GrandPad
/
2023
Designing the first version of a conversational AI companion for adults in their 80s and 90s, then finding what kept them from starting.
Client
GrandPad
Year
2023
My role
Layout, MVP prototype, error-recovery messaging
The problem
GrandPad set out to bring an LLM-based companion to seniors who use the GrandPad tablet. For people in their 80s and 90s, many new to AI, the experience had to feel clear and safe from the first screen, and it had to recover gracefully when something went wrong.
What I did
I designed the initial layout, the MVP prototype, and the error-recovery messaging, building on our existing design system components. Conversation design was owned by our AI engineer.
Error recovery got special attention: what a senior sees when the connection drops mid-conversation, or when the companion steers away from an off-limits topic. Each state needed to reassure, not alarm.
After launch, I identified a legal-heavy consent prompt as a key barrier to adoption. That led to a redesigned opt-in that moved consent to the family portal, so caregivers can approve access ahead of time.
What changed
The companion has since logged 18,500+ sessions and nearly 900 hours of conversation across 3,300+ users, who average 5+ sessions each.
Outcome
18,500+ sessions and nearly 900 hours of conversation across 3,300+ seniors.