Design Strategy |Product Design
Saathi Mobile App for Senior citizens
Saathi means partner/ companion
A digital app that personalises tech training for seniors to improve their digital skills and encourage learning between generations.
What is Saathi?
Timeline : 2023 - 2024
Audience : Senior Citizens + Family Caregivers
My Role : Design Research, Strategy Design, Usability Testing, User Research, Interaction Design
Organization : Capstone @Parsons School of Design
Collaborators : Design Strategist, Thesis Faculty
Challenge
digital divide, lacking digital literacy
social isolation
limited exposure to technology
apprehension about new digital interfaces.
Senior citizens in India face a significant
Bridging the Digital Divide for Senior Citizens
Solution
A thoughtfully designed digital platform that empowers senior citizens by addressing the unique challenges they face in adapting to technology.
user-friendly tutorials
guided assistance
intuitive interfaces
Success Metrics 🫡
The iterative design process improved tool usability. Testing feedback highlighted areas for improvement, benefiting users. Onboarding success rate: 80%.
Seniors gained confidence in using the digital tool independently, showing its intuitive design.
Saathi built a strong community, improving engagement and satisfaction. Ease of navigation: 70% of users found it successful; 20% faced usability issues initially.
The video library offered valuable resources, educating users on tool navigation while providing support and belonging.
Combining remote and in-person testing deepened understanding of user experiences, facilitating targeted enhancements for seniors’ needs.
Shout out for Saathi 🥳
Final App designs
Stakeholder feedback
Encouragement for Iteration:
Feedback highlighted the need for ongoing testing and iteration to refine the platform's usability, particularly in making the interface more intuitive for older adults.
Positive Reception of Concept: Stakeholders appreciated the focus on bridging the digital divide for senior citizens, recognizing the potential societal impact of enhancing digital literacy and reducing social isolation.
Research question
What can family caregivers do to help seniors with technology?
Remote testing with Seniors
Tools used : Figma, Zoom, Otter
Research Methods: Affinity Mapping, Usability Testing, Prototype Testing
Participants : 7 senior adults (aged 65+)
Saathi USP
Empowering seniors
From tech-reliant to tech-literate via familiar language and a safe space.
User Needs Identified
Primary user : Senior citizens
Need for personalized learning at one’s own pace.
Tailored content in a familiar language
Not designed for Indian seniors; lacking cultural relevance and understanding.
Lack of cultural relevance
Seniors need to rewatch and relearn digital tasks as they forget the steps.
Cognitive learning
User Testing with caregivers
Common questions
seniors ask caregivers
Feedback
from Caregivers
Wireframes
Low fidelity
Work in Progress
Designs
How does it work?
Homepage
Easy access
to valuable information
Video tutorials have been thoughtfully uploaded by caregivers
Tutorials by categories
The interface displays various categories for seniors to easily view videos by topic, ensuring quick access to relevant content.
Key Takeaways
Understanding technology for seniors
Many find technology intimidating, so the challenge with Saathi was to simplify interfaces and address barriers like fear, physical limitations, and lack of exposure. Empathy and patience were as crucial as technical skills.
The power of community
One surprising insight was how community helps overcome tech barriers. Many seniors felt more confident learning with peers or family, showing that social learning effectively bridges the digital divide.