Kategorie: Interaction Design

A Behind-the-Scenes Look: Creating the Prototypes

The development of the prototypes for the website and the „Kümmer Kiste“ was an exciting and creative process that combined both digital and physical elements. Here’s a look at how these prototypes were created:

Website Prototype in Figma

The first step was to create the website prototype in Figma. Several subpages were designed to provide users with clear and structured navigation. The colors were deliberately kept simple and medical to build trust and convey a professional atmosphere. The website’s style is modern and minimalist, which helps present the information clearly and accessibly.

Designing the „Kümmer Kiste“

An old box was repurposed for the „Kümmer Kiste.“ It was painted and decorated to make it appealing and inviting. The content of the box was carefully selected and collected to meet the needs of caregivers. The box includes various items that offer both practical support and emotional relief.

Scenario as an Audio Track

To illustrate the usage scenario, an audio track was recorded. This helped to tell a realistic and relatable story, showing how the prototypes can be used in everyday life. The audio track authentically highlights the challenges and solutions.

Clickable Website Prototype

The website prototype was made clickable to allow interactive exploration. Users can navigate through the various subpages and experience the provided information and the website’s structure. This gives a realistic insight into the website’s functionality and usefulness.

Video Creation

To illustrate the prototypes, several video recordings were made. A screen recording of the website shows the navigation and use of the different features. Additionally, video footage of the „Kümmer Kiste“ and its contents was created. These videos were edited in Adobe Premiere to produce a cohesive and informative overall presentation.

Editing in Adobe Premiere

The final video combines the scenario, the interaction flows with the website, and the use of the „Kümmer Kiste.“ Scenario 1 is detailed to show how both prototypes work together to ease the caregiving process.

Watch the Video of the Prototype here:

Prototyp.mp4

Scenario 3: Caring for a Severely Ill Child

David Martinez, a 35-year-old married man, faced the daunting task of caring for his son, who had a severe illness. Feeling the weight of his responsibilities, David searched online for reliable resources and stumbled upon the website through a social media post shared by a support group for parents of sick children.

Upon visiting the site, David was impressed by its organized layout and intuitive navigation. He noticed categories such as „Support from Health Insurance,“ „Required Forms,“ „Available Support,“ „Care Crash Course,“ „Helpful Products,“ „Finding Care Personnel,“ and „Self-Care.“

David started with the „Available Support“ section, which offered an extensive overview of governmental and non-governmental support programs for families with severely ill children. He discovered financial aid options, respite care services, and community support groups. Detailed articles provided step-by-step instructions on how to apply for these programs, which was exactly the kind of information he needed.

Next, David visited the „Care Crash Course“ section, specifically looking for resources on managing his son’s condition. He found in-depth tutorials on administering medication, managing feeding tubes, and handling medical emergencies. The practical advice and visual demonstrations gave him the confidence to better care for his son.

Exploring the „Helpful Products“ section, David found tools that could significantly ease his daily routine. He discovered medical alert systems, specialized caregiving apps, and organizational tools. He downloaded a medication tracker app and noted down contacts for local respite care services, which offered short-term relief for caregivers.

A prominent banner on the homepage for the „Self-Care Subscription Box“ caught David’s attention. Clicking on it, he learned about the box’s offerings designed for caregivers of severely ill children, including stress-relief items, guides on mental and physical health, and support resources. Recognizing the toll caregiving had taken on his well-being, David decided to subscribe to the box, looking forward to the monthly support.

Armed with comprehensive information, practical tools, and a self-care subscription box, David felt more equipped to handle the challenges of caring for his son while also taking care of himself.

Scenario 2: Postpartum Care

Emily Johnson, a 30-year-old single mother, had just given birth and was navigating the challenging postpartum period. Feeling isolated and unsure about her recovery and newborn care, Emily turned to the internet for guidance. She stumbled upon the website through a recommendation in a parenting forum.

Upon entering the site, Emily was greeted with a dedicated „Postpartum Care“ section, prominently featured among other categories. She clicked on it, eager to find tailored information for new mothers like herself.

In the „Support from Health Insurance“ section, Emily learned about the maternity benefits available to her, such as home visits from a nurse and lactation consulting. Detailed articles explained how to access these benefits and included links to necessary application forms, which she promptly downloaded.

Next, Emily explored the „Care Crash Course“ section, which offered a rich library of videos and articles on newborn care and postpartum recovery. She found invaluable tips on breastfeeding, managing sleep deprivation, and self-care practices to aid her recovery. The crash course gave her the practical knowledge and reassurance she needed during this vulnerable time.

