Charlotte | Carpool

Summary

Problem

In a world increasingly reliant on technology for everyday tasks, individuals with sight limitations, particularly the elderly, often find themselves sidelined. Mainstream app designs typically don't accommodate their specific needs, making it challenging for them to use these platforms, thereby limiting their independence.

Goal

Our objective was to bridge this digital divide by designing a mobile application tailored to the needs of elderly individuals with sight limitations. The aim was not just to create an app, but to craft an inclusive experience that respects their autonomy and empowers them to navigate the digital world with confidence.

My role

As a passionate advocate for accessibility in design, I found this project deeply rewarding. Within our collaborative team environment, we all participated in creating wireframes and UX flow. My specific contributions were in crating wireframes, conducting user testing and creating user flows, ensuring the app's design aligns with accessibility standards and responds to real user needs.

Research & Insight

Usability  Testing

UX Flow & IA

Continuous Iteration

Wireframe & Prototype

Challenge

The primary challenge was balancing simplicity and functionality while strictly adhering to accessibility guidelines. Designing for users with sight limitations meant rethinking traditional design elements, from color palettes and typography to navigation and feedback mechanisms. Furthermore, we had to ensure that these elements not only met guidelines but were also intuitively usable for our target demographic.

Process

For this project, we chose the design thinking methodology because of its user-centered approach, which is crucial when designing for accessibility. This process allowed us to deeply understand the users' needs, iterate quickly, and continually refine our design based on real-world feedback, ensuring the app was truly tailored to users with sight limitations.

01Empathise

We began by immersing ourselves in the world of our users, conducting interviews, and engaging with studies and guidelines on designing tech for people with sight limitations. This phase was crucial in building empathy and understanding the specific challenges and needs of our elderly users.

02Define

Armed with insights, we defined our core problem: the need for a digital solution that wasn’t just “usable” but empowering for individuals with sight restrictions. We concentrated on accessibility and ease of use, ensuring these principles guided our project.

03Ideate

Our team brainstormed various solutions, considering different design elements like color contrast, font size, and interaction methods that could make the app more accessible. Every idea was evaluated on its potential to make digital navigation simpler and more intuitive for our users.

04Prototype

We developed initial wireframes, focusing on a clean layout with clear calls-to-action, large text, and intuitive navigation. These prototypes served as the preliminary visual and interactive models of our app, designed with accessibility guidelines at the forefront.

05Test

Usability testing was a revelation. We discovered that areas we assumed wouldn’t be problematic actually required more attention. This feedback was invaluable, leading us to revisit our prototypes and iterate, ensuring the final design truly resonated with our user base's needs and preferences.

Results

The project culminated in the creation of an accessible sign-up and log-in page, marking a significant step towards digital inclusivity. Iterative testing led to design improvements, such as enhanced contrast, legible fonts, and user-friendly instructions. This process ensured our final product wasn't just compliant with standards but genuinely user-centric.

Lessons learned

Despite being early in my UX career when tackling this project, it underscored my commitment to accessibility in design—a principle I continually strive to improve upon. This experience taught me that user testing is invaluable, often uncovering overlooked aspects. More importantly, it reaffirmed that designing for accessibility isn't merely a regulatory checkbox but a step towards creating a more inclusive world.