UX STRATEGY 2022
Aprentic — Bridging the Digital Divide
for the Silver Economy.
Turning digital anxiety into human connection through an accessible mentorship platform.
01 · The Context
"It's not about ability, it's about fear."
of people over 65 in Spain don't use the internet — not due to cognitive decline, but because of the emotional cost of feeling like a burden to their families.
The Challenge
We moved away from the standard "learning app" model. Instead, we built a mentorship ecosystem that replaces cognitive friction with human support. The core idea was simple: Design for trust, not just for function.
Of those over 65 use the internet
Are regular internet users
Prefer to browse via mobile
Have difficulties doing paperwork without internet
Say they have no interest or lack of knowledge to use the internet
Source: Report on digital gap — UOC & Ministry of Social Rights, Spain.
02 · The Solution — Logic in Action
Three friction points. Three design decisions.
Interactive prototype — onboarding & login flow.
Removing The Entry Barrier
Standard logins (email/password) are the first drop-off point for this demographic due to memory challenges.
We stripped onboarding down to the essentials — numeric/ID verification instead of complex forms, removing the "fear of forgetting" from the very first second.
Cognitive Accessibility
Accessibility isn't just about font size — it's about reducing decision fatigue.
An Atomic Design system built on "oversized clarity": large touch targets, explicit labels (no abstract icons), and a calming colour palette specifically chosen to lower anxiety during navigation.
Interactive prototype — social onboarding & mentor selection flow.
Interactive prototype — voice interaction flow.
Empowering through Voice
Typing on small screens is a major friction point for users with reduced motor skills or vision.
Voice commands and audio messages as a primary input method — turning a barrier into a seamless communication channel between student and volunteer mentor. High-fidelity prototype built in React to test voice interaction feasibility.
04 · The Outcome & Reflections
Empathy as a Feature
Aprentic challenged the misconception that seniors are "tech-illiterate." We proved that when you remove cognitive friction — replacing passwords with ID verification and typing with voice commands — the barrier isn't ability; it's design.
While the prototype validated the interaction logic, a 2-week sprint has limitations. Executed in 2022, we lacked the high-fidelity interactivity and rapid prototyping speed available today.
Product Discovery and Research Lead
With Andrea Ágedas and Fernando Muñoz
Field testing the voice recognition engine with users over 75 in noisy environments — lab testing rarely accounts for the hesitation and volume variances typical of this demographic.
"Design for trust, not just for function."
When you remove the emotional cost of failure, technology stops being a barrier and becomes a bridge.