Eager to find products that could assist her, Emily visited the „Helpful Products“ section. She discovered a range of postpartum recovery aids, baby care tools, and apps to help track her baby’s feeding and sleep schedule. She ordered a postpartum support belt and downloaded a highly-rated baby care app.

The homepage featured a banner for the „Self-Care Subscription Box,“ which piqued Emily’s interest. She clicked to learn more about its contents aimed at supporting new mothers. The box promised items like calming teas, recovery guides, and mental health resources. Emily, understanding the importance of self-care, decided to subscribe to the box, anticipating the monthly boost it would provide.

With the comprehensive support and resources found on the website, Emily felt more empowered and supported in her new role as a mother.

Interaction Scenarios

Creating a website dedicated to supporting caregivers can be a transformative resource for those facing the challenges of caring for loved ones. The website aims to provide comprehensive information on health insurance benefits, necessary forms, available support, practical caregiving tutorials, helpful products, and self-care resources.

To illustrate how users might interact with the website and find the solutions they need, the next Blogposts will show three detailed scenarios. Each scenario depicts a different caregiving situation and showcases the unique journey of the user as they navigate the site to find the support and information they require.

Scenario 1: Caring for an Elderly Parent

Sarah Thompson, a 45-year-old married woman with two teenage children, recently faced a challenging situation when her elderly mother suffered a stroke. Overwhelmed and uncertain about how to provide the necessary care, Sarah decided to search online for resources. She discovered the website through a Google search for „caring for elderly parents at home.“

Upon landing on the homepage, Sarah was immediately struck by its clean, user-friendly design. The site featured clear categories such as „Support from Health Insurance,“ „Required Forms,“ „Available Support,“ „Care Crash Course,“ „Helpful Products,“ „Finding Care Personnel,“ and „Self-Care.“ She decided to start with „Support from Health Insurance.“

In the „Support from Health Insurance“ section, Sarah found a detailed list of benefits and services covered by her mother’s insurance, including in-home nursing care and rehabilitation services. The site also provided links to relevant insurance policies and a guide on how to apply for these benefits. This was exactly what she needed to feel more secure about her mother’s financial and medical support.

Next, Sarah moved to the „Care Crash Course“ section, where she discovered a wealth of practical information. She watched videos on how to safely wash, dress, and feed her mother, which were tailored to patients recovering from strokes. The step-by-step guides and visual aids gave her the confidence to handle these tasks more effectively.

Curious about tools that could make her caregiving role easier, Sarah explored the „Helpful Products“ section. Here, she found a range of recommended items such as medication management apps, daily planners, and local service directories. She made a note to purchase a few of these items later.

On the homepage, a banner promoting the „Self-Care Subscription Box“ caught her eye. Intrigued, Sarah clicked on it and read about the various supports included in the box—mental health resources, physical wellness products, and self-care tips. Recognizing the importance of taking care of herself to better care for her mother, Sarah decided to subscribe to the box.

With the knowledge, resources, and self-care support she gained from the website, Sarah felt more confident and prepared to take on her caregiving responsibilities.

Introducing „CareCompanion“: A Tailored Selfcare Subscription Box for Caregivers

Caring for a loved one is a noble but demanding responsibility that can often leave caregivers feeling overwhelmed and in need of support themselves. To address these challenges, I am excited to introduce „CareCompanion,“ a specialized selfcare subscription box designed specifically for caregivers.

Vision for the CareCompanion Box

The CareCompanion box is more than just a collection of products; it’s a thoughtful toolkit curated to support caregivers in various caregiving situations and relationships. Here’s a closer look at what the CareCompanion box offers:

Tailored Support for Different Caregiving Situations and Relationships

Caregiving Situations:

• Mental health care tools and resources
• Physical health care aids and products

Caregiving Relationships:

• Support for caring for parents, spouses, siblings, and other family members
• Specialized resources for caregivers of adults and children with diverse needs

Palliative Care:

Compassionate support for end-of-life caregiving situations

What’s Inside the CareCompanion Box?

Each CareCompanion box is carefully curated to include:

• Selfcare Tools: Items that promote mental and physical well-being, such as relaxation aids, stress relief tools, and mindfulness resources.
• Comfort Products: Luxurious items like soothing teas, aromatherapy products, and cozy blankets to provide comfort and relaxation.
• Guides and Activity Suggestions: Practical guides on self-care practices, caregiving tips, and suggestions for activities to enhance quality time with the care recipient.

