This project involved a collaboration with three project managers to participate in the Royal Society of Arts (RSA) Student Design Awards 2019 competition under the theme 'Alone Together.' This initiative marked the first of three project management assignments undertaken.
MY ROLE
RESPONSIBILITIES
Primary research, audience Mapping, persona development, ideas generation and prototyping.
TOOLS
Google Docs, Trello.com, PhotoShop, Illustrator, InDesign and Marvel.
THE CHALLENGE
Social isolation has become a serious public health problem. According to the Red Cross and Co-op, more than 9 million people in the UK often or always feel lonely. With this in mind, we were asked to design a solution that would reduce the impact of loneliness on one or all of the following: Physical health, mental health or access to services.
GOAL
Design an App to reduce the number of people suffering from loneliness, curtailing its impact on the NHS. The App should be able to measure the effects of loneliness on its user, and as all user needs vary, the architecture should allow access to varying touch points.
THE PROCESS
PROJECT SCOPING
Sprints were used to develop the Phase App, utilising the British Design Council Double Diamond framework with Agile project management methodology. With a timeline of just four weeks, the scoping was as follows:
DEMOGRAPHIC
Developed Personas were utilised consistently throughout the project to provide empathetic insights and inform the Phase App's design decisions.
PHASE! SUPPORTING THE LONELY
Research was conducted to obtain a deeper understanding of the target audience and to differentiate our application from competitors such as 'Meetup', which focuses on peer interaction, and TalkLife, which provides support through discussion groups. We identified various drivers and barriers associated with loneliness and assessed their implications for our target demographic. This process involved a thorough review of government statistics, observation of focus groups, and analysis of relevant case studies, followed by exploring initiatives and key insights.
USER INSIGHT
Various sources, including Government reports, NHS analyses and initiatives from charitable organisations, revealed diverse statistics concerning loneliness across different demographics, including age, gender, behaviour and geographical location. Notably, the groups with the highest reported levels of loneliness include carers, refugees and asylum seekers, with 80% and 53%, respectively.
PAIN POINTS
- Refugees and asylum seekers have identified loneliness as their most significant challenge in daily life.
- This demographic often experiences exclusion from educational opportunities.
- Vulnerability among young individuals may put them at risk of exploitation due to their isolation.
- Enforced isolation exacerbates existing conditions.
INSPIRATION
Similar market apps, such as Meetup, NextDoor, Happify, and Tastebuds, were then explored.
DEFINE
With four weeks remaining until the submission deadline, a comprehensive user research initiative was conducted with a focus on campaigns and online focus groups to address the issue of loneliness. Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs would be utilised as the north star of the project.
DESIGNING WITH MEANING
The Phase App is designed to represent a sanctuary that empowers users to enhance their quality of life by addressing loneliness with supportive resources. The app will provide users access to professional advice, counselling and educational materials, all grounded in Marslow's Hierarchy of Needs theory.
The team was enthusiastic about the opportunity to develop a solution that holds significant value and meaning for its users.
SKETCHES AND WIREFRAME
The team employed a bottom-up approach to define the application's User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI). As the deadline approached, sketches and storyboard concepts were designed to outline the app's structure, function and data behaviour to shape the overall anatomy effectively.
DEVELOP
SKETCHES AND WIREFRAME
The team established the design direction based on the Psychology of Colour theory. Recognising that colour significantly influences mood - the team thoughtfully styled the components, buttons and icons to evoke the desired emotional responses.
STYLE GUIDELINES
USER ARCHITECTURE
An intuitive user experience (UX) was developed to enable users to seamlessly select their areas of need. The splash screen provides an opportunity for users to sign up and optionally complete a Health Questionnaire.
This framework is structured around Maslow’s hierarchy of human needs, encompassing five primary categories: physiological, safety, love and belonging, esteem, and self-actualisation. Each category is translated into specific sections designed to address these needs effectively:
ADVISORS
Utilise the expertise of virtual advisors, counsellors, and mental health coaches to foster personal growth and well-being.
TRAINING
Engage in a variety of educational opportunities, including mindfulness practices, skills development (such as language courses), English and Maths proficiency, healthy eating workshops, and positive thinking seminars.
ACTIVITIES
Participate in diverse activities that promote community engagement and personal wellness, including local explorations, virtual exercise sessions, meditation and yoga classes, coffee mornings, virtual cooking classes, book clubs, and online dating events.
COMMUNITY
Join the Phase Community to connect with others, find support, participate in group challenges, and cultivate meaningful relationships.
CAREER
Access career development resources like on-the-job training, internships, informational seminars, virtual coaching, self-esteem enhancement programs, and financial advice.
This comprehensive approach promotes holistic development across various aspects of life, encouraging individuals to thrive.
USER JOURNEY
Informed by the persona of Hon Zhang, the team initiated the account creation process and completed the sign-up. Zhang engaged with a questionnaire designed to assess his loneliness status, the results of which will be submitted to the Office of National Statistics as part of a comprehensive study. Zhang's areas of interest were selected.
Based on the questionnaire results, Zhang received tailored insights regarding the effects of loneliness on his life. Additionally, Zhang was presented with options for counselling and support services aimed at effectively addressing his feelings of loneliness.
WORDS FROM LECTURER
... an inquisitive and dedicated design manager with a passion for inclusive design. Patsy asks the right questions and is determined to truly interrogate a problem to unearth design opportunities. Her attention to detail is second to none. It has been a real pleasure working with Patsy.
- Lucia McGuinness