Product Design Exercise: A Notes Experience Built for Older Adults

Design a note-taking app for older adults. Explain which older users you would build it for, what they need to capture and later find, which features belong in the first version and why, and how you would know the product is succeeding. ```hint Let ageing shape the design Think about what changes for many people as they get older (eyesight, dexterity, memory, confidence with technology) and what they most often need to remember, and let those needs, rather than a standard notes feature list, drive your choices. ``` ### Clarifying Questions - Who counts as an older adult here: independent people in their late sixties who already use a smartphone, people in their eighties with little technology experience, or people with early memory decline and their caregivers? - Which device should the first version target: a smartphone, a tablet, a smart speaker, or several? - What should a note include: free text, checklists, reminders, voice recordings, photos of documents? - Is this a standalone app or a simplified mode of an existing notes product? ### What a Strong Answer Covers - Segmentation of older users by technology comfort, physical ability and memory needs, with a reasoned choice of whom to serve first. - Concrete use cases and pain points for that segment, covering input, organizing and finding notes, being reminded at the right moment, and sensitive information. - Solutions prioritized by impact and effort, with a first version built around accessibility and low-effort capture. - Success metrics that reflect real usefulness (notes found and acted on, retention), with guardrails. - Risks and trade-offs specific to older users, such as the privacy of sensitive notes, scams and speech recognition accuracy. ### Follow-up Questions - Many older users want to keep passwords and bank details in their notes. How do you serve that need without creating a security risk? - Should a family member or caregiver be able to read or add notes? How would you handle consent and privacy? - First-week retention is strong, but very few users are still active after a month. What would you investigate?