Matrescence
Navigating the journey of
Bridging the maternal support gap
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Overview
This project was born out of a deeply personal curiosity - that grew into a mission-driven exploration of a life phase that remains largely misunderstood: matrescence. It is as profound as adolescence, (where a Women becomes a mother) yet far less acknowledged. I chose to focus on this topic because I saw a gap not just in support systems, but in awareness, empathy, and conversation. So many mothers silently endure emotional upheavals that are brushed off as “baby blues,” when in reality, they’re navigating a complex identity shift. I wanted to change that narrative and build a world that nurtures not just babies, but mothers too.
TEAM
Solo
TIMELINE
3 Months,
January - March 2025
TOOLS
Figma, FigJam, Firefly, Keyshot, Miro, Adobe firefly, NotebookLM
MY ROLE
Design Manager, Product design, UX designer and UX Researcher
Understand the Transition
To understand the emotional, psychological, and social shifts that new mothers experience during matrescence
To bridge maternal care gaps
To bridge maternal care with accessible, affordable, and trustworthy childcare options
Enable Business Support
To design a platform that could also serve as a strategic tool for businesses to support and retain working mothers
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Goal for the project
Why Is Motherhood Still So Lonely?
60%
43%
New Moms have to leave jobs because there is no support for the baby care
70%
New moms reported feeling overwhelmed during the transition to motherhood
We hear about postpartum depression, but not the broader, non-clinical transformation women experience: matrescence. Unlike adolescence, this is largely unsupported. Emotional highs and lows during Matrescence are often misunderstood and go unspoken. What emerged was a clear gap new working moms are overwhelmed, unsupported, and feeling unseen.
New Moms face difficulty in getting additional support
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Solution
A community-driven platform that helps to bridge the gap between care-exchange and babysitting services in the location. It allows moms to swap childcare with other parents and professional babysitters when additional care is needed, helping them in reducing burdens, fostering trusted communities, and enabling self-reconnection.
ease
Eliminates the high costs associated with traditional childcare by introducing a credit-based swap model. Ensures that moms of all economic backgrounds have access to support without financial strain.
AFFORDABLE
Offers on-demand childcare exchanges, allowing parents to find care when they need it most. Provides options for full-time, part-time, or occasional swaps to fit different lifestyles.
FLEXIBLE
Builds trust through verified profiles, community ratings, and safety protocols.Ensures consistency in caregiving by matching parents with others who share similar parenting values.
Reliable
9:41
Filters
Sorting: Distance
Bessie Cooper
0.1 miles away
5.0
10 reviews
Available
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Kathryn Murphy
0.2 miles away
5.0
10 reviews
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Joe Nguyen
0.1 miles away
5.0
10 reviews
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Courtney Henry
0.3 miles away
Available
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Dylan Steward
0.4 miles away
5.0
10 reviews
Available
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Robert Fox
0,2 km away
5.0
10 reviews
$20
per hour
See on Map
Best care exchange available
Hi, Courtney!
Welcome back!
9:41
swaps near you
Top Rated Baby Sitters
Jessica Golder
0,2 km away
5.0
10 reviews
$20
per hour
Bessie Cooper
0,2 km away
5.0
10 reviews
$20
per hour
Top Rated Baby Sitters
Top Rated Co-op Parents
Bessie Cooper
0,2 km away
5.0
10 reviews
$20
per hour
Bessie Cooper
0,2 km away
5.0
10 reviews
$20
per hour
All
Asap
Filters
Recommended
AI-Powered Personalized Recommendations
Parents can instantly book childcare based on specific needs, such as Child’s age, Food preferences, Allergies & special care
9:41
Baby Monitoring
Duration : 30mins
Location : 231W, Brooklyn, New York
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End
9:41
About Me
Hi, I am Joe!! Hi, a caring and responsible parent with a deep understanding of what it takes to provide a safe and nurturing environment for children. As a parent myself, I know how important it is to find someone trustworthy to.....
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Availability
Check Schedule
Community Recognition
Read More
10
Top 10 in Caregiving
Reviews
Jennifer Conn
Yesterday
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Evelyn Larson
4 weeks
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Book Now
Connect
Joe Nguyen
0.1 miles away
Building Trust & Safety
It integrates multiple trust and safety features to give parents complete peace of mind
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Coins
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Total Coins Left
Available Now
Spent
Earned
250
100
180
Add from Wallet
View Insights
Cost-Effective Credit System
Parents earn credits by swapping childcare ensuring affordability, making it accessible to all parents
Community-Driven Support
A built-in community where moms can connect, share advice, and support each other
Building Empathy, Listening Before Solving
My first design decision was to go broad before going deep. I started with surveys to gather patterns, then conducted in-depth interviews with mothers, a therapist, and an HR professional. Using affinity mapping and empathy frameworks, I organized 750+ data points into emotional themes. My thinking: if the problem is emotional, the insights must speak in users’ voices not my assumptions.
Key Tools: Pestel, Surveys, Interviews, Lextant’s Affinitization Method, Empathy Maps, Jobs to Be Done
25 Survey
7 interviews
750+ data points
Not Every Mom Wears the Same Cape
Pains
Pains
Pains
Job to be done
Job to be done
Job to be done
Struggle with body confidence
Burnout
Lack of motivation
Decision fatigue
Juggling work and motherhood
Time Management
Lack of energy
Difficulty sleeping
Reconnect with their body
Feel empowered
Embrace their body
Secure affordable childcare
Reduce decision fatigue
Guided options
I noticed different emotional journeys emerging some moms wanted to feel beautiful again, some felt guilt juggling work, while others had no one to talk to. So I created personas: The Rebuilder, The Juggler, and The Loner. These were not fictional characters they were emotional reflections of the voices I heard. They helped guide solution thinking beyond the generic "mom user."
