From Concept To MVP
Designing for Emotional Support in Caregiving Journeys
Designing for Emotional Support in Caregiving Journeys
Designing for Emotional Support in Caregiving Journeys
From Concept To MVP
Team
1 Graphist - 1 Developer
1 Graphist - 1 Developer
Role
UX Design- Ownership - Visual Design
Duration
Feb 2023- Present
Feb 2023- Present
Overview
42% of partners reported feelings of isolation and anxiety. How might we support SCI partners through digital tools?
42% of partners reported feelings of isolation and anxiety. How might we support SCI partners through digital tools?
Objective
Feelinks is envisioned as a supportive digital hub to foster connections, shared experiences, and emotional support among the partners of people with a spinal cord injury (SCI).
Feelinks is envisioned as a supportive digital hub to foster connections, shared experiences, and emotional support among the partners of people with a spinal cord injury (SCI).
Impact
Breaking isolation for an estimated 2.5 million+ SCI caregivers worldwide who often experience 3× higher rates of depression than the general population.
Centralizing critical knowledge that reduces the average 7.5 hours weekly that caregivers spend searching for information across 12+ fragmented online sources
Building community resilience through peer-to-peer support, potentially reducing the 40% of SCI partners who report feeling severely isolated
Enhancing caregiving quality by addressing the needs of partners who provide an average of 11.3 hours of daily care, valued at $120,000+ annually per caregiver
Breaking isolation for an estimated 2.5 million+ SCI caregivers worldwide who often experience 3× higher rates of depression than the general population.
Centralizing critical knowledge that reduces the average 7.5 hours weekly that caregivers spend searching for information across 12+ fragmented online sources
Building community resilience through peer-to-peer support, potentially reducing the 40% of SCI partners who report feeling severely isolated
Enhancing caregiving quality by addressing the needs of partners who provide an average of 11.3 hours of daily care, valued at $120,000+ annually per caregiver
Industry
E-Health
Duration
Feb 2023- Present
Team
1 Graphist - 1 Developer
Impact
Breaking isolation for an estimated 2.5 million+ SCI caregivers worldwide who often experience 3× higher rates of depression than the general population.
Centralizing critical knowledge that reduces the average 7.5 hours weekly that caregivers spend searching for information across 12+ fragmented online sources
Building community resilience through peer-to-peer support, potentially reducing the 40% of SCI partners who report feeling severely isolated
Enhancing caregiving quality by addressing the needs of partners who provide an average of 11.3 hours of daily care, valued at $120,000+ annually per caregiver
Breaking isolation for an estimated 2.5 million+ SCI caregivers worldwide who often experience 3× higher rates of depression than the general population.
Centralizing critical knowledge that reduces the average 7.5 hours weekly that caregivers spend searching for information across 12+ fragmented online sources
Building community resilience through peer-to-peer support, potentially reducing the 40% of SCI partners who report feeling severely isolated
Enhancing caregiving quality by addressing the needs of partners who provide an average of 11.3 hours of daily care, valued at $120,000+ annually per caregiver
Introduction
When a spinal cord injury changes everything, who supports the supporters?
Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI) are life-altering events that extend their impact beyond the affected individuals to their close relatives, especially partners. This traumatic life event brings significant changes for partners, resulting in mental and physical burdens and putting them at risk of burnout. Each question and each challenge underscore the multifaceted nature of the issues.
social activists
Insurance companies
Rehab Centers
Hospitals
Suppliers
Media
Scholars
Indirect stakeholders
Indirect stakeholders
Doctors
Municipalities
The government
SCI Families
SCI patients
direct stakeholders
direct stakeholders
SCI Partners & Caregivers
core Stakeholders
core Stakeholders
The problem
As 42% of SCI partners reported feelings of isolation and anxiety, more attention and support are essential to alleviating their challenges.
As an insider, I got to know I am not the only person with feelings of isolation and depression after the accident that happened to my partner.
Based on my literature research, there are
However, the hospital trauma bay team often know very little information about the situation, events, and interventions that occur during and after the trauma. Upon arrival, a 30-second verbal handover from the paramedics to the trauma bay team takes place as they debrief them of the essential information. Soon after, the trauma bay team take over to re-examine and evaluate the patient once more, creating a redundant process.
Content
"The partner had to cope with the shock, support the injured partner during the institutionalized rehabilitation, and struggle to make their relationship and life together function again."
"They were struck by the brutal fact that their partner had been seriously injured, and their own needs faded into the background."
"The partners experienced much distress and appreciated the support they got but felt that they were mainly left to manage the difficult process on their own."
(Johnson et al.)
"The partner had to cope with the shock, support the injured partner during the institutionalized rehabilitation, and struggle to make their relationship and life together function again."
"The partner had to cope with the shock, support the injured partner during the institutionalized rehabilitation, and struggle to make their relationship and life together function again."
"They were struck by the brutal fact that their partner had been seriously injured, and their own needs faded into the background."
"They were struck by the brutal fact that their partner had been seriously injured, and their own needs faded into the background."
"The partners experienced much distress and appreciated the support they got but felt that they were mainly left to manage the difficult process on their own."
"The partners experienced much distress and appreciated the support they got but felt that they were mainly left to manage the difficult process on their own."
(Johnson et al.)
Initial Research
I found a Facebook group of 2000+ international women with their partners in a wheelchair.
That was the best place to validate the insights from literature using the research canvas method.
Reaching out to them, I managed to plan several interviews to gather insights in a detailed way.
Research Insights
The interviews validated the fact that there is room for improvement of the platform they currently use.
