pwamobileproduct

Live

5 days

MVP

Sunrise

An app created for people living with and recovering from TBI. Includes a journal, progress reporting, and games that help exercise lower cognitive functions.

The problem

Traumatic brain injury recovery is isolating and poorly tracked. Patients struggle with memory, focus, and emotional regulation, but their progress is invisible. Traditional cognitive exercises are clinical and discouraging. There's no tool designed for the unique needs of TBI recovery that's also encouraging and accessible.

What we built

A mobile-first app with three core features: a daily journal with guided prompts, cognitive exercise games designed for lower-function recovery, and progress reporting that visualizes improvement over time. The interface is intentionally simple and calming.

Built in 5 days with input from TBI survivors and caregivers throughout the design process.

Screenshots

Features

What it does

Guided journal

Daily prompts that adapt to reported mood and energy level. Never overwhelming.

Cognitive exercise games

Pattern matching, word recall, and sequencing calibrated for TBI recovery.

Progress visualization

Charts showing improvement over weeks and months for patients and caregivers.

Accessibility-first design

Large text, simple navigation, calming colors, minimal choices per screen.

Caregiver dashboard

Separate view for caregivers to monitor progress and journal entries.

Process

How we built it

Consulted with TBI survivors and caregivers

Understood the daily challenges: memory gaps, frustration, isolation, and the need for visible progress.

Designed for cognitive accessibility

Large text, simple navigation, calming colors, and minimal choices per screen. Every UX decision filtered through accessibility.

Built the journal with guided prompts

Daily prompts that adapt to the user's reported mood and energy level. Never overwhelming.

Created cognitive exercise games

Pattern matching, word recall, and sequencing games calibrated to lower cognitive function levels.

Added progress visualization

Charts and summaries that show improvement over weeks and months. Designed for both patients and caregivers.

Reflections

What we took away from this project.

What went wrong

Our first cognitive games were too difficult. We had to recalibrate for much lower baselines than we assumed. Testing with actual TBI patients was essential.

What went right

The journal feature became the most-used part of the app. Patients said it helped them process their day in a way they couldn't do verbally.

What we learned

Accessibility isn't a feature. It's a design philosophy. Building for the most constrained user makes the product better for everyone.

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