In partnership with Google, I led foundational research exploring how people living with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) use smartphones as extensions of their memory. The work uncovered opportunities to design for cognitive accessibility, dignity, and everyday independence.
Impact
This research helped establish cognitive accessibility as a strategic design consideration, informing future exploration of AI-assisted memory support, voice interaction, and emerging multi-modal experiences. The work re-framed accessibility from a compliance exercise to an opportunity to support everyday human capability and independence.
Challenge
Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) affects millions today and is projected to impact up to 15 million people by 2060. Yet it remains largely invisible in mainstream technology design. For the client, cognitive accessibility was an emerging priority, but there was little foundational understanding of how people with memory impairments actually navigate everyday digital interactions. Smartphones, while powerful, have largely been designed without accounting for cognitive variability. This created both a gap in inclusive design and an opportunity to re-imagine smartphones as active cognitive supports, not just passive tools.
Client
Google Accessibility (via Diagram)
Google Accessibility (via Diagram)
Role
UX Research Lead
UX Research Lead
Led foundational accessibility research exploring how people living with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) navigate everyday technology. Developed the research strategy, designed cultural probes and in-home studies, and translated insights into strategic opportunities for accessibility and emerging technology teams.
Methods
Secondary Research, Recruiting + Screening, Cultural Probes, Video + In-home Interviews, Participatory Activities
Secondary Research, Recruiting + Screening, Cultural Probes, Video + In-home Interviews, Participatory Activities
Framing the Work
Rather than asking “how do people use accessibility features,” we re-framed the work around a broader question:
How can smartphones better support memory, attention, and emotional confidence in everyday life?
How can smartphones better support memory, attention, and emotional confidence in everyday life?
This led to three guiding questions:
+ How are people living with MCI already adapting smartphones to manage daily life?
+ What methods (both analog and digital) are used to overcome memory challenges?
+ What principles should guide cognitive support without reinforcing stigma?
+ What methods (both analog and digital) are used to overcome memory challenges?
+ What principles should guide cognitive support without reinforcing stigma?
Cultural Probe Activity Kit designed to draw out how people feel and dream about their memory changes capturing implicit knowledge from participants
Approach
We designed a mixed-method, design-led research study with 30 participants across the U.S., spanning a range of MCI causes (Parkinson’s, MS, TBI) and device types (iOS and Android).
Given the invisible and deeply personal nature of cognitive decline, we combined methods that surfaced both behavior and emotion:
Cultural Probes
Designed self-reflection kits to capture lived experiences of memory lapses, routines, and coping strategies over time
In-Home Contextual Inquiries
Observed how participants navigated their physical and digital environments in real-world conditions
Remote 1:1 Interviews
Explored emotional impact, workarounds, and perceptions of technology
Co-Design Tools & Card Sorts
Helped participants articulate needs that were difficult to verbalize directly
Secondary Research
Grounded findings in clinical and cognitive science perspectives
Designed self-reflection kits to capture lived experiences of memory lapses, routines, and coping strategies over time
In-Home Contextual Inquiries
Observed how participants navigated their physical and digital environments in real-world conditions
Remote 1:1 Interviews
Explored emotional impact, workarounds, and perceptions of technology
Co-Design Tools & Card Sorts
Helped participants articulate needs that were difficult to verbalize directly
Secondary Research
Grounded findings in clinical and cognitive science perspectives
This approach allowed us to move beyond stated needs and uncover adaptive behaviors and hidden cognitive labor.
Key Insights
Smartphones as External Memory Systems
Participants used their phones as extensions of memory, storing reminders, notes, photos, and routines.
However, this system was manually constructed and fragmented, requiring significant effort to maintain.
Participants used their phones as extensions of memory, storing reminders, notes, photos, and routines.
However, this system was manually constructed and fragmented, requiring significant effort to maintain.
Cognitive Support Must Be Invisible
Assistive features were often avoided if they felt medicalized or exposed vulnerability.
Support needed to be subtle, customizable, and socially invisible.
Assistive features were often avoided if they felt medicalized or exposed vulnerability.
Support needed to be subtle, customizable, and socially invisible.
Small Wins Build Emotional Stability
Completing everyday tasks—sending a message, remembering a step—had an outsized emotional impact.
Moments of success reinforced confidence and independence.
Completing everyday tasks—sending a message, remembering a step—had an outsized emotional impact.
Moments of success reinforced confidence and independence.
Disruption Leads to Cognitive Derailment
Interruptions—notifications, unfamiliar UI, multi-step flows—frequently caused users to lose track of tasks, leading to frustration and anxiety.
Interruptions—notifications, unfamiliar UI, multi-step flows—frequently caused users to lose track of tasks, leading to frustration and anxiety.
Reflections
This work reinforced my belief that designing for cognitive accessibility is about understanding the emotional and mental effort required to navigate everyday life.
Participants weren’t just managing memory loss...They were actively reconstructing systems to maintain independence, dignity, and identity.
Design has the responsibility to meet them there...quietly, respectfully...without friction and effort.