Even in a small country like El Salvador, many seniors live independently at home or in care centers. For these older adults, their time and how they spend it is incredibly valuable. Whether shared with loved ones or spent in solitude, their experiences and memories deserve to be preserved and cherished.
Even in a small country like El Salvador, many seniors live independently at home or in care centers. For these older adults, their time and how they spend it is incredibly valuable. Whether shared with loved ones or spent in solitude, their experiences and memories deserve to be preserved and cherished.
Even in a small country like El Salvador, many seniors live independently at home or in care centers. For these older adults, their time and how they spend it is incredibly valuable. Whether shared with loved ones or spent in solitude, their experiences and memories deserve to be preserved and cherished.
YUJU! Is an app specifically designed for seniors that allows them to stimulate their brain with strategic games and allows them to entertain themselves and connect with their loved ones.
YUJU! Is an app specifically designed for seniors that allows them to stimulate their brain with strategic games and allows them to entertain themselves and connect with their loved ones.
However, even the most meaningful experiences can lose their value if seniors don't have an easy and intuitive way to capture and revisit them.
However, even the most meaningful experiences can lose their value if seniors don't have an easy and intuitive way to capture and revisit them.
However, even the most meaningful experiences can lose their value if seniors don't have an easy and intuitive way to capture and revisit them.
Seniors who are familiar with technology but face challenges when navigating digital platforms.
Seniors who are familiar with technology but face challenges when navigating digital platforms.
Seniors who are familiar with technology but face challenges when navigating digital platforms.
User research and testing | heuristic evaluations | Lead UX/UI designer | Usability Testing | information architecture
User research and testing | heuristic evaluations | Lead UX/UI designer | Usability Testing | information architecture
User research and testing | heuristic evaluations | Lead UX/UI designer | Usability Testing | information architecture
6 months
6 months
4 product designers.
4 product designers.
At the Heart of Research
At the Heart of Research
At the Heart of Research
Project Overview
Made for
Made for
Team
My responsabilities
Timeline
Despite the growing need for inclusive technology, most entertainment and cognitive stimulation apps are not designed with seniors in mind. Older adults in El Salvador, whether living at home or in care centers, often face confusing interfaces, small text, and overwhelming menus that make digital experiences frustrating rather than enjoyable.
Despite the growing need for inclusive technology, most entertainment and cognitive stimulation apps are not designed with seniors in mind. Older adults in El Salvador, whether living at home or in care centers, often face confusing interfaces, small text, and overwhelming menus that make digital experiences frustrating rather than enjoyable.
Basic activities, such as finding a game, reading a book, or revisiting personal memories were difficult to access. Many seniors abandoned these apps entirely, leaving them without suitable tools to stimulate their minds, enjoy their free time, or preserve meaningful moments.
Basic activities, such as finding a game, reading a book, or revisiting personal memories were difficult to access. Many seniors abandoned these apps entirely, leaving them without suitable tools to stimulate their minds, enjoy their free time, or preserve meaningful moments.
The problem
Lost in the menus
Lost in the menus
Lost in the menus
Smart & Simple
Smart & Simple
1
1
2
2
3
3
4
4
Core Questions
Design Thinking
Empathize
Empathize
Desk Research
Desk Research
Problem statement
Problem statement
Wireframes and app flows
Wireframes and app flows
Wireframes and app flows
UI KIT
UI KIT
Final usability tests
Feeback
Approved wireframes, flows & card sorting
Approved wireframes, flows & card sorting
Functional prototype
Functional prototype
Final usability testing
Feedback
Brainstorming
Brainstorming
Brainstorming
Proposed Info Architecture
Proposed Info Architecture
Proposed Info Architecture
Defined the app’s core feature
Defined the app’s core feature
Defined the app’s core feature
First heuristics evaluation
First heuristics evaluation
First heuristics evaluation
Initial usability evaluation
Initial usability evaluation
Initial usability evaluation
Initial card sorting
Initial card sorting
Initial card sorting
Key insights
Key insights
User behavior
User behavior
User interviews
User interviews
Field observations
Field observations
Define
Define
Ideate
Ideate
Prototype
Prototype
Test
Test
How are seniors interacting with their current smartphones, and what difficulties do they face?
How are seniors interacting with their current smartphones, and what difficulties do they face?
What does “easy to use” truly mean for a population with varying levels of digital literacy?
What does “easy to use” truly mean for a population with varying levels of digital literacy?
