According to the Family Carers Ireland State of Caring 2022 report, nine out of ten family carers felt that the value of what they do was not recognised by others. Social isolation was a recurring issue, particularly among those who had dedicated much of their time to caring for a loved one
The challenge was to create a service that could help carers feel more connected to their community while reducing the sense of isolation that often accompanies caregiving.
Building Local Connections
Through research, it became clear that many carers weren't looking for another support service they were looking for people who understood their experiences.
I focused on creating opportunities for carers to connect with one another through existing community spaces. By combining digital and physical touchpoints, the project aimed to make support feel informal, accessible, and part of everyday life rather than something that needed to be actively sought out.
Carerlife is a programme that connects and supports family carers through a mobile app and a network of local events.
The app allows carers to discover others in their area through upcoming meetups, creating opportunities to connect without feeling judged. Working alongside local cafés and pubs, the service brings carers into familiar community spaces where conversations and support networks can develop naturally.
One of CarerLife's main objectives is to support carers throughout their caregiving journey by helping them build a local peer-to-peer network. Whether through organised events or everyday interactions, the service creates opportunities for carers to share experiences, offer support, and feel less alone.
The visual identity was designed to feel warm, approachable, and community-focused, and was applied across the app, promotional campaign, event materials, and exhibition presence at the IADT Graduate Show 2024.
Graduate Storybook
Social Impact of the community
Paper Cups and Table Tents with conversational prompts to encourage communication at the events Conceptualised
Onboarding Walkthrough
The onboarding experience guides new carers through a seamless introduction to the app's core features. Users are welcomed with a clear value proposition before walking through an easy, thoughtful profile creation process. Here, they can choose an avatar so others in the community can see them without the anxiety of needing to upload a personal profile picture. The onboarding establishes trust through a caring, human-centered design approach, setting expectations for the community-driven experience ahead.
Discover: Key User Journey
Family carers using the app are directed to the discover screen. Here they can connect with local family carers which would encourage them to chat. The Events Near Me feature promotes community awareness at local pubs and cafes hosting carer hours. Carers get a chance to engage with the community and share the value of their experience. Through Share / Last Seen local carers can help each other, be it through sharing an hour of caregiving or a simple chat.
