I developed the BUURT project as a social venture to support the independence of the elderly and address their various needs. The project offers tailored services for those requiring support due to aging, illness, weakness, or disability, including companionship. The primary goal is to enhance accessibility to grocery shopping for the elderly, while also providing socialization opportunities for those who feel lonely.
SUMMARY
Involvement that transcends age barriers
Buurt — A Social App
My role
As a UX designer, I led the app and responsive website design from conception to delivery. My responsibilities included conducting interviews, creating paper and digital wireframes, developing low and high fidelity prototypes, conducting usability studies, and ensuring accessibility. I iterated on designs, determined information architecture, and focused on responsive design. I used tools such as Pen & Paper, Sketch, and Figma throughout the project, which lasted from January '23 to February '23.
🎯 The challenge
The limitations that older adults face in essential areas such as independence, access to healthy food, and social connections can make their activities more challenging.
🏆 The solution
Design an platform that will help elderly adults meet their grocery needs independently and maintain their social connections.
Let's dive in and explore some of the animated screens to get a better overview.
01. Friendship
What is the most enjoyable way to go with someone to their preferred grocery store? Many older adults experience feelings of loneliness. I strongly believe that socialization plays a crucial role in enhancing their happiness. For elderly individuals, grocery shopping holds significant social importance. To address this, I have created the friendship feature of BUURT. The purpose of this feature is to connect like-minded individuals and reduce loneliness. BUURT's friendship feature provides users with a variety of enjoyable experiences. Users can plan shopping trips together, organize lunch outings, and support each other during shopping. This encourages connections and creates opportunities for quality time together. Doesn't that sound exciting?
02. Helper
I designed BUURT'Helper for those facing physical limitations who want to engage socially and participate in physical activity, aiming to provide them with a convenient grocery shopping experience.
03. Request
For some individuals, leaving their homes can be challenging. To address this situation, I have introduced the BUURT'Request service, providing the convenience of delivering fresh and nutritious groceries right to your doorstep with a simple phone call.
Understanding the user
Research
The research aims to examine the challenges faced by elderly individuals in the Netherlands during grocery shopping. It also provides recommendations to enhance their shopping experience. I utilized academic articles on market accessibility for elderly individuals in the Netherlands to prepare the interview questions.
Some of the elderly participants expressed a desire for occasional assistance during shopping. Some of them believe that grocery shopping provides physical activity and is beneficial for their health. For some, grocery shopping serves as a positive experience when they feel lonely at home. But, they did not actively seek support. My research demonstrates that an easy-to-use tool can enhance their independence.
The interview script can be viewed here.
I conducted semi-structured interviews with five retired seniors from the local area to quickly gather information about existing solutions and problems.
Interviews
Grocery shopping feels tedious without the company of friends and neighbors.
CAN
I'm only able to buy groceries for a day's worth because it's difficult for me to carry heavy bags back home.
JOLINE
Grocery shopping is enjoyable for me as it allows me to socialize and feel like I'm contributing to a worthwhile cause.
RAY
I wish to have a unique and personalized experience while shopping for groceries.
MENA
To feel fulfilled with my day, I require a social activity such as going grocery shopping.
SAM
Meet the user
Age: 70
Education: University
Hometown: Overschie
Family: Single
Occupation: Retired
engineer
Joline
When I go grocery shopping, I am actively taking steps towards supporting and prioritizing my health and wellbeing.
Problem statement
Joline is a retired engineer who needs a solution to address the challenges of limited mobility and accessibility during grocery shopping because they aim to maintain their independence and efficiently navigate the store while being able to carry groceries without facing significant obstacles.
Goals
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Prioritize health and wellbeing through mindful grocery shopping choices.
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Maintain independence and empowerment by managing their own grocery shopping.
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Establish a stable and fulfilling routine that includes regular grocery shopping.
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Make informed decisions by staying updated on nutritional information and food-related trends.
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Enjoy a pleasant and stress-free shopping experience.
Frustrations
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Limited access to nutritious and fresh food options.
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Feeling overwhelmed or confused by conflicting information on food products.