What are their emotional needs when using a digital platform beyond simple functionality?
What are their emotional needs when using a digital platform beyond simple functionality?
How can we create an intuitive app that helps seniors easily access entertainment without feeling lost in technology?
How can we create an intuitive app that helps seniors easily access entertainment without feeling lost in technology?
Reframing the Challenge
Reframing the Challenge
Design Process
Design Process
Design Process
Reframing the Challenge
Reframing the Challenge
Design Thinking
Listening, Learning, Implementing
Listening, Learning, Implementing
Listening, Learning, Implementing
28 Interviews
28 Interviews
Logbook
Logbook
28 Interviews
Logbook
🗣️
🗣️
🗣️
Observation
Observation
Observation
📝
📝
📝
🥸
🥸
🥸
"Everytime I open the app, I forget how to use it and i feel like I have to start all over again."
"I just want a calm, simple space where I can enjoy myself without feeling rushed."
"I just want a calm, simple space where I can enjoy myself without feeling rushed."
"There are always too many buttons on the screen and I'm never sure which one to press."
"Most things aren't made for people like me. It feels like none thought about older users when designing apps."
"Most things aren't made for people like me. It feels like none thought about older users when designing apps."
"Most things aren't made for people like me. It feels like none thought about older users when designing apps."
"I'm scared of pressing the wrong thing and breaking something because i don't know how to fix it."
"I'm scared of pressing the wrong thing and breaking something because i don't know how to fix it."
"I'm scared of pressing the wrong thing and breaking something because i don't know how to fix it."
"I sometimes panick because I get and ad and I can't get out of it."
"I sometimes panick because I get and ad and I can't get out of it."
"I sometimes panick because I get and ad and I can't get out of it."
"I get lost in the menus and don't know how to go back to the home screen without help."
"I get lost in the menus and don't know how to go back to the home screen without help."
"I get lost in the menus and don't know how to go back to the home screen without help."
"Everything moves too fast and I need time to understand what's happening on the screen."
"Sometimes I don't understand the language the apps use."
Tuning with our users
Tuning with our users
Tuning with our users
What we heard (Loud and Clear)
What we heard (Loud and Clear)
What we heard (Loud and Clear)
[The methodlogy]
[The methodlogy]
[The methodlogy]
[The methodlogy]
[The methodlogy]
Insights
Insights
We explored what motivates seniors to use technology and where they face challenges.
We explored what motivates seniors to use technology and where they face challenges.
We explored what motivates seniors to use technology and where they face challenges.
We realized users were seeking simplicity, emotional connection, and a sense of control none of which were being met by typical App models.
We realized users were seeking simplicity, emotional connection, and a sense of control none of which were being met by typical App models.
We realized users were seeking simplicity, emotional connection, and a sense of control none of which were being met by typical App models.
What truly matters to them…
What truly matters to them…
What truly matters to them…
What truly matters to them…
Emotional Connection
Emotional Connection
Emotional Connection
Friendly Interface
Friendly Interface
Friendly Interface
Information Architecture
Building smart bases
Building smart bases
Building smart bases
Who we designed for…
Who we designed for…
Who we designed for…
Designing with Heart: What We Built
Designing with Heart: What We Built
Designing with Heart: What We Built
The solution
We imagined Yuju as an emotionally supportive ecosystem built around Connection, Joy and Simplicity, designed to empower seniors in their digital experiences..
We imagined Yuju as an emotionally supportive ecosystem built around Connection, Joy and Simplicity, designed to empower seniors in their digital experiences..
We imagined Yuju as an emotionally supportive ecosystem built around Connection, Joy and Simplicity, designed to empower seniors in their digital experiences..
Designing a smart and simple Information Architecture was essential to shaping a UI that felt intuitive, approachable, and effortless for seniors to navigate. Every interaction was carefully mapped to reduce cognitive load, minimize steps, and ensure that users could move through the app with confidence.
Designing a smart and simple Information Architecture was essential to shaping a UI that felt intuitive, approachable, and effortless for seniors to navigate. Every interaction was carefully mapped to reduce cognitive load, minimize steps, and ensure that users could move through the app with confidence.
Designing a smart and simple Information Architecture was essential to shaping a UI that felt intuitive, approachable, and effortless for seniors to navigate. Every interaction was carefully mapped to reduce cognitive load, minimize steps, and ensure that users could move through the app with confidence.
What's next?
What's next?
What's next?
Great design starts with thoughtful wireframes.
