URGE APP
An inclusive app the empowers those who struggle with incontinence to live a normal life
Project Overview
The Urge App is a prescription-based application paired with a smart clothing device designed to support individuals struggling with urinary continence care. Created with the growing elderly population in mind, our solution addresses their unique needs while considering declining cognitive and physical abilities. Our goal is to empower users to live dignified, independent lives, enhancing their overall well-being by providing tailored care and support
Problem Statement
The growing elderly population faces significant challenges in managing urinary continence, particularly as declining cognitive and physical abilities impact their independence and quality of life. Our goal is to design a solution that not only addresses these needs but also empowers individuals to live with dignity and improved well-being.
My Role
Project Coordinator
Responsibilities
I organized daily stand-up meetings to update the team on progress and future plans. I utilized Trello for task tracking and goal setting, outlining daily objectives and maintaining an objective board to track weekly goals, deadlines, and deliverables, ensuring project alignment and progress.
Project Timeline
Week123567Research & Discovery4DefineTools
Figma
Adobe indesign
Adobe phototshop
Adobe Illustrator
Trello
Idiate & Design PrototypeTeam
Team of 3 working in collaboration with Hollister Incorperated
89Usability Testing, Feedback
& Refined DesignBusiness Goals
Align with Business Goals & Strategy
Solve User’s Problems
Ensure Usability & Accessibility
Adopt an Inclusive Approach Towards Users
Provide Scalable & Sustainable Solutions
Continuous Improvement & Iterative Testing
Design Goals
Adopt an inclusive approach twards users
Empower Users with Creativity & Innovation
Enhance Usability & Accessibility
Facilitate Collaboration & Community Engagement
Optimize Performance & Reliability
Sustainability & Ethical Design
Drive User Engagement & Retention
Working professionals managing incontinence
Elderly individuals with chronic health conditions
Who Our Users Are?
Target Audience
Individuals with physical disabilities
Caregivers supporting
elderly or disabled user
health-conscious elderly users seeking independence
—————————— Empathise ——————————
Divergent Thinking
Foundational Discovery Research
The Urge project’s discovery research focused on understanding the needs of elderly users, who seek simple, effective tools to manage their health and feel less isolated. Through interviews and observations, we identified pain points such as technology overwhelm and physical limitations, as well as a desire for intuitive interfaces and clear insights. Research emphasized the importance of creating a sense of community, allowing users to connect with others facing similar challenges. This research guided the design of an easy-to-use app that integrates health tracking, provides reminders, and fosters a supportive environment for elderly users.
Question
type
Research
goals
Core
Questions
Personas ———————————————
User Journey Maps ———————————
Observations Problems Needs ——————
Out Of Box Experience —————————
Empathetic Research ——————————
Right research meothod
Convert research goals to questions & question type
Understand user needs for health and wellness tracking:
What are the most important health metrics users want to track?
Which health features do users find most valuable or helpful?
Identify challenges users face when using technology:
What specific difficulties do elderly users face when interacting with apps or devices?
How do users feel about navigating complex technology interfaces?
Understand the desire for simplicity and ease-of-use in app design:
How important is ease-of-use for elderly users when choosing a health app?
What features do users find confusing or difficult to use in current apps?
Explore the need for social connectivity with others facing similar challenges:
Would you feel more supported if you could connect with others who experience similar health issues?
What kind of community features would make you feel less isolated?
Investigate user preferences for reminders and notifications:
What types of reminders would be most helpful to you (e.g., activity, hydration, medication)?
How often would you prefer to receive reminders?
Assess current tech usage and integration with existing devices:
What devices or wearables are you currently using to track your health?
How would you prefer your health app to integrate with your current devices?
Understand user needs for health and wellness tracking:
What are the most important health metrics users want to track?
Which health features do users find most valuable or helpful?
Chosen Research Methods and their Reasoning
Personas represent the goals, behaviors, and pain points of actual users.
To visualize the user's interactions with a product or service, identifying pain points and opportunities to enhance the overall experience
To uncover unspoken user behaviors, problems, and needs that might not be revealed through direct questioning, providing deeper insights into their real experiences.
Out-of-box experience research is used to evaluate the user's first impression and initial interactions with a product, ensuring it delivers a seamless, intuitive, and engaging start to their journey.
