INDUSTRY:
HEALTH & WELLNESS
CLIENT:
SCAD STARTUP
YEAR:
2024
EXPERIENCE:
BRANDING, UX, UI
about.
In the span of a week, our team created a product to address the struggles of our aging population.
InJoy is a well-being platform designed to help seniors rediscover meaning, community, and joy in retirement. At its heart, InJoy is a deeply empathetic response to the emotional realities many retirees face—loneliness, loss of purpose, and social isolation.
By combining conversational AI, personalized activity matching, and elder-friendly design, InJoy offers more than just services—it becomes a supportive guide. Users are paired with events, volunteer opportunities, and resources based on their needs and personality, helping them transition from “What now?” to “What’s next?” with confidence.
For InJoy, I was the lead visual designer and head of UX. I created the brand from the ground up—designing the logo, building out the visual system, and shaping the overall tone and feel of the app. I also led the design of most of the interface, making sure everything felt clear, friendly, and easy to use for our older audience. From layout to icons to color choices, I focused on making the experience approachable and consistent from start to finish.
challenge.
America’s senior population is growing rapidly—by 2050, adults 65+ will represent nearly a quarter of the U.S. population. Yet 1 in 3 retirees worldwide struggles with depression. The question we posed as a team was:
How might we reduce emotional isolation and promote fulfillment in later life using digital tools that feel warm, trustworthy, and easy to use?
We began by researching the psychological and social barriers facing retirees, especially those feeling disconnected or overwhelmed post-career. We identified two key audiences:
Seniors struggling with post-retirement depression, seeking purpose and connection
Active retirees looking to enrich their lifestyles through community and continuous learning
From there, we developed a comprehensive platform vision:
Conversational AI to guide and engage users in a friendly, low-pressure tone
A personalized retirement profile test to match users with events and opportunities
Elder-friendly UI that felt human, accessible, and intuitive
A curated network of local and virtual offerings, including painting classes, Excel workshops, and volunteer roles
Our business model was designed for impact and scalability—partnering with community centers, care providers, and local governments while offering subscription-based access for users and promotion options for service providers.
result.
InJoy launched as a vibrant prototype and concept brand, earning 3rd place recognition at SCAD StartUp 2024. Users were welcomed by Reed, their AI-powered retirement companion, who offered real-time updates, suggestions, and gentle encouragement to explore, connect, and thrive. We focused on designing a clean, elder-friendly interface supported by thoughtful UX flows and natural language processing to guide users through the experience.
Key features included:
A friendly chatbot interface powered by natural language processing
A motivational reward system that reinforced personal growth and exploration
A colorful, legible interface tailored to aging users' accessibility needs
A dual-sided platform benefiting both seniors and service providers
At the core of the platform is Reed, a conversational AI companion who helps users navigate the app, discover local events and classes, and receive ongoing suggestions based on their interests and goals. Paired with a personalized retirement profile, InJoy offers activity matches that feel relevant, supportive, and manageable—whether that’s a painting workshop, an Excel course, or a new volunteer opportunity.
InJoy isn’t just a concept—it’s a clear, scalable solution that bridges social needs and digital design. It empowers seniors to take an active role in shaping their retirement experience, while also providing value to partners like care organizations, small businesses, and local governments. The result is a platform that’s as useful as it is thoughtful—built to meet people where they are and grow with them from there.
