RSA Design Competition

creating a innovative solution for combating social isolation and loneliness

role: sole ux/ui designer | client: rsa student design awards | tools: adobe xd

the vision

the project vision is to explore how i might use entertainment technology to connect people remotely to tackle the increase social isolation and loneliness which prevailed during and after the covid-19 pandemic - paying particular attention to the reality that relationship and families of all sizes, shapes and backgrounds were unable to see each other in person and lost so much as a result.



what did i do?

i was the sole ux designer/researcher on this project, conducting everything from research to usability tests and creating prototypes from low fidelity paper prototypes to digital, interactive hi-fi designs. i was responsible for the invention of this product and determining the overall design direction, while communicating with my lecturer and peers to gain feedback on my work.

desk research

i searched through scholarly articles focused on mental health during covid-19, particularly for the military and frontline workers. i wanted to explore the challenges faced by people who are often separated from their loved ones due to their taxing jobs and distance, and who may rely on technology or not have time for communication. i also researched the importance of handwritten letters for these individuals and wanted to explore ways to make the process more efficient, creative, and accessible.


user stories
  • as a girlfriend, whose partner's in the military - i'd want to connect with them and make sure they're ok as they don't get home often and have little contact with the outside world
  • as a nurse, who's working long hard hours and away from family and loved ones - i'd love to find a way to connect with them and make sure they know i'm still here for them
  • as a family member of a front-line worker - i'd like to easily keep in touch with my loved one who mightn't have easy access to their phone or be able to text or call all the time
  • as a soldier serving a tour abroad - i'd like to keep close connections with my partner and family so i feel as though i'm in the loop as being away from home for a long period of time makes me feel isolated and alone in the world

empathy map

the empathy map is to gain a better understanding of the users in the usability tests conducted. this is to gain a better sense of empathy, look and see how a person feels, look into what they say during the tests, what do they do, what is their boy language like and how do they think?


affinity diagram

with the affinity diagram, you take all the sticky notes from the empathy map and divide them up into different headings. the headings aren't preplanned - if different sticky notes look like they connect with each other you put them in the same pile. afterwards, you get the headings of the main problems you need to solve based on the user feedback from interviews.

user pain points
  • isolation and disconnect between family members and loved ones
  • phone calls and video chats can get boring and repetitive
  • loss of natural meaningful conversation
  • worrying about the well being of loved ones
  • unable to maintain contact with loved ones when their work doesn't allow
user goals
  • feel connected with loved ones
  • add meaningfulness into conversations through technology
  • make calls and video chats exciting or find a replacement
  • find a way to ease people's minds - gain clarity about wellbeing of loved ones - quickly and efficiently
  • find a simple way of connecting that means a lot

lo-fi prototype

sketched screens and states were photographed and inserted into adobe xd for usability testing purposes. Research participant feedback was noted.

iterations of lo-fi prototype based on feedback
  • add loading page (think about the overall story) - more details to the homepage
  • think of the journey after the letter gets posted
  • animations rather then folding the letter and then moving it into the postbox
mid-fi prototype

for mid-fi, i started looking into how the app for function, how the animations would look in really bringing this product to life. i kept the user in mind when designing and even though there was no colour or textures - i still wanted to make it feel real.

iterations of mid-fi prototype based on feedback
  • due to user feedback - i'll incorporate instructions to the letter writing process in the beginning to make it easier for new users to navigate the application - this will also include an i (information) button where the user has an option to click on if they're stuck
  • i added an option now for the user to edit their profile due to user feedback of editing the profile to make them more customisable. i'll think of way of developing this idea to make it more appealing to users.

hi-fi prototype


for hi-fi, i colourised the prototype - making the contents more realistic. adding a proper stamp and envelope, and making sure the animations are syncing properly.

i wanted to create something fun and creative. i wanted it to appeal to a wide audience but especially my target audience of loved ones kept apart.

test out the prototype and view submittion artboards!