Empathetic research is used to deeply understand users' emotions, experiences, and perspectives, fostering human-centered solutions that genuinely address their needs and challenges.
Insights from Empathetic Research
The empathetic research session provided a comprehensive understanding of the challenges faced by wheelchair users, particularly regarding mobility, posture, and incontinence management. Insights from experts like Rosie Gowran and Kimberly Mathis highlighted the importance of customized wheelchair setups, various cushion types for pressure relief, and the impact of wheelchair design on user independence. Key challenges include maneuverability in tight spaces, adapting to different floor materials, and safely transferring to toilets. The session also emphasized the need for discreet catheterization solutions and accessible clothing adaptations to enhance user dignity and convenience. These findings underscore the critical role of thoughtful design and user-centered approaches in improving the quality of life for wheelchair users.
Insights from Observations Problems Needs Framework
The observation, problem, and need framework highlights the significant challenges faced by catheter users, encompassing physical, emotional, and logistical aspects of their daily lives. Key issues include frequent catheterization, long bathroom times, risk of UTIs, and difficulties managing bladder health while away from home. Additionally, users struggle with the stigma, embarrassment, and inconvenience associated with catheter use, such as loud packaging, waste disposal, and carrying supplies.
Addressing these challenges requires solutions that improve efficiency, discretion, and hygiene, while reducing the environmental impact of catheter waste. Innovations should aim to enhance the user experience by simplifying processes, ensuring accessibility, and empowering users to maintain their dignity and independence, both at home and in public spaces.
Insights from the Out Of Box Experience
The out-of-box experience highlights significant differences in catheter designs. Traditional packaging is bulky, difficult to carry discreetly, and challenging to open, requiring force that elderly users may lack. It increases the risk of contamination and UTIs due to the lack of protective casing and pre-applied lubrication. In contrast, reusable cases and modern packaging are smaller, more inconspicuous, easier to open, and provide better protection against external contamination. Pre-lubrication and protective wraps enhance usability, reduce spillage, and lower infection risks, making them more user-friendly and less daunting, particularly for first-time users.
—————————— Define ——————————
Convergent Thinking
User Journey Maps from Research
The user journey maps for Nigel and Kevin highlight the structured, repetitive nature of daily routines for individuals managing urinary incontinence with catheters. Both users prioritize maintaining dignity and independence while carefully tracking their liquid intake and ensuring timely bladder evacuation.
These insights emphasize the importance of designing solutions that accommodate varied lifestyles, enhance convenience, and promote dignity, ensuring users can manage their condition without disrupting their personal or professional lives.
User Mood Maps
Nigel and Kevin's happiness maps reveal how their emotional states are closely tied to their daily routines, with satisfaction stemming from meaningful activities like family time, physical exercise, and leisure. Both experience interruptions due to frequent bladder management, which is a necessary but disruptive aspect of their lives. While Nigel’s retired lifestyle allows for a more relaxed pace, Kevin balances his health needs with a busy professional schedule. These insights emphasize the importance of creating efficient, discreet, and adaptable health solutions that enhance their quality of life and allow them to focus on moments of connection, productivity, and enjoyment.
Data Based User Personas
Nigel is a 68-year-old man. 15 years ago, he had serious accident at work which caused a spinal cord injury and Cauda Equina syndrome. Eventually after a lot of hard work and physiotherapy he was able to walk again however he was not able to fully recover his continence.
Eleanor Williams, a 72-year-old retired teacher, values her independence and wants to stay active and connected with family while managing her health. She needs a simple, intuitive app that integrates with her existing devices, offers health tracking, and provides easy voice commands. Eleanor prefers clear, step-by-step guidance and reminders, without feeling overwhelmed by complex technology. She seeks a user-friendly solution that helps her stay healthy and engaged without frustration.
George Thompson, a 78-year-old retired engineer, enjoys staying active and connected with his family but prefers simple, functional technology. He needs an easy-to-use app that integrates with his smartwatch to track health, provides gentle reminders to stay active, and offers straightforward video calling features. While tech-savvy, he values clear instructions and customer support. George wants a practical solution that helps him monitor his well-being and stay in touch without unnecessary complexity.
