StayConnect

Design Foundations Final Project

Context

StayConnect began as a personal project, inspired by the challenge of fighting social isolation in older adults, and thus the larger issue of elderly depression. Initially a solo endeavor, this project was adapted to a larger group collaboration in INFO 360. With input from team members, our iterative design came to include features like shared photo uploads, a daily prompt, and calendar functionality. Through group work, iteration, and testing, the app became not only user-friendly for elderly individuals but also helped deepen connections with their families.

My Role

UX/UI Design, Creative Direction

Timeline

September - December 2024

Collaborators

Ethan Kwan, Katie Yoon, Madison Nguyen

DESIGN QUESTION

How might older adults living alone achieve social connectedness through asynchronous activities so that they can build upon existing relationships with friends and family?

User Research & Findings

Loneliness Prevalence

Nearly 43% of adults over 60 experience regular loneliness, highlighting the widespread impact of social isolation on older adults. This is often exacerbated by changes in lifestyle, mobility, and loss of close relationships.

Associated Health Risks

Social isolation significantly increases risks of cognitive decline, depression, and physical health issues such as high blood pressure and heart disease, making it a critical issue for older populations.

Technology Adoption

While 61% of older adults report having some digital skills, many still face challenges adapting to modern communication tools, creating barriers to staying connected with loved ones.

We conducted research to understand the challenges faced by older adults who experience social isolation. Studies showed that loneliness affects almost 43% of adults over 60 and is linked to significant health risks, including cognitive decline and depression. A myriad of findings showed that older adults frequently struggle with adopting technology, making it fundamental to implement simple and accessible tools. These insights lay the foundation of StayConnect, emphasizing asynchronous communication and ease of use.

Stakeholders & Personas

To confirm the app meets users’ needs, we created personas representing both older adults and their families. These personas guided our design decisions, guaranteeing we addressed obstacles and needs for both audiences.

Ideation

EARLY ITERATION

These early low-fidelity wireframes focused on creating a simple, intuitive interface that supports asynchronous communication through features like sticky notes, drawing tools, and photo sharing.

USER TESTING INSIGHTS

Effortless navigation for all ages

Easy error recovery

Feature clarity matters

Memory-friendly interactions

Additional Features

To address the demand for consistent connection, we needed a feature that would encourage users to engage regularly with the app. The solution? A Daily Prompt, designed to provide ideas and promote creativity through fun questions or tasks.

Final Solution

StayConnect is a thoughtfully designed platform that promotes meaningful, ongoing connections between older adults and their families through simple and fun interactions.

Finishing Touches

Cohesive Color Palette Warm, inviting atmosphere, maintaining accessibility standards.

Prototyping & Interactiveness Using Figma, with added animations

Refined Daily Prompt Feature Integrated a creative compilation tool that gathers weekly entries into a fresh memory recap

These finishing touches bring the app to life, blending functionality and emotional connection.

Future Adaptations

Looking ahead, a refined interface with increased color contrast is important for accessibility. We would look to add more gamification, such as milestone badges or a "streak” feature to keep users coming back. Our group is developing an introductory tutorial to give new users an idea on how to best interact with the app.