I led research, concept generation, prototyping, and product development for DisplayCare, a smartboard calendar that enables caregivers and care receivers to collaboratively manage daily tasks and appointments. The solution digitizes familiar whiteboard calendars while maintaining autonomy for elderly users and simplifying coordination for caregivers.
Streamline the collaborative experience between caregivers and care receivers.
Integrate familiar, pen-and-paper–like interactions to lower barriers for elderly users.
Simplify digital interfaces to minimize learning curve and cognitive load.
September 2023 - December 2023, April 2024 - June 2024
Design Research Studio/Product Development Practicum
Design Researcher, Lead Product Design Engineer, UX Designer
Design Research, Product Design, Design Engineering, Usability Studies
Alex Lansing, Madeline Farace, Hannah Hachamovitch, Tony Xiong
Caregivers and care receivers are overwhelmed by the volume of tasks and appointments to track. How can technology support collaboration without adding burden, especially for tech-averse older adults?
Question: How can technology support collaboration without adding burden, especially for tech-averse older adults?
User Need: A simple, intuitive tool that mimics existing habits while easing coordination.
Business Need: A solution that integrates seamlessly into daily routines with a hardware device + optional subscription model for syncing, storage, and enhanced features.
Phase 1: Research
Secondary Research
Primary Research:
Findings:
Care-receivers prioritize discreet and familiar products that they are confident using.
Learning new technology is frustrating, difficult, and time-consuming for care-receivers.
Caregivers desire a customizable experience that maintains accessibility and simplicity of information.
Key Insight:
Caregivers and receivers consistently choose tools that balance familiarity, function, and ease of use to reduce the collective cognitive load of their daily routines even if it is more costly.
How might we create a technology that feels as familiar as pen and paper while offering the function and ease of use of digital collaboration to caregivers and tech-averse care-receivers?
Phase 2: Concept Exploration
Ideation:
Generated 3 concepts for concept feedback and feature testing. Brainstorm focused on different aspects of HMW statement to capture familiarity, functionality, or ease of use in each concept if not all three.
Testing:
Four virtual concept tests with ranking exercises identified top-priority features. Concept testing sessions revealed what caregivers most resonated with for taking care of their elderly loves ones.
Strong preference was shown for combined physical/digital experiences that aided with reducing cognitive load
Direction: A physical product, such as a digital whiteboard calendar, that directly mimics existing household tools already used by care-receivers.
Phase 3: Refinement & Prototyping
Refinement:
Clarified core offerings and form through sketching. Built foam-core mockups to explore size and mechanisms.
Field Testing:
Explored spatial relationships, materials, surface feels, stylus ergonomics, and framing in elderly users’ homes.
Unexpected finding: elderly users preferred wider, tapered stylus grips similar to their favorite pens, not thinner styluses.
Prototyping & Modeling:
Built high-fidelity functional mockups of smartboard and stylus with wood, 3D-printed parts, a touch screen, and mechatronics; paired with Figma wireframes for digital experience.
Created high fidelity CAD models and Keyshot renderings
DisplayCare:
A smartboard calendar that digitizes handwritten notes, syncs with caregivers’ mobile apps, and blends naturally into home environments.
Phase 1 Rollout: DisplayCare with core calendar features with companion app.
Phase 2 Rollout: Expanded companion app features, external app syncing, and expanded data storage
Revenue Model:
Hardware sales (~$399 set).
Subscription: $9/month for expanded data storage, external app syncing, expanded companion app features
Created a low-friction technology bridge for elderly users transitioning from pen-and-paper systems.
Simplified caregiver workflows by unifying notes and schedules into one synced platform.
Positioned the product for business viability through a hybrid hardware + subscription model.
Designing for multi-stakeholder needs (caregivers + elderly care receivers) requires balancing autonomy, simplicity, and usability.
Contextual research revealed non-obvious preferences (e.g., stylus ergonomics) that directly shaped product decisions.
Iterative prototyping is critical for translating insights into manufacturable, business-aligned solutions.
