When you’re designing something for caregivers, there’s no such thing as “good enough.” Every detail matters, from how information appears on screen, to how features work, and how we onboard. 

At CarePal, usability isn’t about shiny features or perfect pixels. It’s about building something that feels human. Something people can open without needing instructions or patience they don’t have. 

As we rebuild our app, we are focused on co-creation and usability in our UI/UX, which stands for User Interface and User Experience, reworking parts of our app so they’re easier, clearer, and more familiar for the people who rely on it. Caregiving can already feel overwhelming. The technology that supports it shouldn’t. That’s why our approach has always been to build with caregivers, not just for them. 

Rethinking Onboarding

Even the most intuitive products still need a little guidance at first. In our current app our onboarding uses static tutorial screens with short text and images to explain how things work. It helps, but we’ve noticed that users try to click on the tutorials as if they’re interactive.

That tells us the intent is right, but the delivery isn’t quite there. People don’t want to read instructions; they want to learn by doing.

In the rebuild, we’re shifting to a more interactive onboarding experience that highlights features directly on the live screen. Instead of flipping through slides, users can explore the app naturally and learn as they go.

This approach makes onboarding feel less like training and more like discovery, helping caregivers feel comfortable faster without taking them out of the experience.

Information Without Overwhelm

We’re adding more contextual help inside the app by adding “information” (i) icons beside a word or section that explain what something means. It’s a design detail that feels invisible until you need it, then the information is at your fingertips. 

We know many caregivers are juggling ten things at once. They shouldn’t have to leave the screen they’re on just to figure out what a feature does. So we’re layering guidance into the design, not around it.

That way, the app supports you as you go, it walks alongside you instead of pulling you out of your flow.

We Learn With Our Users 

One of the best parts of co-creating with caregivers is the constant stream of feedback — sometimes big, sometimes tiny, but always useful.

Our original newsfeed used a grey on white color scheme popular with other social media platforms, however users told us it was hard to read so we moved to the current white on blue. In the rebuild we are moving back to a more monochromatic look, but working with our developers to ensure the high contrast feel isn’t lost, to ensure accessibility. Another example is adding “tails” to the back arrows for better visibility. 

These are small examples, but they add up to an experience that was cocreated for and with our community. 

Don’t Reinvent the Wheel

When something feels familiar, it’s easier to use. That’s why we study the platforms people already spend time on, like Facebook, Messenger, and Google Calendar.

According to Jakob’s Law, people spend most of their time on other platforms, so they expect new products to work in the same way. Familiar interfaces reduce cognitive load, which means users don’t have to stop and think about how to do something before they do it.

Instead of reinventing how people interact with features like chat or scheduling, we use those same patterns in CarePal. The goal is for everything to feel intuitive right away, no relearning, no guessing.

This approach helps users move through the app with confidence because it already makes sense in the way they expect it to. Good design should feel comfortable from the first tap.

 

At CarePal, usability is more than a design principle. It’s how we build trust. By co-creating with our users and refining every detail with intention, we’re shaping a platform that supports people where they are, with tools that feel both familiar and empowering.

We’ll keep learning, testing, and refining alongside our users because good design isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress, empathy, and building something that truly helps.

Written by Paisley Churchill – CPO, Team CarePal