Designers
Annamaria Celeste Luce Pace
Year
2025
Category
New Talent
Country
Italy
School
Coursera
Three questions to the project team
What was the particular challenge of the project from a UX point of view?
This year, I taught art to children hospitalized by coming into contact with their needs. From the interviews I conducted, it emerged that, despite being connected with their smartphones/tabletsThey felt a discomfort that went beyond their physical health status which focused on isolation. the stressful situation also involved parents worried about the conditions of their children. Improving this situation was the starting point, the challenge was the 'how'. Through Toopla the hospitalization can be experienced from a new perspective that can also be considered positive for their growth. The children can feel united among themselves through the play, new friendships, and support for school continuity.
What was your personal highlight in the development process? Was there an aha!-moment, was there a low point?
Everything was significant for me because this was my first project. It was very satisfying to think from the user's side, developing a relaxing and welcoming interface for the condition of the little hospitalized patients, learning to use new tools for ui/ux design, studying the logic of the app's architecture. A point of discouragement was when I schematized and ordered the three main areas of Toopla. I realized that the key to winning the challenge was to simplify and leave the essential, trying to ask myself what a child would like to find, trying to avoid the frustration that comes when you can't complete the navigation.
Where do you see yourself and the project in the next five years?
I want to change course and work in this field of UX/UI design: I love solving people's problems and finding solutions that can improve their conditions. I want to work on other projects on social issues and the good of the community, sharing my ideas with a determined and passionate team. In 5 years, I would like Toopla to be used in many hospitals around the world and that this contributes to improving the well-being of children and adolescents. Toopla could also be used by humanitarian associations that operate in places affected by conflicts and humanitarian crises to offer children who are in stressful situations the opportunity to regain psychological well-being.
