Loopd
Reimagining community care for lifelong conditions
2023
Reimagining community care for lifelong conditions
Loopd
2023
Loopd
Reimagining community care for lifelong conditions
2023
Overview
When I started working on Loopd, I wanted to address a deeply personal and pressing issue—how we care for individuals with chronic or lifelong conditions. This project stemmed from my own experiences with a relatively uncommon illness, and from observing my close friends’ struggles with chronic illnesses, primarily Long COVID. These experiences gave me an understanding of the unpredictability and emotional toll of such conditions, not just on individuals but also on their carers and support systems.
The project was part of my final year at Glasgow School of Art, and I aimed to push the boundaries of community-based design. My goal was to create a system that didn’t just address medical needs but also the cultural and emotional aspects of caregiving. Over 10 weeks, I engaged in extensive research, co-design workshops, and prototype testing with users and experts. This collaborative approach helped shape Loopd into a system that challenges traditional ideas of caregiving while promoting a healthier culture of support.
Overview
When I started working on Loopd, I wanted to address a deeply personal and pressing issue—how we care for individuals with chronic or lifelong conditions. This project stemmed from my own experiences with a relatively uncommon illness, and from observing my close friends’ struggles with chronic illnesses, primarily Long COVID. These experiences gave me an understanding of the unpredictability and emotional toll of such conditions, not just on individuals but also on their carers and support systems.
The project was part of my final year at Glasgow School of Art, and I aimed to push the boundaries of community-based design. My goal was to create a system that didn’t just address medical needs but also the cultural and emotional aspects of caregiving. Over 10 weeks, I engaged in extensive research, co-design workshops, and prototype testing with users and experts. This collaborative approach helped shape Loopd into a system that challenges traditional ideas of caregiving while promoting a healthier culture of support.
Overview
When I started working on Loopd, I wanted to address a deeply personal and pressing issue—how we care for individuals with chronic or lifelong conditions. This project stemmed from my own experiences with a relatively uncommon illness, and from observing my close friends’ struggles with chronic illnesses, primarily Long COVID. These experiences gave me an understanding of the unpredictability and emotional toll of such conditions, not just on individuals but also on their carers and support systems.
The project was part of my final year at Glasgow School of Art, and I aimed to push the boundaries of community-based design. My goal was to create a system that didn’t just address medical needs but also the cultural and emotional aspects of caregiving. Over 10 weeks, I engaged in extensive research, co-design workshops, and prototype testing with users and experts. This collaborative approach helped shape Loopd into a system that challenges traditional ideas of caregiving while promoting a healthier culture of support.
🌟
This project received the Highly Commended Award for the GSA Creative Enterprise Awards
🌟
the health foundation Insight report 2023
The number of people living with major illness is projected to increase by more than a third, reaching almost 1 in 5 by 2040, giving rise to the need for non-clinical methods of managing your illness at home.
the health foundation Insight report 2023
The number of people living with major illness is projected to increase by more than a third, reaching almost 1 in 5 by 2040, giving rise to the need for non-clinical methods of managing your illness at home.
the health foundation Insight report 2023
The number of people living with major illness is projected to increase by more than a third, reaching almost 1 in 5 by 2040, giving rise to the need for non-clinical methods of managing your illness at home.
Understanding the space
Chronic illnesses, by their very nature, bring uncertainty and stress. From my research, I identified several challenges faced by individuals and their carers. These insights highlighted the need for a non-clinical, community-driven system that normalises caregiving and fosters meaningful connections.
Understanding the space
Chronic illnesses, by their very nature, bring uncertainty and stress. From my research, I identified several challenges faced by individuals and their carers. These insights highlighted the need for a non-clinical, community-driven system that normalises caregiving and fosters meaningful connections.
Understanding the space
Chronic illnesses, by their very nature, bring uncertainty and stress. From my research, I identified several challenges faced by individuals and their carers. These insights highlighted the need for a non-clinical, community-driven system that normalises caregiving and fosters meaningful connections.