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Struggling with physical limitations when moving around the store or handling heavy grocery bags.
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Dealing with crowded or disorganized store environments that hinder easy navigation.
Bio
Joline is a retired engineer who lives alone in a peaceful neighborhood in Overschie, the Netherlands. They enjoy leading an active and healthy lifestyle, and grocery shopping plays a significant role in their daily routine. They are aware of the importance of maintaining their health and well-being. They believe that every visit to the grocery store is a proactive step towards achieving their goals.
Age: 75
Education: University
Hometown: Overschie
Family: Single
Occupation: Retired
teacher
Pieter
Shopping for groceries is more fun and engaging when accompanied by friends and neighbors.
Problem statement
Pieter is a retired teacher who needs a solution to address their feelings of loneliness because they recognize the importance of friendship and aim to incorporate social connections into their shopping experience.
Goals
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Seeks social interaction and enjoys shopping for groceries with friends and neighbors.
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Value convenience in grocery shopping experience.
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Aims to efficiently complete their shopping while enjoying the company of others.
Frustrations
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Experience occasional joint pain, finding it challenging to carry heavy grocery bags or walk long distances.
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Struggle to find an environment that fosters socialization and allows for meaningful conversations.
Bio
Pieter is a retired teacher who lives in Overschie, the Netherlands. They enjoy socializing and being an active member of their community. They value their independence and are always looking for opportunities to engage with others. They appreciate grocery stores that create a welcoming and inclusive environment, organize community events, promote local products, and provide seating areas for people to socialize.
While they enjoy shopping with friends, they also appreciate the convenience of online grocery shopping. Having the option for home delivery allows them to avoid physical strain while still enjoying the presence of their friends.
Competitive audit
Ideation
I aimed to examine several products that provide a range of services for the elderly and analyze the data collected. Furthermore, I employed an experimental approach to explore the strengths and limitations of the BUURT app.
Click to view the full competitive audit and audit report.
Problem statement
Based on the results of the interviews and competitive analysis, I identified several challenges associated with grocery shopping for older adults. I then selected the most significant problem statements for more in-depth exploration.
Statement 1:
How might we enable for elderly grocery shoppers to easily connect with others to enhance the social aspect of shopping?
Statement 2:
How might we turn grocery shopping into a social networking event for elders?
Statement 3:
How might we make grocery shopping more enjoyable for elderly?
I quickly brainstormed ideas to address the gaps found in the competitive analysis, with a particular emphasis on the 'social shopper', 'shopping helper', and 'shopping request' functionalities.
Paper wireframes
Starting the design
Digital wireframes
After ideating and drafting some paper wireframes, I created the initial designs for the BUURT app. The main focus was on providing individualized support to users by promoting 'social interaction', 'assisting in finding shopping companions', and 'enabling the request of shopping services'.
The home screen of the app serves as an interactive assistant that helps users navigate and select the service they need.
The global navigation feature of the app provides effortless
access to various app features.
Low-fidelity prototype
To prepare for the usability test, I created a simple prototype that connects user flows involving finding friends and helpers, as well as requesting shopping services. Additionally, I integrated features like messaging, calling, and event discovery into this prototype.
The BUURT's low-fidelity prototype can be viewed here.
(Click on the image below to enlarge.)
Usability study
#Parameters
Study type
Unmoderated usability study
Location
The Netherlands, remote
Participants
5 participants
Duration
20-40 minutes
#Mapping
I gathered usability study findings into an affinity diagram, and then I implemented the findings into the design for refinement based on their prioritization.
#Findings
These were the main findings uncovered by the usability study:
1
Learning Curve
Elderly users who are less familiar with technology need a learning curve to be able to use the messaging feature.
2
Typing Challenges
Some elderly users find it difficult to type on a mobile device due to limited dexterity or mobility. This situation also limits their ability to communicate effectively.
3
Preferences
Desire for Regular Shopping Trips
Transportation Preferences vary, with some users preferring to be picked up from home, while others want the flexibility to plan their own trips.
Mockups
01.
