In times of social isolation brought about by factors like social distancing, lockdowns, or remote work, maintaining robust social health becomes vital. This project delves into effective strategies to build and sustain social support systems, mitigating the risks of social isolation

user research

Managing remote social health

Project brief

Addressing social isolation during periods of remote work, lockdowns, and social distancing

timeframe

8 weeks

Project TYpe

Coursework - Individual

LOCATION

Pittsburgh, PA

THE CHALLENGE

There is a lack of awareness among people of the concept of social health and how it impacts their physical and mental health. However, despite spending most of their at home, the majority indicated they are more aware of their social life due to a lack of in-person interaction.

Hypothesis 1: Maintaining good social health would be best achieved through in-person meetings or joining activities together.
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Hypothesis 2: The social health of an individual is dependent on the ability to maintain consistent contact with close family and friends.

the Methodology Used

Challenge Assessment

Literature Review

Observation

Domain Research

Literature Review

100 Questions

Literature Review

Online Survey

Interviews

Co-Design

Persona Profile

Literature Review

Affinity Clustering (Identified Key Patterns)

User Journey Map

Literature Review

Synthesized Insights

research and brainstorm

Background Research: Regardless of one’s age, societal stress can have a significant impact both physically and mentally. Social support has been shown to reduce stress and disease, as well as contribute positively to an individual’s adjustment. Those involved in social support are members of networks that have been formed through trust between them, where they feel valued as individuals.McDowell and Newell, 155)

 In response to the COVID- 19 pandemic, social distancing has become one of the main strategies to prevent people from acquiring the virus. As a result, “social distancing” has resulted in the following side effects: 

Potential loss of valued tangible or intangible resources
Social isolation

Psychological strength and social support have proven to be the main key factors for one to have positive social health during their time at home.

User reasearch:

Survey: 81 responses collected to investigate the impact of environmental shifts on routines and relationships.
Interview: 7 in-depth interviews were conducted to assess participants, views on social health and close relationships, including and expert in individual, couple, teenage, and family therapy.
Co-Design: 4 participants collaborated to visualize thought processes and challenges in maintaining close relationships.
Execution
Miro board workshop together with a zoom/line call or an in -p er son communication

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In-Person Co-Design

Online Co-Design

In-Person Co-Design

analysis:

Persona Analysis

Self Server, Human Chameleon, Social Balance Pro and Valuable Crowd

insights

Insight 1

lack of social satisfaction stems from a superficial view of self

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THE TRANSFORMATIONJourney map shows each stage of the period she spent mostly at home, how environmental context, actions, people involved, expectations, challenges, and emotions shaped her experiences, and how they changed over time.

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Self-Care and Self-Reflection

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THE TRNSFORMATION

The journey map displays each stage of the period she spent mostly at home and how environmental context, actions, people involved, expectations, challenges and emotions come to play in the experience as well as how they continuously shift through out journey.

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KEY TAKEAWAYS

The lack of constant self-reflection increases the risk of emotional and mental disorders in relationship.
Self-reflection and self-care mainly come into play after participants have encountered challenge/conflicts/difficulties.

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Supported Evidence

USER JOURNEY MAP

G, 32 YEARS OLD
A senior graphic designer who work in a vibrant and busy office
During the pandemic (refers as “the period”) her company has a work from home policy which last around 2 and a half years
G was facing multiple challenges during her time at home, such as low self esteem, loneliness, depression

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Insight 2

User fail to recognize that their relationships need to be redefined to reflect changing environmental constraints.

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Method of Communication Used

What was, is not

Although people’s environmental constraints change drastically, they are not aware of the internal side effects. Therefore, people tend to stick to their existing routine and what they know, instead of redefining their wants and needs in the situations and choose a set of methods of communication and boundary setting correspondingly.

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KEY TAKEAWAYS

The side effects of an environmental shift are subtle and unnoticeable.
The use of tangible measures (e.g personally tests) to indicate subtle internal changes can assist the user in choosing the appropriate mode of communication

Supported Evidence

OBERVATON AND ROLE PLAY

Though process on method chosen:
How urgent is the matter?
How much time do i have for communication?
Does the method require an immediate response from me?
How much energy do i have for the method of communication?(e.g. videos calls consume more energy than voice or text calls)

Interview

“Although i met them in person, it still does not feel as fulfilling. I think it’s probably because of the overall vibe of the pandemic situation, but even after lockdown, it’s still pretty much the same.”

“What used to give me satisfaction socially before the work from home period does not seem to give me the same satisfaction anymore and i am not sure why.”

CO-design

In terms of communication method from home, user are mainly focused on the online platform that they already use in their routineSetting healthy boundaries and fulfil expectation were not the main concerns Convenience is the main criteria users use to decide on the main method of communication, which align with the result from Online survey responses

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The solution that work well for a co-design participant is the constant, honest communication between both parties to align their changes in wants and needs, then choose the method they found most suitable.

The opportunity

PRODUCT OPPORTUNITY GAP

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INTERNATAL AND EXTERNAL

SOCIAL HEALTH AWARNERSS

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A fun set a questions that form into a self report, identify what and how users can comfortably decompress, refill and recharge themselves according to their personal preference, wants and needs in their current environment. Also provide a personalized suggestions on self care methods to implement in their routine

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Sample: Users can identify their social preference and curated self care method to adapt in their personal and professional lives in different environmental constraints they are experiencing.

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For whom: Vulnerable Crowd Human Chameleon

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A LINKAGE BETWEEM SET

OF BOUNDARY AND COMMUNICATION

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A method of communication that have different settings, linking correspondingly with different boundary setting with the other party.

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Sample: User can identify their “healthy boundary” for each of their networks and use the different settings embedded in the method of communication accordingly.For whom: Self Server Vulnerable Crowd Human Chameleon

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For whom: Self Server Vulnerable Crowd Human Chameleon

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solutions Critera

MUST

Provide personalized result with suitable outcome for user’s preference and constraints

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SHOULD

Embedded the suggestion to different communication method setting

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COULD‍
Increase awareness and remind users to practice self-reflection and self-care in their routine

Pervious

Island Echo Escapes

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