Support systems dwindling over time
Many carers and supporters lack the knowledge or confidence to provide sustained, meaningful care, leading to isolation for individuals managing lifelong conditions.
Limited spaces for community connection
Younger individuals, especially, reported feeling disconnected from both online and physical support networks, with existing resources failing to meet their emotional and cultural needs.
Clinical and alienating experiences
The language, aesthetics, and rituals around healthcare are often clinical and stigmatising, adding unnecessary stress.
Hesitancy to seek help
Both individuals and carers expressed difficulty in asking for or offering help, fearing they might overstep or burden others.
Support systems dwindling over time
Many carers and supporters lack the knowledge or confidence to provide sustained, meaningful care, leading to isolation for individuals managing lifelong conditions.
Limited spaces for community connection
Younger individuals, especially, reported feeling disconnected from both online and physical support networks, with existing resources failing to meet their emotional and cultural needs.
Clinical and alienating experiences
The language, aesthetics, and rituals around healthcare are often clinical and stigmatising, adding unnecessary stress.
Hesitancy to seek help
Both individuals and carers expressed difficulty in asking for or offering help, fearing they might overstep or burden others.
Support systems dwindling over time
Many carers and supporters lack the knowledge or confidence to provide sustained, meaningful care, leading to isolation for individuals managing lifelong conditions.
Limited spaces for community connection
Younger individuals, especially, reported feeling disconnected from both online and physical support networks, with existing resources failing to meet their emotional and cultural needs.
Clinical and alienating experiences
The language, aesthetics, and rituals around healthcare are often clinical and stigmatising, adding unnecessary stress.
Hesitancy to seek help
Both individuals and carers expressed difficulty in asking for or offering help, fearing they might overstep or burden others.
Support systems dwindling over time
Many carers and supporters lack the knowledge or confidence to provide sustained, meaningful care, leading to isolation for individuals managing lifelong conditions.
Limited spaces for community connection
Younger individuals, especially, reported feeling disconnected from both online and physical support networks, with existing resources failing to meet their emotional and cultural needs.
Clinical and alienating experiences
The language, aesthetics, and rituals around healthcare are often clinical and stigmatising, adding unnecessary stress.
Hesitancy to seek help
Both individuals and carers expressed difficulty in asking for or offering help, fearing they might overstep or burden others.
My Process
My Process
My Process
Research and Inspiration
I started by diving into desk research, looking at existing systems like the Maggie’s Centres, which provide non-clinical, supportive spaces for people with cancer and their carers. Their focus on community, empathy, and language was innovative and reimagined the user's journey as a patient. I also explored the “StuffThatWorks” online community, which uses visual data to connect individuals with shared symptoms and experiences. These examples helped me envision a system where care could be non-clinical, personal, and culturally sensitive.
Research and Inspiration
I started by diving into desk research, looking at existing systems like the Maggie’s Centres, which provide non-clinical, supportive spaces for people with cancer and their carers. Their focus on community, empathy, and language was innovative and reimagined the user's journey as a patient. I also explored the “StuffThatWorks” online community, which uses visual data to connect individuals with shared symptoms and experiences. These examples helped me envision a system where care could be non-clinical, personal, and culturally sensitive.
Research and Inspiration
I started by diving into desk research, looking at existing systems like the Maggie’s Centres, which provide non-clinical, supportive spaces for people with cancer and their carers. Their focus on community, empathy, and language was innovative and reimagined the user's journey as a patient. I also explored the “StuffThatWorks” online community, which uses visual data to connect individuals with shared symptoms and experiences. These examples helped me envision a system where care could be non-clinical, personal, and culturally sensitive.
