Designing a Resource and Support Hub for Dementia Caregivers
Project Overview
Problem
Family caregivers couldn’t find trusted dementia resources; key pages hidden without direct link.
Timeline + Team
June 2023 - Present
Founder → 2 co-founders · UX designer · 2 asset managers · financial advisor
My Role
Lead UX researcher & designer – Information Architecture overhaul, visual standards, course UX
Tools
Figma · Miro · Circle.so · Canva · Trello · OneDrive · PowerPoint · Google Workspace
›› At a Glance
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0 → 347 free dementia-care resources now one click away
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Image-asset workflow: ≈ 2 to 5 minutes → 10 seconds per visual
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3 courses live (1 professional, 2 family-caregiver tracks)
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Unified brand system: templates + style guide for faster, consistent updates
Understanding the Problem
Visual + Structural Barriers
Navigation was inconsistent and content was buried, creating extra strain for caregivers. My audit revealed missing hierarchy and accessibility gaps (see example below).
Home page audit showing branding, readability, and visual hierarchy concerns.
Brand Overlap + Hidden Resources
The site mixed a blog, personal portfolio, and music page, making its purpose unclear. Key resources were hidden in newsletters instead of accessible onsite, which we resolved through a brand alignment workshop.
Diagram showing how key resource pages were disconnected from the main site structure, leaving some recommendations only accessible via direct newsletter links.
Platform Decision + Constraints
The original site lived on the founder’s laptop, so updates required screen-sharing and no volunteers could contribute directly. While we initially considered moving to a collaborative web builder, building a custom site would have taken weeks and stretched the budget.
Circle.so became the clear choice. With lower upfront costs, built-in community features, and the mentor’s ongoing support, it could be set up in just an hour instead of weeks. I adapted our new information architecture and brand visuals to Circle’s limits, making it possible to launch quickly without sacrificing usability or consistency.
My Approach
Getting Everyone on the Same Page
I ran a simple alignment workshop so we could agree on tone, values, and goals. That clarity set the stage for everything that came next.
We sorted a wide range of adjectives into “yes” and “no,” then used dot voting to select the five most essential tone words (like trusted, open, and genuine) to guide the site’s voice and emotional tone.
✦ Breakthrough Moment
Laura's Aspiration to Become a Subject Matter Expert
This breakthrough moment guided our design direction, prioritizing the creation of caregiver-focused educational resources to support Laura’s professional goals and the mission of the platform.
Bringing the Brand to Life
Once we agreed on the brand’s tone and values, I sketched logo concepts to bring those ideas to life. We tested a few variations together and narrowed down to a final mark that felt both professional and approachable.
I presented Laura and Patty (eventual co-founder) with a series of sketches for the logo concepts based on the brainstorming session we had the week before.
After we landed on a logo that felt right, I pulled everything into a simple style guide with colors, typography, and usage rules so anyone on the team could create materials that looked polished and consistent.
ABC Dementia Brand and Style Guide: Key guidelines for consistent logo usage, typography, color application, and tone to strengthen brand recognition and maintain integrity.
Left: Typography chosen for a modern, professional, and accessible feel. Right: Color palette designed to convey trust, clarity, and a supportive tone.
Choosing the Right Platform (Fast)
At first, we planned a custom site. But when we realized Circle.so could launch in an hour (and came with mentor support), it just made sense. I adapted our IA and brand so we could move quickly without losing consistency.
Family Caregiver Kickstart course on Circle.so, providing caregivers with easy access to educational content and community support within the platform.
Designing Caregiver-Friendly Resources
Alongside the brand and platform work, I supported Laura in shaping her caregiver courses so they felt clear and approachable. I helped define learning goals, suggested ways to keep videos concise and engaging, and recommended lightweight checks for understanding. To make the overall learning experience smoother, I also set up workarounds for things Circle.so did not cover, such as using Google Forms for feedback and support requests. My role was not to write the curriculum itself, but to make sure caregivers had materials and systems that felt accessible, supportive, and easy to use.