Look and Feel of the CareCompanion Box

The CareCompanion box is designed to be more than a practical resource—it’s a heartfelt gesture of support and appreciation for caregivers. Here’s how it will look and feel:

• Warm and Inviting Design: The box will feature calming colors and comforting textures, creating a sense of warmth and reassurance.
• Thoughtful Presentation: Each item will be thoughtfully packaged and accompanied by a personalized note expressing gratitude and encouragement.
• User-Friendly Experience: Clear instructions and explanations will guide caregivers on how to use each item effectively for maximum benefit.

How Often Will Caregivers Receive a CareCompanion Box?

CareCompanion boxes will be delivered every 2-3 months, ensuring caregivers receive ongoing support and encouragement throughout their caregiving journey.

Next Steps in the Development of CareCompanion

• Prototype Development: Creating a prototype box to test the selection of items and packaging.
• Feedback and Iteration: Gathering feedback from caregivers to refine the contents and ensure they meet their practical and emotional needs.
• Collaborations: Exploring partnerships with experts in caregiving and selfcare to enhance the box’s effectiveness and relevance.

Developing a Website for Caregivers

Caring for a family member can be a daunting task, filled with emotional, physical, and administrative challenges. To address these multifaceted needs, I am developing a comprehensive website designed to support family caregivers. This blog post outlines the vision for the website, the key content it will provide, and the next steps in the development process.

Vision for the Caregiving Website

The goal of this website is to serve as a central hub for caregivers, offering essential information, resources, and support to make caregiving more manageable and less stressful. Here’s a detailed look at what the website will offer:

Key Content Areas:

Insurance Benefits:

• Detailed information on what caregivers can receive from health insurance.
• Guidance on necessary forms and where to find them.
• Information on various types of support caregivers are entitled to.

Support Resources:

• Comprehensive list of available support services and how to access them.
• Information on financial assistance, respite care, and community resources.

Caregiving Crash Course:

• Step-by-step guides on how to care for someone in different scenarios (e.g., washing, dressing, feeding).
• Video tutorials and written instructions to make learning easy and accessible.

Helpful Products:

• Recommendations for apps, planners, and local services that can assist caregivers.
• Reviews and links to products that can simplify caregiving tasks.

Finding Professional Care:

• Resources to locate qualified caregiving professionals.
• Tips on what to look for and questions to ask when hiring help.

Self-Care for Caregivers:

• Links to physical and mental exercises to maintain the caregiver’s own well-being.
• Information on support groups, counseling services, and wellness programs.

Potential Collaborations:

Explore partnerships with health insurance providers and organizations like the Red Cross to provide up-to-date information and additional resources.

Development Plan and Timeline

Semester Goals:

Figma Prototype:

• Develop a prototype of the website using Figma, focusing on both functionality and aesthetics.
• Create a user-friendly interface with an intuitive look and feel.

Future To-Do’s:

Consulting Experts:

• Engage with professionals from insurance companies, the Red Cross, and caregiving personnel to gather insights and validate content.
• Ensure the information is accurate, comprehensive, and up-to-date.

Extensive Research and Benchmarking:

• Conduct thorough research on existing caregiving resources and websites.
• Benchmark against best practices to ensure the website meets high standards of usability and relevance.

Look and Feel of the Website

The website will be designed to be visually appealing, user-friendly, and comforting. Key design elements will include:

Clean and Intuitive Layout:

• A straightforward navigation menu to help users find information quickly.
• Organized sections with clear headings and subheadings.

Warm and Inviting Design:

• Use of soothing colors and imagery to create a welcoming atmosphere.
• Engaging visuals such as icons, illustrations, and photos to enhance understanding and retention of information.

Responsive and Accessible:

• Ensure the website is fully responsive, providing an optimal viewing experience on all devices (desktops, tablets, and smartphones).
• Incorporate accessibility features to support users with disabilities, such as screen readers and text resizing options.

Conclusion

The caregiving website aims to be a comprehensive resource for family caregivers, providing them with the information, tools, and support they need. By offering a well-organized, visually appealing, and easy-to-use platform, the website will help caregivers navigate their responsibilities more efficiently and maintain their own well-being. The development process will involve creating a detailed prototype, consulting experts, and conducting extensive research to ensure the website is both functional and valuable to its users.

Feedback Session with Birgit Bachler: Summary and Outcomes

During a feedback session with Birgit Bachler, several key points and directions were outlined for the development of my project. The feedback focused on refining the prototype into a more cohesive and user-friendly solution. Here’s a summary of the main outcomes and the envisioned next steps:

Outcome of the Discussion

The prototype will be transformed into a website that consolidates all the crucial information needed for family caregiving. This website will be complemented by a selfcare subscription box specifically designed for those caring for family members.

Detailed Insights:

Website Prototype:

The website will serve as a central repository of vital information for caregivers.