Stuff That Works
StuffThatWorks helps people with chronic conditions figure out which treatments work best using crowdsourcing and AI
Proximity based map of all chronic conditions
Stuff That Works
StuffThatWorks helps people with chronic conditions figure out which treatments work best using crowdsourcing and AI
Proximity based map of all chronic conditions
Proximity based map of all chronic conditions
Stuff That Works
StuffThatWorks helps people with chronic conditions figure out which treatments work best using crowdsourcing and AI
Notes from my visit to Maggie's centre in Glasgow
Maggie's centre
Maggie's is a charity that provides free expert care and support in centres across the UK and online
Notes from my visit to Maggie's centre in Glasgow
Maggie's centre
Maggie's is a charity that provides free expert care and support in centres across the UK and online
Notes from my visit to Maggie's centre in Glasgow
Maggie's centre
Maggie's is a charity that provides free expert care and support in centres across the UK and online
Engaging with Users
I conducted interviews and workshops with 10 individuals managing chronic illnesses, including my friend Tara, who became a key persona for this project. I also collaborated with carers to understand their challenges. To overcome the barriers faced by participants with limited energy, I developed alternative methods, such as activity sheets, to gather insights at their own pace. These interactions formed the foundation of Loopd’s design. Some of the key insights included:
Engaging with Users
I conducted interviews and workshops with 10 individuals managing chronic illnesses, including my friend Tara, who became a key persona for this project. I also collaborated with carers to understand their challenges. To overcome the barriers faced by participants with limited energy, I developed alternative methods, such as activity sheets, to gather insights at their own pace. These interactions formed the foundation of Loopd’s design. Some of the key insights included:
Engaging with Users
I conducted interviews and workshops with 10 individuals managing chronic illnesses, including my friend Tara, who became a key persona for this project. I also collaborated with carers to understand their challenges. To overcome the barriers faced by participants with limited energy, I developed alternative methods, such as activity sheets, to gather insights at their own pace. These interactions formed the foundation of Loopd’s design. Some of the key insights included:
The negative emotional impact of clinical objects and spaces
The need for tools that enable carers to feel confident and appreciated
The value of community in normalising care-seeking behaviours
The negative emotional impact of clinical objects and spaces
The need for tools that enable carers to feel confident and appreciated
The value of community in normalising care-seeking behaviours
The negative emotional impact of clinical objects and spaces
The need for tools that enable carers to feel confident and appreciated
The value of community in normalising care-seeking behaviours
The negative emotional impact of clinical objects and spaces
The need for tools that enable carers to feel confident and appreciated
The value of community in normalising care-seeking behaviours
Journey to Diagnosis: My presumption (in black) versus as described by my co-design participant (in red)
Seeing clinical objects daily:
Image 1. Workshop participant said that having to look at their medication in the fridge daily brought them anxiety. Image 2. Seeing the sharps bin in the living room was a constant reminder of the illness for another participant.
Seeing clinical objects daily:
Image 1. Workshop participant said that having to look at their medication in the fridge daily brought them anxiety. Image 2. Seeing the sharps bin in the living room was a constant reminder of the illness for another participant.
Seeing clinical objects daily:
Image 1. Workshop participant said that having to look at their medication in the fridge daily brought them anxiety. Image 2. Seeing the sharps bin in the living room was a constant reminder of the illness for another participant.
Prototyping and Iteration
With these insights I began to ideate and form shape to my system. With the aid of expert sessions with individuals from the healthcare sector and service design industry, I gained insight on the systemic limitations and operational side of the project.
Prototyping and Iteration
With these insights I began to ideate and form shape to my system. With the aid of expert sessions with individuals from the healthcare sector and service design industry, I gained insight on the systemic limitations and operational side of the project.
Prototyping and Iteration
With these insights I began to ideate and form shape to my system. With the aid of expert sessions with individuals from the healthcare sector and service design industry, I gained insight on the systemic limitations and operational side of the project.
Sessions with experts in the health sector to validate my opportunities and project direction
Final products
Final products
Final products
A Digital App
I wanted to create a tool within the system that was intuitive, accessible, and impactful. The platform connects individuals and carers, allowing them to schedule tasks, log symptoms, and share preferences for how they like to be supported.
A Digital App
I wanted to create a tool within the system that was intuitive, accessible, and impactful. The platform connects individuals and carers, allowing them to schedule tasks, log symptoms, and share preferences for how they like to be supported.