The interviews validated the fact that there is room for improvement of the platform they currently use. (the Facebook group).
The suggestions helped me map all the needs and pain points and translate them to design solutions.
The insights helped me map all the needs and pain points and translate them to design solutions.
Data Driven Persona
Data Visualization
Using the data gathered from the user interviews helped me draw a more realistic picture of the users.
Sarah and Debbie represent two caregiver archetypes: The Empathic Caregiver, reflecting the majority who seek emotional support, and The Resourceful Partner, who actively looks for tools and community to manage care. While Sarah feels emotionally overwhelmed and isolated, Debbie focuses on solutions and balance. Together, they highlight the emotional and practical needs in SCI caregiving.
The insights helped me map all the needs and pain points and translate them to design solutions.
The insights helped me map all the needs and pain points and translate them to design solutions.
Research Insights
The interviews validated the fact that there is room for improvement of the platform they currently use.
The interviews validated the fact that there is room for improvement of the platform they currently use. (the Facebook group).
The suggestions helped me map all the needs and pain points and translate them to design solutions.
The insights helped me map all the needs and pain points and translate them to design solutions.
Data Driven Persona
Using the data gathered from the user interviews helped me draw a more realistic picture of the users.
Sarah and Debbie represent two caregiver archetypes: The Empathic Caregiver, reflecting the majority who seek emotional support, and The Resourceful Partner, who actively looks for tools and community to manage care. While Sarah feels emotionally overwhelmed and isolated, Debbie focuses on solutions and balance. Together, they highlight the emotional and practical needs in SCI caregiving.
Intuitive Process
Users find it difficult to locate key features like "Add Money" or Send/Request due to complex navigation. Users seem to find their prone due to confusing category errors and unclear information architecture.
Fee Transparency
Users face confusion and frustrations with unclear and excessive transaction fees and conversion rates. Which shows lack of transparency around fees.
Flexible Payment Scheduling
Users need more flexibility and control over their payments, specifically the ability to schedule future transactions.
Data Driven Persona
Using the data gathered from the user interviews helped me draw a more realistic picture of the users.
Sarah and Debbie represent two caregiver archetypes: The Empathic Caregiver, reflecting the majority who seek emotional support, and The Resourceful Partner, who actively looks for tools and community to manage care. While Sarah feels emotionally overwhelmed and isolated, Debbie focuses on solutions and balance. Together, they highlight the emotional and practical needs in SCI caregiving.
The insights helped me map all the needs and pain points and translate them to design solutions.
Failed Concept
Data Driven Persona
From 11 user interviews, I've identified two main categories of tasks that need to be accomplished:
1. Establishing Connection
2. Gaining Knowledge
Each of the categories have been again categorized into two subcategories to make specific characteristic for the content.
Connect to Content
Add layers or components to swipe between.
Connect to Content
Add layers or components to swipe between.
Technicalities
Data Driven Persona
Font size, colors, and text spacing have a significant effect on the rate of accuracy of a visual search and the reaction time during each search period.
When designing the information, on-glance legibility was an important thing to consider, as the surgeons, doctors, and nurses would use the screen as a fast means of retrieving information. Their attention is limited, so the cognitive load had to be minimal. High contrast was used to display quantitative physiology data such as HR and SpO₂ numbers.
The dark background is scientifically proven to have better results when paired with high-contrast colored numbers. Each physiology indicator was assigned a color based on conventions observed through patient monitoring systems. A proper font and size balance was also achieved by using a bold Helvetica weight commonly used with modern patient monitoring systems.
What Users See
What Users See
What Users See
The role of human and clinical judgment in our AI feature was heavily criticized.
User testing revealed how our product was perceived positively by medical personnel. Most claimed to understand what it does, and what it aims to solve. However, the AI prediction concept was underdeveloped, as many did not understand the need for it, let alone how it worked.
The interface
The interface
Refining my design
User feedback drove clearer, faster, more flexible planning
Insights from the second round of testing highlighted navigation friction, readability gaps, and limited editing freedom. In response, I grouped related data visually, improved contrast, added default day suggestions, and enabled quick switching between activities—turning feedback into a smoother, more intuitive setup flow.
Left: After feedback, Right: Before feedback
The interface
First solution
Providing users with Clarity and Control
The new homepage simplifies navigation by placing key financial actions Transfer, Exchange, and Add Money at the centre of the screen.
The new homepage simplifies navigation by placing key financial actions Transfer, Exchange, and Add Money at the centre of the screen.
❝ Some options feel buried inside menus I just want to send money quickly. ❞
❝ On PayPal, some options are not clear at all and are not easy to find at first, like adding to my balance or exchange rates when sending internationally. ❞
❝ I have ADHD and I have problems finding options on this app a lot. It takes too long to find what I need, especially when I’m in a hurry. ❞
Key payment actions (Transfer, Exchange, Add Money) are prominently displayed at the top, reducing friction.
Alerts provide proactive notifications for users to manage their balance.
The homepage is cleaner, with a focus on transactions rather than promotions.
❝ I wish I didn’t have to see the profile and photo of people I sent money to once a year ago—it makes it hard to focus on what I need to do.❞
❝ At first, I was really confused about how to do transactions, but after a while, it became easier. It shouldn’t take this long to figure out.❞
We organized options more clearly. Payment actions like "Send," "Bill," "Give," and "Request" are tabbed at the top, making it easier for users to find and switch between different payment methods
Icon colors are changed to reduce distractions, and layout changes help reduce cognitive load.
