Challenge:

During my time volunteering as a Cuddler in a Brooklyn NICU, I witnessed firsthand the heartache parents feel when they can’t be there to comfort their newborns. The distress of an upset infant isn’t just about their immediate discomfort—it’s an emotional strain that weighs heavily on both the parents and the medical staff, who are often stretched thin with critical responsibilities. This experience sparked the idea for Heart & Home—a solution designed to empower parents to remain connected with their babies, even when they can't be there physically.

My Role: 

• Ideation: Conceptualized the tool based on personal volunteer experience and a deep understanding of the emotional needs of both parents and medical staff in neonatal care.

• Strategy: Developed the overall strategy to bring this idea to life, ensuring it addressed the specific challenges faced by NICUs and met the needs of all stakeholders.

• User Research: Conducted extensive research with NICU professionals and parents to understand their pain points, validate the concept, and refine the tool’s features.

• User Experience Design: Led the design of an intuitive, secure, and user-friendly interface that could be easily adopted by both parents and NICU staff.

• Collaboration: Worked closely with technology partners to ensure seamless integration of video streaming and communication technologies into the NICU environment.