A Digital App
I wanted to create a tool within the system that was intuitive, accessible, and impactful. The platform connects individuals and carers, allowing them to schedule tasks, log symptoms, and share preferences for how they like to be supported.
Co-design participant
“It’s good to have a community, then it isn’t such an unknown thing... It feels good to know that there is a future in which its normalised to ask for help without sounding like I’m asking for too much”
Wireframes with minimal design treatment for the Loopd app
Strengthened Connections
The app fostered a sense of community by connecting individuals with carers and peers, making it easier to ask for and offer help. This cultural shift towards mutual support was a key success.
The app fostered a sense of community by connecting individuals with carers and peers, making it easier to ask for and offer help. This cultural shift towards mutual support was a key success.
The app fostered a sense of community by connecting individuals with carers and peers, making it easier to ask for and offer help. This cultural shift towards mutual support was a key success.
The Pundamentals of Caring: Customisable Stickers
Designed with input from local artists, the AI sticker printer is for those who use humour as a coping mechanism. It generates silly jokes accompanied by an illustration based on the task you are helping with, providing a playful, personal way to track care routines or express support. Can be found at Loopd stores and partnership locations (Tesco and Boots)
The Pundamentals of Caring: Customisable Stickers
Designed with input from local artists, the AI sticker printer is for those who use humour as a coping mechanism. It generates silly jokes accompanied by an illustration based on the task you are helping with, providing a playful, personal way to track care routines or express support. Can be found at Loopd stores and partnership locations (Tesco and Boots)
The Pundamentals of Caring: Customisable Stickers
Designed with input from local artists, the AI sticker printer is for those who use humour as a coping mechanism. It generates silly jokes accompanied by an illustration based on the task you are helping with, providing a playful, personal way to track care routines or express support. Can be found at Loopd stores and partnership locations (Tesco and Boots)
Customisable stickers available at your local store
Co-design participant
"..it's like finding little nuggets of joy” in an otherwise challenging experience
Empathy through design
The playful aesthetics of Loopd’s products and stickers helped participants feel more comfortable with their care routines.
The playful aesthetics of Loopd’s products and stickers helped participants feel more comfortable with their care routines.
The playful aesthetics of Loopd’s products and stickers helped participants feel more comfortable with their care routines.
Prescription Party
Prescription party is a small device that eats up your depressing prescription bag and ejects out a funkier version by analysing the empty spaces. I used vibrant colours and playful aesthetics to challenge the clinical norms of healthcare, making the products more inviting and relatable.
Prescription Party
Prescription party is a small device that eats up your depressing prescription bag and ejects out a funkier version by analysing the empty spaces. I used vibrant colours and playful aesthetics to challenge the clinical norms of healthcare, making the products more inviting and relatable.
Prescription Party
Prescription party is a small device that eats up your depressing prescription bag and ejects out a funkier version by analysing the empty spaces. I used vibrant colours and playful aesthetics to challenge the clinical norms of healthcare, making the products more inviting and relatable.
Challenging Stigma
By transforming clinical objects and introducing non-clinical third spaces, Loopd created an environment where people could discuss care openly and without judgement.
By transforming clinical objects and introducing non-clinical third spaces, Loopd created an environment where people could discuss care openly and without judgement.
By transforming clinical objects and introducing non-clinical third spaces, Loopd created an environment where people could discuss care openly and without judgement.
FROM a major Pain point:
Stress is a common trigger for chronic illnesses, and interviews revealed that the anticipation and planning of picking up prescriptions caused more anxiety than the act itself. My solution allows carers to take on this task in a way that adds personalisation and joy to the experience.
Prescription packaging uplifted to bring excitement to the prospect of picking up prescriptions
Feedback and Refinement
User testing was a critical part of my process. For example, the 'Prescription Party' printer evolved from a simple tool into a playful “monster” that users found approachable and fun. The app incorporated feedback on accessibility and community features, ensuring it could support people of all ages and tech familiarity levels. I kept refining the designs to strike a balance between functionality and emotional resonance.
