Supporting the Supporters

Empowering caregivers with resources to support loved ones through testicular cancer.

Role

Lead Product Designer

Industry

Healthcare

Duration

6 months

Recognising an overlooked audience

Nuts & Bolts was initially created as a resource for men diagnosed with testicular cancer. However, platform data revealed that nearly half of our visitors were caregivers—spouses, family members, and friends supporting a loved one through the cancer journey.

Caregivers play a vital role but often feel overwhelmed, isolated, and underprepared. Through research, we identified their two main needs:

Practical and emotional guidance to help them navigate caregiving.
Support for their own wellbeing, recognising that their health is critical to the care they provide.

This insight inspired us to expand Nuts & Bolts to address the challenges faced by caregivers.

Understanding supporters’ needs

To design effectively, we conducted extensive research:

39.9% of visitors were female, indicating significant engagement from partners and family members.
69.6% of visitors identified as caregivers, emphasising the demand for tailored resources.
Interviews with 11 caregivers revealed that many felt overwhelmed and emotionally drained.

From this research, we developed two personas:

Supportive Mother: A caregiver managing day-to-day logistics.
Supportive Partner: Someone balancing caregiving with emotional vulnerability.

Crafting a supportive experience

We used these insights to design features that empower caregivers:

Inclusive Language: Revised platform copy to remove male-centric terms, creating a welcoming space for all users.
Dedicated Caregiver Guide: Added Carrie, the first caregiver-specific guide in the “Talk to a Guide” program.
Community-Driven Suggestions: Enabled supporters to suggest future resource topics directly on the homepage.
Expanded Resource Library: Introduced articles tailored to caregivers, such as “How to Support a Friend or Loved One with Testicular Cancer.”

These ideas were developed through workshops like Crazy Eights and validated through an empathy workshop.

Design validation

We created high-fidelity prototypes and tested them with caregivers to refine the platform:

Positive response to caregiver-specific resources: Articles like “How to Help Someone with Cancer” were particularly valued.
Smooth navigation: Testers appreciated the intuitive layout.
Requests for personalisation: Users expressed interest in location-based resources and community features for future updates.

Delivering impact

The expanded platform delivered measurable results:

10% increase in female visitors, indicating better engagement with caregivers.
4 requests for Carrie’s guidance within the first weeks post-launch.
40+ topic suggestions from caregivers, demonstrating active community participation.
The article “How to Support a Friend or Loved One with Testicular Cancer” became the 9th most-viewed resource, with 419 views.

Building a long-term support system

We’re committed to evolving Nuts & Bolts to meet the growing needs of caregivers:

Collaborate with healthcare providers to expand credibility and reach.
Explore caregiver dynamics through further research to create nuanced resources.
Enhance personalisation, including location-based resources and community features.

Through these initiatives, we’ll continue empowering caregivers with the tools they need to navigate the testicular cancer journey confidently.