Comparison of resource versions: plain text (left) and polished (right). The updated version includes improved formatting and accessibility, with a green paint stroke across the top at the client’s request
Streamlining the Workflow + Resource Library
Laura’s old workflow took minutes for each image. I stripped it down to seconds. We also added headers and categories so caregivers could actually find what they needed right away.
Three-step process for updating the first resource image template (2 minutes per image): add icons, drop in the photo, and adjust the overlay.
Multi-purpose image template showing one cover image that adapts cleanly to both banner and card formats without cropping issues.
▸ Stakeholder Insight
Impact of Simplified Workflow: Laura’s Perspective
After implementing the simplified image process and optimizing the resource page workflow, I received valuable feedback from Laura on the impact these changes had on her day-to-day tasks. She shared:
"Some of the changes you made (like the frame around the resource images that allow me to use the same image for both the cover image and the card image) have made a huge difference in streamlining the content creation process. I actually still love the process of dropping the image into the frame, whereas before I found it cumbersome and often frustrating."
- Text Message from Laura Herman, Founder of ABC Dementia
This feedback highlights how the simplification of the image creation process significantly reduced the time and effort involved, allowing Laura to focus more on content creation and community engagement.
Enhancing Resource Findability
Circle.so did not have a strong tagging system, so I restructured the resource pages to make them easier to scan. Each entry now starts with the type of resource, a few clear categories, and a short summary. Caregivers no longer have to dig through old posts or newsletters to find what they need.
The structured header in action, featuring the resource type, relevant categories, and a brief summary of the resource to enhance discoverability and searchability.
Implementation + User Feedback
Community members said the new design felt more professional and much easier to navigate. Laura told me the streamlined process made her day-to-day work less frustrating and even enjoyable.
Resource page within the ABC Dementia community on Circle.so, showcasing caregiving materials like workbooks and tracking tools, designed for easy navigation and access.
Key Outcomes
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Improved User Experience: Navigation was clearer and the redesign felt more professional, as confirmed by dozens of community members and LinkedIn followers.
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Increased Accessibility: The new resource structure made it easier for caregivers to find and use content.
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Streamlined Workflow: Content creation time dropped from about two minutes per visual to under ten seconds.
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Global Reach: I supported the Advanced Dementia Care Certification Course in preparing for launch with the Chartered Institute of Professional Certification, ensuring accessible, consistent materials for an international audience.
Client Testimonial
When I initially started working with Jay, I was looking for help designing an accessible, usable Resource directory for care partners of people with dementia. [...] Jay did an amazing job, and we ended up working together on a complete rebrand for ABC Dementia across our website, newsletter, distributable PDFs, and social media graphics. Jay’s work has made a huge difference in the presentation of my company and the experience of my Members and other users.
- Laura Herman, Founder, ABC Dementia (LinkedIn, July 2024)
How This Project Shaped My Practice
This project sharpened my ability to design for accessibility in real-world conditions. Caregivers needed resources that were clear, fast to find, and easy to use under stressful circumstances, which pushed me to prioritize usability at every step.
I also learned to balance aesthetics with function. The brand updates mattered, but only when they reinforced trust and clarity for the people using the platform.
Most of all, this project reminded me of the importance of community. In January 2025, Laura passed away suddenly and unexpectedly, leaving a gap for everyone who had leaned on her work. What stood out was how the community rallied to carry on her mission and honor her legacy. Seeing that reinforced why I value community-centered design. UX is not only about creating usable tools, but also about helping people feel connected and supported. That reminder will stay with me in every project moving forward.
What's Next
The next step is a caregiver app for behavior tracking. My main contributions will focus on information architecture, UI/UX design, and product development consultation, ensuring the app is intuitive and supportive for caregivers. Community feedback will guide refinements so resources remain easy to find. My goal is to keep building tools that are functional, caregiver-centered, and true to Laura’s vision.
Final Reflections
This project reinforced my belief in the value of community-centered design. Even with limited resources, we created a platform that feels professional, supportive, and scalable. I’m proud to have contributed to work that makes it easier for caregivers to find help when they need it most, and I carry forward the reminder that design is at its best when it shows up for people in their most important moments.