quite varied and generally not positive. The first test’s SUS score was 40.

Design changes after 1st test

Design & Testing 2

In User Test 2, we evaluated the adjustments made based on the feedback from Test 1, ensuring that our design revisions effectively addressed user concerns and enhanced the overall user experience. We significantly improved the SUS score to 71.

We also established a comprehensive design system to streamline the creation of the high-fidelity prototype, ensuring consistency and efficiency throughout the design.

Design & Testing 3

Transitioning from mid-fidelity to high-fidelity, we aimed to achieve a more polished and comprehensive prototype, followed by another round of testing to validate the improvements and ensure optimal usability and functionality. We were very happy to have improved the SUS score further to 87.

Design improvements after 3rd test

Outcome

Final Design Protoype

Takeaways

In retrospect, the journey of developing Chinwang has been enlightening. It underscored the significance of iterative design, demonstrating how each cycle propelled us closer to a more refined solution. Embracing user feedback not only validated our decisions but also fostered a deeper connection with the community we aimed to serve. Prioritizing accessibility throughout the process not only ensured inclusivity but also reaffirmed our commitment to creating meaningful impact. And through iterative user testing, we gained invaluable insights, not just about the product, but about the profound human experiences we sought to address. Overall, Chinwang’s development journey has been a reflective exploration of empathy-driven design, reminding us of the transformative power of technology in fostering human connection and well-being.

More of my work

Matchify

A Hackathon project that won first place at the University of Nottingham Hackathon 2023.