Kindly

Inspiration

Coming to the United States was a fascinating experience, but it also came with its share of cultural shocks. One thing that stood out to me was how people live independently once they are out of high school or college. At first, it felt unusual, but I realized it gives young adults a lot of space to grow, make decisions, and learn self-reliance. At the same time, parents get more time for themselves without having to constantly look after their children.

However, over time I noticed that when these adults grow older, many end up in old age homes, often with limited interaction with their children or the community. Seeing the statistics and hearing stories from these places made me reflect on the importance of independence and companionship for elderly people. They deserve more than just care; they deserve meaningful connections and engagement.

As a student, I also understand the need for flexible part-time work to support myself financially. This project felt like a perfect opportunity to address both needs. By connecting students with elderly people in their local neighborhoods, we can create a system where students gain work experience and a little extra income, while the elderly receive companionship and support.

I imagined this platform as a way to build a sense of community: a home away from home for students living far from their families, and a source of meaningful human connection for older adults. That vision is what motivated me to create this project.

What it does

Kindly is a match-making platform that connects elderly people in local neighborhoods with students looking for flexible part-time work . Elderly users can find helpers for daily tasks, companionship, or just someone to talk to, while students can earn a little extra income and build meaningful connections. The platform is designed to foster community, promote independence for older adults, and offer students a supportive "home away from home" experience, while also having a source of financial support.

How I built it

I built Kindly as a minimal viable product app using Figma. The platform is designed to be simple, intuitive, and accessible. It features a Tinder-like interface where users can swipe left or right to connect, or send direct messages.

The app includes basic and advanced filters for customization, allowing students and elderly users to find suitable matches based on preferences and availability. There is also a family monitoring space, which gives family members the ability to oversee interactions and ensure the safety of elderly users.

Kindly is planned to have three types of interfaces: one for elderly users, one for student helpers, and one for family members. I focused on creating a friendly, easy-to-use design for elderly users, with larger fonts, clear buttons, and straightforward navigation.

This minimal viable product helps me to test the concept, gather user feedback, and iterate toward a fully functional app that fosters the intention.

Challenges I ran into

One major challenge was making the app accessible for elderly users who may be unfamiliar with technology. To address this, I focused on keeping interactions simple and straightforward, minimizing steps required to connect with helpers.

Another key challenge was security and trust, since the platform connects people who may not know each other. I addressed this by planning features such as verified profiles and a family monitoring space, providing confidence and oversight for elderly users and their families.

Balancing usability for elderly users with trust and security measures was a critical focus, and I plan to iterate on the design based on feedback to make it as safe and user-friendly as possible.

Accomplishments that I'm proud of

I’m proud of creating a platform that brings students and elderly people together, creating connections that go beyond tasks and payments. Even as a minimal viable product, Kindly demonstrates the potential to foster community, companionship, and mutual support. Being able to translate an idea about bridging generations into a tangible concept that could positively impact people’s lives feels like a meaningful achievement.

What I learned

This project taught me the importance of designing for accessibility. Understanding the challenges elderly users face with technology helped me think carefully about simplicity, clarity, and ease of use. I also learned how thoughtful design can make digital tools inclusive, practical, and meaningful, while still addressing real-world needs like connection and community.

What's next for Kindly

The next step for Kindly is to use the insights I have uncovered to guide further design decisions. I plan to iterate, test, and refine the app, continuously improving the user experience for both elderly users and student helpers. From design to development, the goal is to keep evolving the platform, making it more accessible, trustworthy, and impactful with each iteration. I hope that through Kindly, users can share little moments of joy, friendship, and connection every day.

Built With

• figma