Great design starts with thoughtful wireframes.
Great design starts with thoughtful wireframes.
Design System
Next came designing the UI. We carefully selected colors that felt warm and comforting to our senior users, ensuring visual clarity without overwhelming them. Custom icons were crafted to be easily recognizable, and a memorable tab bar was designed to highlight the app’s core features, providing quick access and enhancing the overall navigation experience.
Next came designing the UI. We carefully selected colors that felt warm and comforting to our senior users, ensuring visual clarity without overwhelming them. Custom icons were crafted to be easily recognizable, and a memorable tab bar was designed to highlight the app’s core features, providing quick access and enhancing the overall navigation experience.
Next came designing the UI. We carefully selected colors that felt warm and comforting to our senior users, ensuring visual clarity without overwhelming them. Custom icons were crafted to be easily recognizable, and a memorable tab bar was designed to highlight the app’s core features, providing quick access and enhancing the overall navigation experience.
Wireframing
Wireframing was a crucial step in laying the foundation for a clear and intuitive user experience.
We focused on simplifying each screen, minimizing distractions, and creating a logical flow between activities. The wireframes helped us map out the user journey, ensuring that key actions like playing a game, listening to the radio, or accessing the Memories Gallery were easy to find and required as few steps as possible.
This stage allowed us to test and refine the structure before moving into visual design.
Wireframing was a crucial step in laying the foundation for a clear and intuitive user experience.
We focused on simplifying each screen, minimizing distractions, and creating a logical flow between activities. The wireframes helped us map out the user journey, ensuring that key actions like playing a game, listening to the radio, or accessing the Memories Gallery were easy to find and required as few steps as possible.
This stage allowed us to test and refine the structure before moving into visual design.
Wireframing was a crucial step in laying the foundation for a clear and intuitive user experience.
We focused on simplifying each screen, minimizing distractions, and creating a logical flow between activities. The wireframes helped us map out the user journey, ensuring that key actions like playing a game, listening to the radio, or accessing the Memories Gallery were easy to find and required as few steps as possible.
This stage allowed us to test and refine the structure before moving into visual design.
Building trust
Building trust
Building trust
To support our seniors in navigating Yuju, we designed and implemented friendly characters that guided them through the interface, helping create a sense of familiarity, comfort, and ease in their digital journey.
To support our seniors in navigating Yuju, we designed and implemented friendly characters that guided them through the interface, helping create a sense of familiarity, comfort, and ease in their digital journey.
To support our seniors in navigating Yuju, we designed and implemented friendly characters that guided them through the interface, helping create a sense of familiarity, comfort, and ease in their digital journey.
Our card sorting and usability testing revealed crucial gaps in how seniors understood and navigated the platform but they also gave us a clear path forward.
Our card sorting and usability testing revealed crucial gaps in how seniors understood and navigated the platform but they also gave us a clear path forward.
Card sorting helped us simplify the app’s digital language, ensuring that categories and labels made sense to older users. Usability testing uncovered moments of confusion and friction, guiding us to redesign the experience with a stronger focus on clarity, emotional connection, and intuitive flow.
Card sorting helped us simplify the app’s digital language, ensuring that categories and labels made sense to older users. Usability testing uncovered moments of confusion and friction, guiding us to redesign the experience with a stronger focus on clarity, emotional connection, and intuitive flow.
Card sorting helped us simplify the app’s digital language, ensuring that categories and labels made sense to older users. Usability testing uncovered moments of confusion and friction, guiding us to redesign the experience with a stronger focus on clarity, emotional connection, and intuitive flow.
When we presented our findings and prototype for Yuju, the impact was immediate. We created meaningful, accessible experiences for seniors and our usability insights could drive not only design features, but deeper emotional connection and engagement with the older adult community.
When we presented our findings and prototype for Yuju, the impact was immediate. We created meaningful, accessible experiences for seniors and our usability insights could drive not only design features, but deeper emotional connection and engagement with the older adult community.
When we presented our findings and prototype for Yuju, the impact was immediate. We created meaningful, accessible experiences for seniors and our usability insights could drive not only design features, but deeper emotional connection and engagement with the older adult community.
From insights to impact
From insights to impact
From insights to impact
The product?
The product?
The product?
For the past four years, I’ve worked across B2B and B2C projects, uncovering user needs and translating them into practical solutions using Design Thinking.
For the past four years, I’ve worked across B2B and B2C projects, uncovering user needs and translating them into practical solutions using Design Thinking.
