THE PERFECT FIT

ROLEProduct Designer
TEAMProduct Manager, Back End Engineer X2, Product Marketing Manager
DURATION 5 Months (2023)

BACKGROUND —

In collaboration with Amazon, our project addresses the significant gap in wheelchair accessibility, with only 5% to 15% of the 75 million individuals in need having access. Barriers include lack of awareness, affordability issues, absence of support services, low product quality, insufficient wheelchair options, and complex procurement and supply chain challenges. This highlights the critical need to improve mobility solutions for those who depend on wheelchairs for daily life.

hypothesis—

Our comprehensive research, encompassing both primary and secondary methodologies, has highlighted a significant need for guidance in choosing the appropriate wheelchair. This underscores the critical importance of ensuring a perfect fit for users.

OBSERVATION—

Lack of awareness
Affordability
Lack of related services
Low product quality
Range and quantity

target audience—

We conducted 14 interviews. The demographic ranged from younger people to the aging population primarily assisted mobility users, a Doctor of Physical Therapy and a Durable Medical Equipment vendor & gathered a diverse range of opinions and posts from online platforms such as Quora, shopping review sites, and YouTube.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCApING—

Amazon

Offers a broad range of products with customization options for wheelchairs. The focus is on providing a variety of choices with filtering capabilities for better navigation.

Horizontal E-Commerce

Similar to Amazon, these platforms offer a wide range of categories and filtering options to help users find the right wheelchair.

Vertical E-Commerce

These specialized platforms focus on providing detailed customization options and expert advice for wheelchair selection.

User interview insights—

Awareness and Information: Many users are unaware of the various wheelchair options available and the specific features that could benefit them. There is a significant need for better guidance in choosing the appropriate wheelchair to ensure a perfect fit.

Customization Needs: Users expressed a desire for more customizable options to better meet their individual needs and preferences. The ability to visualize the product before purchase was highlighted as a crucial factor in their decision-making process.

Affordability and Quality: Affordability remains a significant barrier for many users, with high-quality wheelchairs often being out of reach financially. Users are concerned about the durability and quality of the wheelchairs, emphasizing the need for products that offer long-term reliability.

Support Services: There is a notable lack of related services to support wheelchair users, such as maintenance and customization assistance.

UI Features & Iterations—


New Feature Activated for Wheelchair Searches: Find the right wheelchair based on your needs

Add your Specifications: Questionnaire based on World Health Organization Guidelines

AI-Driven Personalized Recommendations

Expert Wheelchair Selection Support: Access wheelchair support on the product info page

AR Preview

New Feature Activated for Wheelchair Searches

The new feature for wheelchair searches allows users to find the ideal wheelchair by inputting their personal specifications through a user-friendly interface. This enhanced search capability streamlines the process of identifying a wheelchair that closely aligns with the user's specific needs, ensuring a more tailored and satisfying shopping experience.

Guided Questionnaire:

The implementation of a questionnaire based on WHO guidelines comprises 15 questions that gather essential personal information (height, weight, size), functional requirements (mobility needs, features, environment), and lifestyle preferences (user's lifestyle, style preferences, budget). This comprehensive questionnaire ensures that users receive highly personalized recommendations for their ideal wheelchair.

AI-Driven Recommendations:

The system features AI-driven personalized recommendations, analyzing the questionnaire responses to offer tailored wheelchair options that best meet the user's needs and preferences. This advanced technology ensures that each user receives suggestions that are precisely aligned with their specific requirements and lifestyle, enhancing the overall selection process.

Expert Support and AR Preview:

The feature offers expert wheelchair selection support and augmented reality (AR) previews, enabling users to access professional advice directly on the product info page. Additionally, users can utilize AR to preview the wheelchair in their own environment, ensuring it fits their space and meets their specific requirements effectively.

conclusionThe Perfect Fit project improved wheelchair accessibility and user experience, emphasizing user-centric design's importance in addressing mobility challenges and enhancing quality of life.

reflection

The project highlighted the importance of comprehensive user research and iterative design. Future projects will benefit from even more extensive user testing and early stakeholder engagement.


Future Steps

Potential future improvements include expanding the range of wheelchair options and enhancing related services to further support users.


CoNSIDERATIONS

The project significantly improved awareness and access to wheelchairs, providing users with the information and options needed to find the perfect fit.