Problem Statement
The growing elderly population faces complex challenges in managing urinary continence due to physical limitations, cognitive decline, and the stigma associated with the condition. Traditional solutions often fail to address their unique needs for dignity, independence, and simplicity. Additionally, navigating complex technology can overwhelm elderly users, limiting their ability to access critical health tools and support systems.
The Urge App aims to bridge this gap by offering an inclusive, easy-to-use solution that integrates health tracking, smart clothing technology, and community support. By empowering users like Nigel, Eleanor, and George, the app fosters dignity, independence, and a better quality of life through tailored, intuitive, and supportive features.
—————————— Idiate ——————————
Divergent Thinking
How I did the Ideation
During the ideation phase, several potential solutions were explored to address the challenges of urinary incontinence. One of the ideas discussed was the possibility of destigmatizing incontinence through increased media coverage, celebrity involvement, and support groups to help individuals feel less marginalized.
A key concept that was considered was the development of the "URGE" app, which could potentially track urine levels through an implantable device, alerting users when their bladder is full.
This approach aimed to offer greater control over urinary needs, improving dignity and quality of life. Additional features explored for the app included a bladder volume sensor, real-time notifications, a bathroom locator, and a section for daily Kegel exercises to help strengthen pelvic muscles.
The idea of incorporating a reward system for businesses offering accessible bathrooms was also considered, alongside providing a more personalized, non-invasive solution to managing incontinence for individuals with spinal cord injuries.
While these ideas are still in the exploration phase, they represent some of the possible directions to improve the lives of those affected by incontinence.
Wireframes
—————————— Prototype ——————————
App Prototype
In the concept development phase, various potential solutions were explored to support individuals with urinary incontinence. One idea was the development of a prescribed app tailored to individual needs, which could be connected to a doctor or physical therapist. This app would allow users to track their progress with pelvic floor exercises, providing real-time feedback to ensure correct form. A wearable device, such as a waistband, could be used to monitor the muscles and notify the user if they are performing the exercises incorrectly. This would help users improve strength and reduce the need for frequent physiotherapist visits.
Another concept involved tracking bodily signatures—heart rate, blood pressure, and respiratory rate—using a smart watch linked to the app. These bodily indicators could help users recognize when they need to urinate. Additionally, an injectable pressure sensor was proposed to be placed around the bladder to detect increased pressure as it fills, providing real-time feedback to the user and linking to the app for convenience and monitoring.
Further features considered for the app included tracking liquid intake and output, a bathroom locator with user ratings, daily exercise tips, and the use of quantum computing to predict when users would need to urinate. Additionally, the app could scan drinks for liquid content and alert users if they consume diuretics like coffee or alcohol, and provide a list of nearby stores selling catheters. While these ideas were explored, they represent potential solutions to help improve the quality of life for those with incontinence.
The concept also explored integrating biometric sensors for exercise form correction, focusing on the benefits of pelvic floor exercises for individuals recovering from conditions like Cauda Equina Syndrome. These exercises, along with gentle aerobic activities, could help improve bladder, bowel, and sexual function.
Smart Clothing Prototype
The smart clothing was envisioned through initial sketching through initial sketching and material research, focusing on functionality and user comfort. We developed detailed renderings using Illustrator and Photoshop to visualize the design clearly. To further explore the practicality of the concept, we created a wearable prototype by sewing the components, allowing us to assess its fit, feel, and functionality in a real-world context.
—————————— Test ——————————
The concept development focused on creating a smart solution for individuals suffering from conditions like Cauda Equina Syndrome, specifically helping them perform pelvic floor exercises at home. Key elements include:
Integration with Smart Devices: The product will connect with smartwatches and phones, using advanced features like hydration tracking, muscle monitoring, and real-time feedback on exercise performance.
Non-invasive Solutions: Emphasis on providing a non-invasive, user-friendly product that supports self-management of health, particularly through smart clothing that tracks exercise form and muscle engagement.
Supporting Health Professionals: The system allows physicians and physiotherapists to monitor progress and provide feedback, reducing the burden on healthcare professionals.
Hydration and Muscle Tracking: By utilizing red and infrared light technologies on smartwatches, the device can track hydration levels, heart rate, and muscle activity. The use of electromyography (EMG) sensors ensures that users are performing exercises correctly, with wireless functionality allowing remote tracking.
