Role: UX Researcher and Designer

Timeline: 6 months

Methods:

📌 Context & Problem

Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is often the first stage of dementia, affecting millions of older adults. While non-pharmacological interventions like cognitive training can help, older users often lack tools to engage independently and regularly from home.

The goal of this project was to design and evaluate a mobile application, Bo App, paired with a brain-sensing device to support older adults in cognitive training, with real-time biofeedback and motivational features.

Older adults with mild cognitive impairment often struggle to adopt digital training tools. Existing apps felt clinical and intimidating, leading to low engagement and high dropout rates. Our challenge was to design a fun, game-inspired app that made cognitive training both accessible and enjoyable.

🎯 Research Goals

• Understand how older adults approach self-guided brain training at home
• Identify usability barriers with biofeedback tools
• Explore how feedback design influences motivation and consistency
• Co-design features that improve engagement and autonomy

🔬 Methods

🕹️ UX Approach

• Gamification: Introduced interactive mini-games, progress feedback, and playful metaphors to transform abstract exercises into engaging challenges.
• User Flows: Created simplified onboarding and session flows in Figma to minimize friction for first-time users.