top of page

Designing ELD-AR Memories

Reminiscence Therapy App for our elders with Alzheimer’s and Dementia.

1. Project Overview

ELD-AR is an AI-powered reminiscence therapy app designed to support seniors with Alzheimer’s and Dementia, helping them reconnect with cherished memories through personalized music, photos, and stories.

​

As Co-Founder & Lead Product Designer, I led the end-to-end design process, crafting an intuitive, accessible interface that prioritizes caregiver involvement, emotional well-being, and cognitive accessibility. The platform currently serves 1.1 million users and adheres to ADA, WCAG, and 508 accessibility standards to ensure ease of use for all.

2. Problem Statement

Seniors with memory-related conditions often experience:

  • Memory loss & emotional isolation

  • Difficulty recalling joyful moments

  • Limited connection with family

  • A decline in emotional well-being

Traditional therapy approaches lack personalization, engagement, and accessibility, making it challenging for seniors to relive positive memories.

welcomeScreen-img-03.jpg

How Might We

design an intuitive, immersive app that enables seniors to reconnect with cherished memories through music, photos, and stories—enhancing emotional well-being and fostering meaningful connections?

3. Research and Insights

To build a human-centered solution, I conducted ethnographic research involving:

  • 100+ caregivers, medical professionals, and seniors

  • Usability studies & journey mapping

  • Stakeholder interviews & A/B testing

Key Insights:

  • Tech Adaptation Challenges: Seniors struggled with navigation and digital literacy.

  • Caregiver Role: A strong need for family and caregiver support features.

  • Personalization Matters: Users engaged more with familiar, emotionally resonant content.

User Flow

userflow_edited.png

Research and Evaluation Tools

user-research-tools.jpg

Insights from the above tools helped make improvements in elder care and reduce caregiver stress, fostering a more supportive care environment within the application.

User Personas

Primary User: Beneficiary

User Persona 01 - Beneficiary User.png

Secondary User: Operator

User Persona 02 - Main User.png

4. Accessibility & Inclusive Design

ELD-AR Memories was designed to be fully accessible and inclusive, ensuring seniors with Alzheimer's and Dementia—regardless of their cognitive, visual, or motor abilities—could use it with ease.

🔹 Challenges Seniors Faced

🚫 Small text & poor contrast reduced readability
🚫 Complex navigation caused frustration
🚫 Limited mobility made interactions difficult

🔹 Accessibility-First Design Decisions

✅ Text Readability: Large, high-contrast fonts & resizable text
✅ Cognitive Load Reduction: Minimalist UI, calming colors, and intuitive icons
✅ Navigation & Input Flexibility: Voice commands, touch-friendly interactions
✅ Assistive Tech Support: Full compatibility with screen readers

📌 WCAG 2.1 AA & ADA-compliant design to ensure inclusivity.

🔹 Usability Testing & Iteration

  • 30% improvement in task completion rates after refining contrast & navigation

  • Seniors with mobility impairments reported 40% fewer navigation errors with voice commands

  • Dark mode and high-contrast themes boosted readability for visually impaired users

🔹 Impact & Results

✔ Higher engagement from seniors with visual & cognitive impairments
✔ Improved caregiver efficiency through accessible content management
✔ Positive feedback from accessibility advocates & usability experts

5. Design and Ideation

Using insights from research, I focused on reducing cognitive load, enhancing usability, and ensuring accessibility.

Key Design Considerations:

✅ Large, high-contrast fonts for readability
✅ Minimalistic UI with calming colors to reduce cognitive overload
✅ Voice navigation & touch-friendly interactions for easy use
✅ Personalized content based on AI-driven memory recommendations

design-ideation-01.jpg
design-ideation-02.jpg
design-ideation-03.jpg

  • Incorporated large fonts to support elderly users, particularly those with vision and cognitive challenges.

design-ideation-04.jpg
design-ideation-06.jpg
design-ideation-05.jpg

  • Applied calming color schemes and minimalistic layouts to reduce cognitive load and enhance user experience.

6. Prototyping and User Testing

I developed a high-fidelity prototype and conducted usability testing with both seniors and caregivers. Testing revealed that some users had difficulty navigating certain features, which led to improvements in iconography and accessibility settings (e.g., adding a larger text option).

7. Final Design Solution

The final product is a streamlined, accessible, and emotionally engaging app tailored for seniors and caregivers.
​
Personalized Memory Therapy: AI-curated music, photos, and stories

Calm & Accessible UI: Simple navigation, large fonts, and voice support
Caregiver Features: Easy content management and shared memory experiences

​

User Impact:
✔ Enhanced Emotional Well-being: Seniors experienced increased moments of joy and memory clarity
✔ Reduced Caregiver Burden: Simplified content management and improved engagement tracking
✔ Stronger Family Connection: Facilitated shared experiences and nostalgic moments

8. Impact and Results

  • 📈 20% increase in user retention through personalized memory triggers

  • 👩‍⚕️ 30% boost in caregiver engagement, improving task efficiency

  • 💡 Higher satisfaction rates, with overwhelmingly positive feedback on usability and impact

9. Reflection and Learnings

This project reinforced the importance of designing for cognitive accessibility. I learned to:
🔹 Prioritize simplicity & inclusivity in design decisions
🔹 Leverage continuous user feedback to drive improvements
🔹 Balance emotion-driven design with AI-powered personalization

10. Road Map Ahead: Next Steps

🚀 Enhancing VR Experiences: Deepening immersive memory therapy
🤖 Expanding AI Personalization: Adaptive content recommendations for users

bottom of page