It will be prototyped as a storyboard with three different ideal caregiving scenarios, each representing a unique caregiving situation: caring for a parent, postpartum care, and caring for a sick child.

The storyboard will illustrate how three different personas interact with the product, providing a clear narrative on accessing and utilizing the information and services offered by the website.

Interaction Flow on the Website:

The website will guide users on how to find relevant information efficiently.

It will detail the process of subscribing to the selfcare box, making it straightforward and user-friendly.

Subscription Box:

The contents of the selfcare box will include support items for mental health, aiming to make the first steps towards selfcare more accessible (though not replacing professional therapy).

The box will also contain products that promote physical health and overall well-being.

Additionally, it will include guides, newsletters (featuring updates on self-help groups and new legal regulations), and games or activity suggestions for engaging with the care recipient.

Conclusion

The feedback from Birgit Bachler has provided clear direction for enhancing the project. The integration of a comprehensive informational website with a thoughtfully curated selfcare subscription box aims to provide holistic support for family caregivers. This approach not only addresses the practical aspects of caregiving but also supports the emotional and mental well-being of caregivers.

Review and Outcome

Throughout my research on the Double Diamond this semester, I have developed an initial paper prototype, which I then translated into a first Miro prototype. I plan to refine and expand the prototypes next semester, with the potential to incorporate it into my Master’s thesis. My prototypes represent a practical, flexible tool that should go beyond theoretical concepts or basic fill-in-the-blank assistance.

Concept and Prototypes

The idea behind my project and prototype is to create a tool that can be easily customised and really used to fit, plan and realise different design projects. Unlike the static representations often seen, such as the templates on Mural as well (where you could only fill in your steps), this tool aims to be truly adaptable in the future and also provide important steps to realise your projects. It will provide guidance on the consequences of skipping essential steps and allow for variable configurations based on project needs. Additionally, this tool will facilitate communication with stakeholders by clearly explaining the importance of certain step.

Double Diamond Template
https://www.mural.co/templates/double-diamond

Design Thinking Canvas
https://www.mural.co

Prototype Features

1. Modular Design: The tool should consists of modular components (methods and tools) for each phase of the Double Diamond – Discover, Define, Develop, and Deliver. These can be rearranged or removed based on the project’s requirements.
2. Interactive Elements: Each module includes interactive elements that explain the importance of each step and what might be lost if a step is skipped which can be found on the front and back of the cards. In a later step this also will be included in the digital version.
3. Guidance and Feedback: The prototype offers real-time feedback and suggestions, helping users understand the implications of their choices and how to optimize their design process.
4. Tools and Methods for Different Phases: Within the Miro prototype, I’ve also created some first templates that can be used right away to work with – providing tools and methods specific to each phase of the Double Diamond.¹

Next Steps and Outlook

Looking ahead to the next semester, my goal is to dive deeper and at the same time broader into the topic of the Double Diamond. There is an abundance of sources and resources that I have yet to explore. This semester allowed me to cover the basics and gain a foundational understanding, but there is much more to be done to develop an effective, fact-based, and functional tool. For the next semester I therefore plan to:

1. Expand Research: Explore additional sources, academic papers, case studies, industry reports and Miro templates (which I also found while creating my protoype) to gather more insights and refine the tool.
2. User Testing: Conduct user testing sessions to gather feedback on the prototype and make necessary adjustments.
3. Develop Digital Version: Transition the paper and Miro prototype to a digital platform (possibly a combination of desktop app and smartphone application), integrating advanced features and ensuring it is user-friendly and accessible.

This semester, my focus has been on enhancing the Double Diamond framework by making it more flexible and adaptable. The next steps involve extensive research and integrating additional methods, combining it with design thinking for practical use. The ultimate goal is to create a digital tool for projects, accessible on both desktop and mobile platforms. This requires thorough research of various tools, evaluating their applications, and determining the best mediums for different stages of the process. While I’ve currently focused on key elements, my aim is to refine and compare tools and techniques to develop a comprehensive, user-friendly system. Future prototypes will incorporate deeper research, advanced features, real-world examples, and project-specific adaptations.

This journey has just begun and I am excited about the potential of this flexible Double Diamond planning and implementation tool. By building on this initial prototype, I hope to create a valuable resource for designers that is both practical and insightful. Ultimately, the tool should seamlessly integrate all components so that it is useful not only for planning, but also for realising projects. It needs to be even more connected and carefully developed with features that add value. In addition, I want to explore the future potential of the Double Diamond framework and its methods and consider what it could and should be as it evolves.²

1. The content for this prototype was created in collaboration with ChatGPT. ↩︎
2. https://www.mural.co/blog/what-design-thinking-could-be ↩︎