Tech it Easy

THE MISSION:
Find ways to use technology to help caregivers care for themselves, their loved ones, and each other

MY role:
Exploratory research interviews, user look interviews, research stimuli, secondary research, ideation

FOCUS AREAS:
Design Research, Digital Product Design

Ana
Carvallo

Sounak Gupta

Kallie Mingay

ShaoBo Zang

the team:

Synthesis

With each conversation, we learned more and more about the struggles faced by caregivers and their loved ones. Through this, we were able to identify patterns and recurring themes which we used to further define the problem space. We carefully examined all of our findings to draw insights, tensions, and eventually craft "How might we" statements. We employed the use of journey maps and various other frameworks to help us in our synthesis process.

Through the lens of Maslow’s hierarchy, we explore how functional, cognitive, emotional, and cultural influences show up and create tension in a typical day. Click on the sections of the pyramid to explore each one.

ideation

Once we had the problem space well defined, it was time to jump into brainstorming solutions. We did this individually at first and then came together as a group to discuss and build off of our main ideas. Using our "how might we" statements to facilitate our brainstorming sessions, we were able to come up with six big ideas which we later refined into three concepts. These were then shown to our consumers for feedback.

outcome

TASKPOOL APP
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The Taskpool app allows caregivers to help each other by sharing certain tasks such as going grocery shopping, picking up medications, and more. Additionally, it serves to connect them to a community of individuals that are in a similar situation.

In this storyboard, we see that Ashley, overwhelmed with her duties, forgot to pick up her father's medications. She opens her Taskpool app and creates a new task. Meanwhile, another caregiver who is at the pharmacy sees her task and picks up the medications.

TakeawayS
Design research is a highly iterative process that requires equal parts planning and improvisation. A good discussion guide can be a helpful tool, but nothing can replace genuine human conversation.

What people say and what people do are not always in alignment and it's important to pay attention to both. It's helpful to make connections, but some of the most valuable insights come from a place of disconnect.
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A note on power
As design researchers, we have the power to cause harm. Throughout this project, we had to ask that people relieve traumas purely for our own educational benefit. The process was highly extractive and inherently deprioritized the safety and needs of our participants. In the future, I hope to make sure the power I hold is used to serve the communities with which I am engaging, rather than my own interests.

tech it easy

! SPOILER ALERT !
click to see the outcome

Methodology

Synthesis

ideation

outcome

tech it easy

! SPOILER ALERT !click to see the outcome

Methodology

Synthesis

ideation

outcome

! SPOILER ALERT !
click to see the outcome