Smart Clothing for Exercise Feedback: Smart clothing (e.g., leggings, shorts, or underwear) will be equipped with sensors that provide real-time feedback on muscle contractions, ensuring the user is performing pelvic floor exercises correctly. The clothing will also monitor other biometric data like breathing, heart rate, and muscle tension.
User Experience and Emotional Support: The app and smart clothing will also consider the user’s emotional state, providing encouragement and guidance to improve both mental and physical health.
Features for Carers: The system allows for sharing progress with caregivers or physicians, improving collaboration in managing the individual’s health.
The system aims to empower users to safely perform exercises at home, track their progress, and reduce dependence on frequent physician visits, all while offering privacy and support.
Urge Marketing Board
Going Forward
Reflecting on the journey of this project, we realize the immense potential that innovative, user-centered design holds for improving the lives of individuals dealing with health conditions such as Cauda Equina Syndrome. The work we’ve done—integrating smart technology into healthcare solutions—has the capacity to make a real impact on reducing healthcare burdens and improving self-management for patients. Going forward, we aim to build upon the insights we’ve gained from our primary research, especially our direct engagement with users, and continue refining our design to be even more user-friendly and accessible. Additionally, incorporating futuristic elements, such as predictive technologies and seamless integration with wearable devices, will enhance the product's capability to support individuals in their journey toward recovery.
Key Takeaways
One of the most valuable lessons learned throughout this project was the power of research in shaping practical, innovative solutions. Through primary research and user engagement, we gained a deeper understanding of the needs and challenges faced by individuals with spinal cord injuries, which in turn shaped our design direction. The experience of forecasting and backcasting helped us step outside of the present and envision how technology can evolve to meet future demands. We also realized the importance of balance—while creativity is essential, it must be grounded in realism and user needs to make meaningful progress.
Impact
This project has the potential to make a significant impact on the healthcare industry, particularly in helping patients with conditions like Cauda Equina Syndrome regain independence and manage their health more effectively at home. By reducing the need for frequent physician visits and offering a non-invasive solution, the product could alleviate strain on the healthcare system while empowering users to take control of their health. The integration of wearable technology, smart clothing, and real-time feedback creates a comprehensive system that not only monitors progress but also provides emotional and motivational support, which is crucial for users’ long-term success.
What I have Learned
I’ve learned the importance of blending technology with user needs through empathy and forward-thinking design. Engaging with real users and researching their lifestyles allowed us to create a practical, innovative solution.
Throughout this project, I developed skills in forecasting, research, and teamwork, gaining invaluable experience in understanding the real-world implications of design decisions, particularly in healthcare. Working with a real-world client emphasized the need to design products that not only meet the immediate needs of users but also anticipate future trends. Engaging with users directly, through experiences such as attending a wheelchair skills class, provided insights that shaped our design to be more user-centered. This process helped me appreciate the complexity of creating healthcare solutions that are both functional and sensitive to the unique challenges of the target audience.
I’ve learned the significance of iterative design and the importance of continuous user feedback throughout the development process. Testing prototypes and refining ideas based on real-world input made our solution more effective.
This project highlighted how essential it is to embrace an iterative approach in design. By testing prototypes, gathering user feedback, and continuously refining our concepts, we were able to create a product that better addressed user needs. The feedback loop allowed us to identify potential issues early and improve upon them, ensuring our solution was practical and user-friendly. This process reinforced the idea that design is never truly “finished” and that ongoing user interaction is key to creating the most effective and relevant product. Through this approach, I learned to be more adaptable and open to change, which is crucial when designing solutions for complex, real-world problems.
Next Steps
The next steps involve refining the design based on the feedback from both users and healthcare professionals. We plan to iterate on the wearable technology and smart clothing features, ensuring they are comfortable, intuitive, and accurately track the necessary metrics. Additionally, we aim to explore partnerships with healthcare providers to test the product in real-world environments, ensuring its effectiveness and ease of use. With the foundations we’ve built, we hope to continue evolving this concept into a fully realized solution that can be brought to market, helping those with Cauda Equina Syndrome regain control over their health and improve their quality of life.
