Monami Design Project
Problem Statement:
Social isolation is on the rise, especially in young people. When people are isolated, it can lead to depression. Meanwhile, there are millions of elderly people in the United States who might be housebound or not able to get out as much, an{d might appreciate receiving a call from a younger person, especially if they don’t have any family of their own to talk to. How can we connect lonely and depressed individuals with elderly people who want to talk?
Background
This product idea would be an app to connect young people or anyone who feels lonely in the US with an elderly person who wants to talk. There is an epidemic of loneliness in the US, especially among Generation Zers and the elderly. Being lonely can have devastating effects on your health. However, if an elderly person has dementia, or their friends have passed away, they may not remember to reach out to friends, or have anyone to speak to. Meanwhile, younger people have the means to use an app to reach out, but may lack the motivation (as depression can remove your will to reach out), or feel friendless and alone. Monami (working title) would address this by pairing individuals with a senior who wants to talk for a short, guided phone call.
Goals
To create a prototype for a hypothetical app by conducting user research and implementing it in the form of an XD prototype.
My role
This was a solo project, so I did all of the roles (usability testing and prototype design).