First Prototype (10/7-10/13)
This week I aim to finish synthesizing data and coming up with solid key insights. Additionally, I plan to make a rough first prototype of something that will hopefully inspire my future end product. I don’t expect to love any of early prototypes I make, but this is the perfect chance for me to explore possible paths on where this project will go. Hopefully I can receive early feedback on the early concepts I have to see if I’m on the right path.
Synthesis
From my interviews so far, these are the clusters that I started forming together. Due to the sheer amount of data from each interview, this was the most efficient way to start grouping similar ideas. I may go back and regroup items if I start seeing different connections.
The main topics are the following:
How to prepare for loss
Financial preparation: bills, costs
Emotional preparation: dive deeper into faith, acceptance, find a cure
Family: writing a will, reunions/gatherings
How to help one pass
Prayers: whether they are religious or not
Candles
Incense
Time period where they can visit you
Celebration with food
Cultural practices
Feelings after loss occurs
Regret/guilt
Selfish
Confused
Scared
Thankful
“Thank you for this chance to gather”
“I’m in debt to her”
Different perspectives of loss
Approaching death (sickness) or sudden death
Family vs. friend
Losing something good vs. bad
EMTs
East vs. West philosophies
Urban vs. Rural communities
Personal vs. Community
Maturity
Mature conversations
Privilege
Remembering
Snapshot of hearing the news
How to document memories
Legacy
Digital legacy: social media presence and it’s permanence
Questions around why was someone taken so early when they had such a big impact
Different types of loss
Breakups
Friendships
Family member or friend passing away
Toxic relationships
Conversations
Weird to talk about grief
Grief is something that needs to be talked about
Don’t want friends to see you differently
How to navigate these types of conversations
How does the other person feel
Who people have lost
Family
Friends
Pets
Processing thoughts
Meditate
Journal
Time
Trying to understand why one feels a certain emotion
When near death
Not good to be by yourself near death
Family visits more
Sickness
Before experiencing loss
Detached
Emotional disconnect
Scary
Wants
Something tangible to commemorate someone
Information about ancestry
Something to recollect memories
Initial Thoughts
Interesting to see the overlaps between cultures about “helping someone pass” or making one’s journey to the afterlife as easy as possible.
When you look past the sadness and grief, there tends to be a sense of thankfulness. Either thanking the ones we’ve lost for giving people a chance to gather (when usually they wouldn’t) or for how they affected their life when they were living.
There are diverse perspectives on loss varying from different communities, cultures, and philosophies.
The impact of social media on remembrance and legacy.
Grief is weird to talk about but something that should be talked about. How can we navigate “weird” conversations?
There is always a disconnect when you haven’t experienced loss of a close one. Is this a gap where a bridge is necessary?
Key Insights
It’s difficult or close to impossible to be emotionally prepared for loss. Individuals focus on other aspects that are more controllable such as financial preparation or gathering the family together.
After one has had a chance to grieve, feelings of sadness and regret fade into the background while feelings of thankfulness and being grateful are more prominent.
Grief is strange to talk about - but easier with friends and family.
There is an emotional disconnection to those who haven’t directly experienced loss - leaving people feeling confused and detached.
Across cultures and beliefs, there are practices around helping loved ones pass to the other side. This is usually done by praying whether they are religious or not.
Rough Prototype 1
Facilitating Conversations
After interviewing people and synthesizing data, a common theme around talking about grief came up. It’s a strange and weird conversation to have with both close friends and strangers. It can be okay to talk about with friends, but it needs to occur at the right moment, otherwise it becomes uncomfortable.
This concept aims to create a safe moment to talk about grief, loss, and healing. There are options to create a conversation around topics or to reflect on in a more personal way.
I think this concept has potential but it needs a stronger impact. How can I make this a more full experience? Could there be a digital counterpart? What types of questions are successful or unsuccessful?
Rough Prototype 2
Letting Go
Another key point that came up during interviews was about how to process emotions after loss. A few individuals consistently journal or meditate to maintain a mindful outlook. Not everyone enjoys journaling but would still like an outlet to reflect on their emotions.
This concept allows individuals to let go of thoughts in a personal way. It’s mimics journaling through the action of physically writing down a thought. But people have the option to never look at those thoughts again, or review them when their headspace is more clear.
There are opportunities to improve this concept through different prompts or contexts. Is this exclusively an individual activity? Or could it be a community piece? Will this actually help with “letting go” of emotions?
User Personas
Focusing on individuals who are ages 16-25 to explore how grief and loss affect the younger population when it’s less common to be exposed to it. These individuals are also in a transitional period of their life.
One who hasn’t experienced loss
How can we design an experience to bring awareness to the topic and feelings around loss? Is there a way to normalize loss and grief? Can we prepare them?
One who has experienced loss
How can we design an experience to help someone process their feelings about loss and grief?
One who is anticipating loss
How can we design an experience prepare someone for loss? Is there a way to prepare? What are the differences between emotional and financial preparation?
Reflection
This week I have 2 rough prototypes of concepts. I don’t feel particularly attached to one of them but I think these prototypes helped me understand what type of product I want to make. I want to focus on an experience that allows people to talk about grief and loss in safe space. Loss is a very normal aspect of human life and yet it’s not talked about until it happens or it’s too late. People aren’t prepared when it occurs and even after years, it's something that affects people’s lives.
Next Steps
I want to iterate on these ideas to create a more holistic concept rather than a small idea. Next week, I want to make at least 1 iteration on 1 concept to see where I can push it. Additionally, next week commemorates the anniversary of a friend who has passed; I am aware I may not have the motivation to make multiple new concepts, but I still want to try my best.