What does product design for the elderly mean? Why should a product designer consider the special needs of the elderly in the design? Is user experience design difficult for the elderly? Is this type of product design a separate branch of UI/UX design or a subset of it? What principles and tips should designers follow when designing to design a product suitable for the special needs of the elderly?
Advanced technologies and digital products should not be used only by young people or adults. Technology is supposed to make our lives easier and the elderly need this convenience more than any other group. This is why it is essential to consider the needs and desires of all adults, especially the elderly, in designing the user experience for products designed for adults.
In this article, we explain the necessity of product design for the elderly and answer all the questions that were raised at the beginning.
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Product design for the elderly
According to the report of the World Health Organization (WHO), the number of people over 60 years old has increased in recent years, and according to forecasts, by 2030, approximately 1.4 billion people will be over 60 years old, and by 2050, 2 billion people will be over 60 years old. As alarming and alarming as this statistic is, it shows that in the design of physical, and digital products and all kinds of services for the coming decades, the special needs of the population over 60 should be considered. In other words, for the success of any product designed for adults, the problems, needs, and concerns of adults over 60 years old must also be taken into account.
Product design for seniors may be a lucrative opportunity for businesses and companies in the coming years, but it is not a new branch of UI/UX design. User experience designers understand that their job is to design a satisfying interaction with a digital product for all its potential users. Inclusive design is one of the most fundamental principles of digital product design. The designer should not forget any user and design the product in such a way that only a certain age group can use it.
The question may arise “Aren’t some products (such as digital products for children) designed and made for a certain age group or people?”; It is true that some websites and applications are designed for children. But parents or grandparents should not be forgotten in the design of the same products. Because they also interact with those products.
Therefore, product design for the elderly is not a separate branch of UI/UX design, nor should they be considered for the design of certain digital products. It can be claimed that adults and seniors are potential users of all digital products.
Principles of UX design for the elderly
In designing the user experience for the elderly, in addition to the basic principles of product design, which other principles need to be followed? Observing the following principles will help all UI/UX designers to design a suitable product for the elderly. The most important principles of product design for the elderly are as follows:
Seniors should be present in the design process and be among those who are asked for their opinions on design research and evaluation.
Forget the false assumption that all adults over 60 are alike and have the same needs, problems, and interests.
Divide the elderly into different age groups (for example, 60-65-year-olds, 65-70-year-olds, etc.) and research the characteristics, problems, and needs of each group separately.
Elderly people usually read every single word. Therefore, they should be given enough time to complete a task.
No messages, especially error messages, should disappear by themselves. Elderly users should be allowed to close them themselves.
The text of all messages should be clear, explicit, and useful so that elderly users know exactly what to do. Product texts should be written by a UX writer.
Pay attention to the tone of the error messages. In no way should it be reprehensible and make elderly users feel uncomfortable.
In designing the forms, pay attention to the fact that only one question appears in each step and on each page.
Important elements and CTAs should be centered so that they are easily seen.
Don’t just stick to icons. Some elderly users may not understand the meaning of the icons. Add tooltips (descriptive labels and guides that specify the meaning and function of each icon or symbol) to the icons.
Some elderly users may have limited mobility and may not be able to work properly with touch screens and perform gestures such as swiping on the screen. Pay attention to this issue in the design of interactions.
No floating element label or message should be displayed. It is preferred to display elements in static mode, which makes them easier to read.
Contrasts should be chosen with care and consideration. Shades of blue/purple and yellow/green cannot be distinguished properly.
Fonts should be legible and simple.
User flows, navigation, menus, user interfaces, and the overall structure of the pages should be designed with simplicity and uniformity.
It should be possible to enlarge texts and all elements.
Examples of digital products designed for the elderly
In this section, we introduce 3 products that all the principles of product design for the elderly have been observed in their design. One of them is an application specially designed for the elderly and the rest are products designed for use by a wide range of users.
1. The official website of the British government
GOV.The UK is designed so that any user of any age and any level of information and literacy can interact with it. Everything is simple in it. A handful of icons are used in this website and next to all 3 icons placed on the main page (home) of this website, its meaning is written very clearly. The user knows at a glance what page he will go to if he clicks on it.
2. Life360 application
Life360 app helps keep family members safe. Using this application, you can share the location and route to a specific destination with others. This app has another important feature: if a family member is in danger, he can ask for help. His request for help is sent to others along with his last position. This app is a great help for families who have an elderly person who lives far away from them.
3. SilverSneakers app
SilverSneakers application is a digital product specially designed for the elderly. This product helps the elderly to exercise regularly, to adjust the exercise program based on their abilities, and to find clubs close to where they live.