VitalEase is a cutting-edge digital smart home system thoughtfully designed for individuals living with moderate Myasthenia Gravis. Tailored to address their unique needs, VitalEase provides a safe, supportive, and effortlessly manageable living environment. Through intuitive automation and adaptive technology, the system ensures daily tasks a c simplified, energy conservation is prioritized, and safety is always maintained.
Duration
2 weeks
Tools
Figma, Adobe Photoshop, Procreate
My Role
User Research, Concept Development, Interface Design, Visual Design
01 Livingroom
The living room section is designed for seamless integration with smart devices, offering elderly users enhanced comfort and convenience through features like ergonomic sofa adjustments, room temperature control, and simplified entertainment system management.
02 Bedroom
The bedroom section, equipped with HomePod devices, provides features thoughtfully designed for individuals with Myasthenia Gravis and anyone prioritizing health and comfort. These features include voice-activated controls, ambient soundscapes for relaxation, and seamless integration with health-monitoring systems, creating a space that enhances well-being and convenience.
03 Kitchen
The kitchen system integrates with smart devices like HomePods or refrigerators to prioritize safety and health. It offers tailored recipe recommendations, cooking device control for enhanced safety, and ingredient expiration alerts to reduce waste, enabling users to prepare healthy meals efficiently and securely.
Features
04 Bathroom
An SOS button for emergencies, such as falls, ensuring quick assistance when needed
Background Story
My grandfather has been a moderate myasthenia gravis patient for ten years. He was once a marine engineer, primarily responsible for sea trials of newly constructed ships. Because he spent about eight to nine months each year on board, the years of hard work and the lack of balanced nutrition on sea voyages likely contributed to the onset of his myasthenia gravis. I have always admired him, but it also pains me to see how he has transformed from a strong, capable engineer who could handle all kinds of mechanical tasks to someone who now requires medication and assistance due to muscle weakness.
In my view, while medication remains essential for treatment, there is also an opportunity to make meaningful improvements at home—especially since home is where many patients, like my grandfather, spend most of their time. These improvements could help them navigate daily life with greater ease. This is what inspired me to pursue this project.
What is Myasthenia Gravis(MG)？
Myasthenia Gravis (MG) is a chronic neuromuscular disorder characterized primarily by muscle fatigue. While it can occur at any age, it is more common in older adults and women between the ages of 30 and 40. Studies suggest that approximately 20 out of every 100,000 people are affected by this condition.
Common symptoms include drooping eyelids, double vision, and weakness in facial, throat, and limb muscles; in severe cases, it can even affect breathing. Although MG cannot be completely cured, most patients can manage their symptoms and maintain a good quality of life with medication and healthy lifestyle practices.
The impact of myasthenia Gravis
User Research
My primary interview subject was my grandfather, with additional insights gathered from my mother and grandmother, who are his primary caregivers. Supplementary data was also referenced from relevant surveys to provide a more comprehensive perspective.
Since your diagnosis, how do you feel the symptoms have impacted your daily life? Have there been any changes over time?
What daily activities (such as dressing, cooking, or going out) do you find the most challenging to manage?
Persona
Journey Map
Painpoints
What if?
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What if I could set reminders on a device to prepare herbal medicine, take medications, or manage daily tasks more easily?
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What if a device could monitor my sleep, detect abnormalities, and instantly alert my family?
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What if utensils were designed with features like thicker handles and anti-slip grips to make eating easier?
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What if cookware could effortlessly soften food while preserving its nutrition and flavor?
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What if a smart call button allowed instant communication with family or caregivers when I needed help?
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What if there were effective solutions or devices to ensure restful sleep and help manage anxiety?
Brainstorm
Design Opportunity
Solution
The smart home appliance system enhances the daily living experience for patients, focusing on a residence-friendly design. Interactive setups in the bedroom, kitchen, living room, and bathroom elevate the overall living experience. Key improvements include convenience, psychological support, monitoring, and real-time communication, all designed to comprehensively meet the patient’s needs.
Information Architecture
Moodboard
Sketch
Wireframe
Drawing from observations of my grandparents’ daily routines, I have developed the following journey map to capture their experiences, needs, and interactions throughout the day.
After conducting interviews with my grandparents, my mom, and several patients, I developed the following persona based on their insights and experiences.
Competitive Analysis
After reviewing the current market for smart home devices, I analyzed their features, strengths, and weaknesses to gain a comprehensive understanding of their capabilities and limitations.
Storyboard
The smart home system is designed to adapt to different in-home scenarios, including providing specialized assistance for elderly residents. In the event of a fall, the system automatically activates an emergency response feature. A large, clearly visible SOS button will prominently appear on the screen, allowing the individual to request help quickly and effortlessly.For seniors who enjoy spending time in the kitchen, the smart home system offers a personalized and user-friendly cooking assistant. It can suggest daily recipes tailored specifically to Grandparents' preferences and dietary needs, based on the ingredients available in the refrigerator.
Using the gathered information, I created a sketch of the interface and developed a wireframe for it in Figma.
Product Name
HomeKit
Xiaomi’s smart ecosystem
Flyingvoice
Hifi Design
This advanced system features four integrated sections—bathroom, bedroom, living room, and kitchen—designed to enhance safety, comfort, and convenience by managing device statuses and ensuring the overall security of your home
Badroom
Equipped with HomePod devices, the bedroom section offers features tailored for Myasthenia Gravis patients and others prioritizing health and comfort.
Living Room
The living room section seamlessly integrates with devices like smart TVs, offering enhanced convenience for elderly user
Kitchen
With integration into a smart HomePod or refrigerator, the kitchen system focuses on safety and health.
Bathroom
Prioritizing safety, especially for elderly users, the bathroom system includes:
