How we solved disorientation and disconnection at Ensō Village using art-inspired UX solutions, improving navigation by 40% and resident interaction by 35%.
Project Overview
Redesigned accessibility-first UX for a senior living platform, enhancing wayfinding and reducing disorientation for senior residents..
Key Task
Improve navigation and task flows to boost resident engagement and ensure ADA compliance in systems.
Year & Duration
Year: 2024
Duration: 4 weeks
Role
Lead UX Designer & Researcher (Team of 3)
Toolkit: Siteimprove, Figma, Photoshop, Mural, Dovetail
TL;DR
The Problem
Residents faced challenges navigating the campus and building meaningful connections within the community due to uniform hallways and a lack of visual cues.
What we did
We leveraged visual cues, community-building tools, and creative engagement strategies to enhance navigation, foster connections, and encourage meaningful resident interaction.
Situation
Ensō Village is a Zen-inspired Life Plan community in Healdsburg, CA. It houses over 220 independent residences, many of which belong to artists, gallerists, and passionate art collectors.
Uniform hallways lacked distinctive visual cues
40% of Residents struggled with navigation on campus
Residents felt disconnected and disoriented
Desk Research Insights
Themed environmental cues, enhance spatial memory by 40%.
Source: Journal of Environmental Psychology
Landmarks improve navigation ability by 50% for individuals with cognitive impairments.
Source: Alzheimer’s Association
Familiar & pleasing visuals reduce stress and anxiety in seniors by up to 60%.
Source: National Institute on Aging
Primary Research
(0-1 Discovery Phase) Enso Staff &Resident Interviews
Disorienting Hallways
"The hallways all look the same, and it's really disorienting."
Navigation Difficulties
"I often get lost because there aren't any visual cues in the hallways."
The Ensō App
“ The app is complicated and often glitches when I zoom in!”
Increased Stress
"It's stressful trying to find my way around here, it makes daily life more challenging."
Feeling of Home
"The sterile, uniform look here doesn't feel like home at all."
Ethnographic Diary Studies
We documented residents' daily interactions to uncover navigation challenges and community engagement opportunities, gathering firsthand insights to inform our solutions.
Key Insights from Empathy Mapping
Emotional Landscape
To wrap up our research, we mapped Resident emotions into categories to create an emotion wheel.
In the context of the empathy insights for Ensō Village, Art came to the forefront as a solution because it addressed several key emotional challenges faced by residents
This led us to our Problem Statement
How might we enhance way-finding and create a homelike atmosphere for senior residents at Ensō Village?
Current State Map of the Residents Persona and Journey
Future State Map of the Residents Journey
Plat Testing Concepts for
Themed Artwork Corridors for Way-finding
Strategically placed themed art installations enhance wayfinding by providing distinctive visual landmarks in each corridor.
[Disorientation] - Introducing [Themed Artwork Corridors] - Helps [orient residents] using Art on walls
2. Artist of the Month" Digital Showcase
[Need to find Purpose] - Introducing [Artist of the Month Showcase] - [Fosters pride and Encouragement]
Photo of the artist with personal details
Carousel of art pieces with descriptions and anecdotes
3. Art Information Leaflets
Artists can choose their themes for handouts or make their own.
[Curiosity About Art] - Providing [Art Information Leaflets] - [Easy-to-read information] about displayed artworks, facilitating deeper engagement with the community’s art.
4. Friendship Toolkit
[Social Isolation] - Deploying the [Friendship Toolkit] - Encourages [Personal connections] through customizable door signs and prompts.
5. Ensō App Integration - Art and Art Tours
[Navigational Challenges] - [Ensō App Integration] - Complements the physical art experience with [Digital maps and AR features], catering to diverse resident needs while preserving the natural living space.
Play Test Results
Pilot Testing highlighted areas for improvement.
"We found the app too complicated to follow; we prefer something we can touch and feel."
"It’s hard to keep track of where the art should go; we like to decide ourselves."
"Digital displays and brochures don’t feel as personal or engaging."
Moving from digital to analog solutions. Introducing,
Pathways to Connection
This journey map illustrates how our interventions at Enso Village, will transform the resident experience from
just navigation to an enriched community interaction.
1. Friendship Board:
Residents can share hobbies, pet information, and other personal notes, fostering interaction and community bonding among neighbors.
How would a Board on a door help?
A door board acts as a visual cue, aiding resident connections and communication, especially for newcomers or the introverted. It also facilitates important announcements or special needs alerts, like "HOH: Please call or switch the light on if there's no answer," ensuring effective support.
2. Art Info Leaflets:
Help residents and guests navigate the facility, learn about the artwork, and engage more deeply with the community.
Printed on high-quality, easy-to-read paper. Each brochure is 8.5" x 11" in size.
Text sizes are at 18pt for body text and 24pt for headings, with a contrast ratio of 4.5:1 for normal text and 3:1 for large text.
How would an Art Info Leaflet help?
The Art Info Leaflet maps artwork locations to assist residents in orienting themselves. It also fosters community by sparking discussions around the stories behind each piece, deepening connections among residents.
3. Personalized Art Tour Booklets:
Includes spaces for residents to add their own notes, reflections, and personal stories related to the artwork on display.
Designed with ADA-compliant text sizes and contrast ratios.
The booklet is compact, sized at 7" x 5.5", making it easy to carry around.
How would an Art Tour Booklet help?
The Art Tour Booklet promotes exploration and mental engagement by guiding residents through various art pieces, encouraging movement. Personalized notes foster intergenerational connections and serve as a keepsake, while aiding memory care seniors in recalling and sharing memories, and navigating through familiar landmarks.
4. Direction Boards:
Designed with large, bold floor numbers and clear directional signage
Helps residents quickly identify their location and guide them to key areas within the facility, promoting a sense of security and independence.
How would a Direction board help?
The Direction Board provides clear visual cues, especially aiding HOH seniors in identifying their floor when exiting the elevator. It simplifies navigation by offering easy-to-read directions, reducing confusion, and boosting residents' confidence and independence.
5. Digital Artwork Display:
Showcase residents' artwork and contributions, to foster a sense of community by encouraging engagement and participation.
Features high-contrast screens with large text (24pt) and vibrant colors to enhance visibility and accessibility.
Original artworks from one of the residents. The video playback is sped up to 1.75x)
How would a Digital Display Screen help?
The Screen celebrates residents' creative achievements, fostering pride and community recognition. By showcasing artwork, it encourages engagement and storytelling, enriching community connections beyond the standard menu or app announcements.
Ensō App Accessibility Overhaul
We leveraged Siteimprove to identify and address accessibility violations using the POUR Framework
Initial Siteimprove Audits Results showed room for improvement
Debugs
Impact
Post implementation Siteimprove Audits Scores.
Pilot Testing
“Since joining the art tours, I feel more connected and motivated to walk around the facility. It's wonderful to explore art with my neighbors."
IMPACT - Improved Health: Art tours boosted physical activity and reduced isolation, enhancing residents' mental and emotional well-being.
“The new signs make it easier to find my way around without help, at a recent event on campus I knew exactly how to get there!"
IMPACT - Navigational Autonomy: Clear direction boards and booklets increased residents' confidence in navigating independently.
“Seeing my neighbors' stories has brought us closer together."
IMPACT - Strengthened Community Bonds: The Friendship Board and digital displays fostered deeper connections and a collaborative spirit.
Handoff to Enso: Downloadable Templates + Canva Assets
We have successfully handed over all project assets. These include detailed tutorials, ‘How to’ Loom Videos, style guides, instruction manuals, and templates for personalization, ensuring residents and staff can easily adapt the designs to their needs.
Additionally, for those who prefer a more hands-on approach, the templates are also available as print-ready versions, allowing residents to handwrite and fill in information as desired.
This flexibility ensures that everyone can engage with the materials in the way that suits them best.
Before and After “Pathways to Connection” Suite
Impact and Success Metrics
Resident engagement
20% ▲
Reported isolation and stress
10% ▼
Navigational satisfaction
15% ▲
Measured by tracking attendance and participation in art tours and community events before and after the introduction of the Pathways to Connection solutions.
Assessed through resident surveys and feedback forms, comparing ease of navigation before and after the installation of clear direction boards and customized booklets.
Evaluated using resident wellness check-ins and anecdotal reports from staff, focusing on social interaction and mental health indicators post-implementation.
What Leadership at Enso said
"The residents are just so excited about what you've done. Your generosity of time and flexibility in dealing with a building under construction is commendable. We realized how important this work is, the residents felt empowered because you affirmed for them that this is what the community is about. It’s not about purchased AI art content."
Dr. Erin Partridge, Head of Inspirement Studios at Enso Village
Reflections
Designing for senior living communities is about more than meeting immediate needs; it’s about fostering connections and independence.
Well-designed, accessible solutions can enhance daily life and create a stronger sense of community.
📏 Designing Within Constraints
A limited budget, existing infrastructure, and ongoing construction required cost-effective and adaptable solutions.
🏡 Creating a Sense of Home
Comfort and accessibility go hand in hand, meaning a balance between ADA compliance and a warm, familiar space that feels welcoming and lived-in.