Based on insights from usability studies, I made changes to the interface to help users understand and navigate the app more effectively. I added a search bar for easy access to services. Additionally, I made specific modifications to the main screen to provide clearer guidance to users about the services offered by the product.
Before usability study
After usability study
02.
Based on usability studies, I have created solutions to address messaging challenges for elderly users. By introducing the 'Tap to Speak' feature to the Messages page, I've made communication quick and effortless. With this feature, users can now speak instead of typing messages using touch gestures. As a result, messaging becomes more accessible and user-friendly, specifically designed to cater to the needs of elderly individuals.
Before usability study
After usability study
03.
'Suggested message bubbles' is a tailored feature for the elderly, offering pre-written text options as clickable bubbles for easy messaging. These bubbles include common phrases or responses, simplifying communication with a quick tap. This feature reduces effort, enhances communication, and improves accessibility for elderly users, providing convenience in their messaging experience.
04.
To enhance the shopping experience, I have introduced two new features to the 'Find Shopping Helper' service. The first feature facilitates users in need of assistance by arranging for them to be picked up from home and shop with their helpers, ensuring a seamless journey back home afterward. The second feature enables users and their assistants to plan regular shopping trips. These enhancements, informed by usability tests, aim to deliver a more convenient and effortless shopping experience for users.
05.
I created the interface with the purpose of enabling users to connect and meet new people who have similar interests and preferences. By doing so, it provides an opportunity for them to meet new people and engage in meaningful interactions.
06.
Users have the option to participate in nearby 'Events', share events with their friends, or 'Create' and 'Host' their own events.
High-fidelity prototype
The high-fidelity prototype followed the same user flow as the low-fidelity prototype, including design changes made after the usability study.
The BUURT's high-fidelity prototype can be viewed here.
(Click on the image below to enlarge.)
Accessibility considerations
1
The layout I implemented is clean and easy to understand, featuring clear headings, well-organized content, and intuitive navigation.
I have made sure to provide clear labels for interactive elements, ensuring they are readable by screen readers.
2
I have increased the size of buttons, icons, and interactive elements to better suit elderly users who might face challenges with precise touch gestures.
3
By providing pre-filled options, suggested responses, voice input, or selection from predefined lists, I minimized the need for extensive typing.
Responsive Design
Information architecture
With the app designs completed, I started work on designing the responsive website. I used the BUURT sitemap to guide the organizational structure of each screen’s design to ensure a cohesive and consistent experience across devices.
The designs for screen size variation included destop, mobile, and tablet. I optimized the designs to fit specific user needs of each device and screen size.
Style Guide
While designing the BUURT product, I carefully selected a color scheme that combines vibrant and calming tones. The aim of this color scheme is to guide users throughout their product usage and create an inviting experience. The strategic use of colors aims to highlight the product's functions and elements in a clear and intuitive way. To ensure a comfortable reading experience, I prioritized the use of the 'Roboto' font for typography.
Additionally, I made sure that the messaging buttons are compatible with the 'Comic Neue' font. I have also implemented accessibility considerations, such as color contrast and font sizes, to cater to the needs of all users.
Colours
Typography
Large FABs
Going forward
Takeaways
Impact:
Users shared that the BUURT app is beneficial for elderly people's daily lives.
A peer's feedback suggests that the "BUURT app facilitates community connections, promotes empathy towards their needs, and increases awareness of those needs.
What I learned:
When designing an app for the elderly, I encountered the challenge of not having an existing product to examine. To overcome this, I took a proactive approach and conducted extensive research on the lives of the elderly. This allowed me to gain valuable insights and understand their unique needs and preferences. By immersing myself in their experiences and incorporating their feedback, I was able to create a meaningful and valuable product that catered specifically to their requirements.
Next steps
1
Conduct research to evaluate the app's effectiveness in fulfilling its aim of aiding elderly individuals.
2
Motivate the community to plan activities and allocate essential resources for the elderly individuals residing in the neighborhood.
3
Establish communication with sponsors who can provide guidance and recommendations to empower older individuals to lead a more independent lifestyle.