Feedback and Refinement
User testing was a critical part of my process. For example, the 'Prescription Party' printer evolved from a simple tool into a playful “monster” that users found approachable and fun. The app incorporated feedback on accessibility and community features, ensuring it could support people of all ages and tech familiarity levels. I kept refining the designs to strike a balance between functionality and emotional resonance.
Feedback and Refinement
User testing was a critical part of my process. For example, the 'Prescription Party' printer evolved from a simple tool into a playful “monster” that users found approachable and fun. The app incorporated feedback on accessibility and community features, ensuring it could support people of all ages and tech familiarity levels. I kept refining the designs to strike a balance between functionality and emotional resonance.
The outcome and reflections
Winning the Highly Commendable Award for Glasgow School of Art’s Creative Enterprise Award and being featured in an edition of The Skinny magazine was rewarding as it affirmed not only the potential of Loopd but also my belief in the role of design in creating impactful, user-centred solutions.
The outcome and reflections
Winning the Highly Commendable Award for Glasgow School of Art’s Creative Enterprise Award and being featured in an edition of The Skinny magazine was rewarding as it affirmed not only the potential of Loopd but also my belief in the role of design in creating impactful, user-centred solutions.
The outcome and reflections
Winning the Highly Commendable Award for Glasgow School of Art’s Creative Enterprise Award and being featured in an edition of The Skinny magazine was rewarding as it affirmed not only the potential of Loopd but also my belief in the role of design in creating impactful, user-centred solutions.
🌟
This project received the Highly Commended Award for the GSA Creative Enterprise Awards
🌟
I made short films to engage the audience during my degree show; Film 01 highlights the journey of the patient whereas Film 02 showcases the service from the carers perspective.
Conclusion
Loopd represents my vision for a future where care is compassionate, connected, and community-driven. It reimagines caregiving as a collaborative process, where individuals and their supporters are empowered to navigate the uncertainties of chronic illness together. By blending speculative design with real-world insights, I aimed to create something that not only addresses unmet needs but also sparks a broader cultural shift towards empathy and inclusivity.
This project is only the beginning of my journey into designing for health and wellbeing. I’m excited to continue exploring how design can create systems that celebrate care and improve lives—both for individuals managing lifelong conditions and for the people who support them.
Conclusion
Loopd represents my vision for a future where care is compassionate, connected, and community-driven. It reimagines caregiving as a collaborative process, where individuals and their supporters are empowered to navigate the uncertainties of chronic illness together. By blending speculative design with real-world insights, I aimed to create something that not only addresses unmet needs but also sparks a broader cultural shift towards empathy and inclusivity.
This project is only the beginning of my journey into designing for health and wellbeing. I’m excited to continue exploring how design can create systems that celebrate care and improve lives—both for individuals managing lifelong conditions and for the people who support them.
Conclusion
Loopd represents my vision for a future where care is compassionate, connected, and community-driven. It reimagines caregiving as a collaborative process, where individuals and their supporters are empowered to navigate the uncertainties of chronic illness together. By blending speculative design with real-world insights, I aimed to create something that not only addresses unmet needs but also sparks a broader cultural shift towards empathy and inclusivity.
This project is only the beginning of my journey into designing for health and wellbeing. I’m excited to continue exploring how design can create systems that celebrate care and improve lives—both for individuals managing lifelong conditions and for the people who support them.
Let’s
Collaborate
Whether you’re interested in knowing more about a project,
have a question, or just want to say hello, I’d love to hear from you.
Nilanjana Mannarprayil
©
Fiveblueelephants
2024
Let’s
Collaborate
Whether you’re interested in knowing more about a project,
have a question, or just want to say hello, I’d love to hear from you.
Nilanjana Mannarprayil
©
Fiveblueelephants
2024
Let’s
Collaborate
Whether you’re interested in knowing more about a project,
have a question, or just want to say hello, I’d love to hear from you.
Nilanjana Mannarprayil
©
Fiveblueelephants
2024