A gentle system for staying human.
This project began during the pandemic, when many older adults found themselves spending long periods at home alone. With in-person visits restricted, even close families struggled to stay in touch.
Over time, the lack of meaningful interaction didn't just lead to loneliness—it began to affect physical and emotional health.
The core issue wasn't that older adults didn't know how to use technology. It was that existing platforms weren't designed to foster the kind of light, ongoing presence that sustains human connection.
As part of the Google UX Design program, I prototyped "weOK", a mobile app that helps socially isolated seniors stay connected through shared interests, neighborhood-based suggestions, and low-pressure group activities—both online and offline.
The goal was not to introduce more features, but to design something that felt familiar enough to use, and intentional enough to matter.
User interviews helped reframe our assumptions. Seniors didn't need novelty. They needed rhythm. They didn't want to be entertained—they wanted to feel included.
We designed with Facebook-inspired visuals, a simplified onboarding process, and soft prompts that made joining community activities feel easy and optional, never overwhelming.
It reminded me that good design doesn't always aim for scale. Sometimes, it just helps one person feel less forgotten.