Overview
Human Centered Design
App concept
Digital Rendering
Figma
Prosthetic Connect creates a social community connects recent amputees with sports clubs, social groups and mentors that have experienced the challenges of post amputation surgery.
Alex Lewis lost his limbs overnight, due to an illness that spread to his limbs. Within hours he was a quadruple amputee. Alex, like myself, loved sports. But now with his amputations, its harder to enjoy that team dynamic and the thrill of a goal. His main challenge was actually finding groups and clubs that were genuine, friendly and perfect for him with the right training, facilities and mentorship opportunities.
Alex revealed that the gap between being discharged from hospital and being made to get used to his new life is overwhelmingly substantial.
Sport chooses everyone...
When someone leaves surgery, they’re left too their own devices
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Percentage of amputees suffer from a mental health issue following a amputation surgery
35%
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Opportunities
Due too the lack of support post surgery / discharge, many people leave hospital with life changing illnesses or disabilities and the feeling of having to start over in a new life. However, people shouldn’t have to start a new life, they keep their hobbies and interests but the clubs and groups they used to be a part of don’t cater to their new needs.
Recognising this gap, we saw an opportunity to create a central hub that would give users, who have recently experienced a life changing event, to regain the social and sport skills.
Research
Understanding the needs of the user, in this project was crucial. Approaching people, through Alex Lewis, that have suffered amputation or life changing illnesses with the idea to create an app tailored too them and their specific needs was the perfect place to start.
At the beginning of this project, I interviewed 4 individuals that suffered from amputation as well as a small focus group that myself and Alex led. I also interviewed Limb Power, an amputation sports charity, to fully understand the challenges this market holds.
Key Takeaways
Too many sport organisations trying to promote their own initiatives.
They result to going for a walk in public making them feel like people are looking at them.
Feel left out of the community feel of a club.
Would love the feeling of a mentor being there for them and showing they can still achieve within their love of sport.