ReBUILDERS
LONERS
jUGGLERS
Provide reliable assistance
Affordable childcare
Create a supportive environment
-Said by MOMS (Participants)
Daycare is a scam, quality childcare is hard to find.
Finding an affordable yet trustworthy solution is a constant challenge.
Having access to a childcare option nearby feels like a privilege.
Seeking a balance between self-care and caregiving is essential for well-being
Time is their most precious resource and it’s never enough.
1.
Social isolation and a lack of a awareness, makes it challenging to navigate Matrescence
They crave connection but feel isolated.
3.
Constant need to be present and in control when it comes to caring for their baby
Trust is the biggest currency in childcare and it’s lacking.
2.
Strong desire for reliable, flexible childcare solutions that are financially manageable
Traditional options are often too rigid, too expensive, or too impersonal for early stage mothers.
4.
Based on my research findings, I identified five key insights that best represent the core challenges of matrescence. I focused on these because they emerged across both quantitative and qualitative data, indicating their relevance and urgency. This focus allowed me to build a framework for designing a more empathetic and impactful solution.
Data to insights
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How might we support new mothers in reducing burdens, fostering trusted communities, and enabling self-reconnection?
What : Trust-Building Mechanisms
Why: During testing session, moms asked for emotional assurance.
Iteration: Added verification layers and
community transparency to reduce uncertainty and build a system moms could feel confident in.
Solution: Every caregiver undergoes a multi-step verification process
User reviews, ratings & community reedback
Trust as a top emotional barrier
What : Live Monitoring & Check-in Features
Why: Parents wanted a way to maintain some control over their baby’s well-being while they were away.
Iteration: Added live updates or periodic check-ins (photos, videos, messages).
Solution: A secure live video option (for short check-ins, not constant surveillance).
Emergency alerts or notifications for unexpected situations.
9:41
Baby Monitoring
Duration : 30mins
Location : 231W, Brooklyn, New York
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End
9:41
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>
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Next
Verification
Upload a photo id
We require a photo of a government ID to verify your identity.
>
9:41
About Me
Hi, I am Joe!! Hi, a caring and responsible parent with a deep understanding of what it takes to provide a safe and nurturing environment for children. As a parent myself, I know how important it is to find someone trustworthy to.....
Read More
Availability
Check Schedule
Community Recognition
Read More
10
Top 10 in Caregiving
Reviews
Jennifer Conn
Yesterday
Horem ipsum dolor sit amet, for new consectetur and adipiscing elit.
Evelyn Larson
4 weeks
Horem ipsum dolor sit amet, for new consectetur and adipiscing elit.
Book Now
Connect
Joe Nguyen
0.1 miles away
9:41
Read More
Available Now
Joe Nguyen
0.1 miles away
Video Call
In App Chat
Share Pictures
Schedule a Meetup
Book Now
Get to know!
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Designing With Feeling
Even early wireframes reflected what I had learned emotionally: moms don’t just need tools they need reassurance. The app was built on three pillars: emotional support, control, and connected with the society. While offering affordability, flexibility, and convenience.
Enablers
Suggested features for improvement
Even early wireframes reflected what I had learned emotionally: moms don’t just need tools—they need reassurance. The app was built on five pillars: emotional support, affordability, flexibility, control, and personalization.
Value Beyond the Screen
This solution doesn’t just serve moms it serves the companies that lose them. With 43% of women leaving jobs post-maternity (Harvard Business Review), businesses need retention strategies. My concept helps by offering a scalable platform that bridges maternal support with workplace reintegration. I projected monetization through a B2B model, premium subscriptions, and care-provider partnerships. This isn’t charity it’s strategic, empathetic innovation.
KEY PARTNERS
The network of suppliers and
partners that will have the
business model work
REVENUE STREAMS
INVESTMENT
The costs incurred to operate a business model
KEY ACTIVITIES
The key activities my
company will doing to make its
business work
VALUE PROPOSITION
Product, service, features and
aspects that create value for a
my customer segment
CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIPS
KEY RESOURCES
The most important assets required to make the business work
CUSTOMER SEGMENTS
The different groups of people or
organizations I aim to reach
Partner with companies like Checkr or GoodHire to provide thorough background check
Integrate payment gateways like Stripe or PayPal for secure and seamless transactions.
Partner with insurance providers to offer coverage
Local business, schools, workplaces
Platform development & Maintenance
User acquisition and marketing
Trust verification - establishing trust systems (like background checks, profile verification, sitter reviews)
Real time communication and monitoring ( chat, video check ins)
Market Research & Continuous Innovation (UX testing, feature refinement)
Marketing (digital)
For remote and hybrid-working new moms
Who are facing emotional and mental pressure and are seeking a break from managing childcare and personal work
Our product aims to provide an affordable, flexible, and reliable childcare support
Helping them balance childcare with professional and household responsibilities
Unlike traditional, costly, and often competitive childcare options
Our service uniquely combines care-swapping and professional babysitting, giving parents the ability to access trusted, on-demand childcare whenever they need it most.
Community-Driven Engagement - fostering a sense of belonging
AI driven childcare match based on needs, preferences and schedules
Trust- Reviews, badges to encourage quality care
High quality IT experts
that have good customer relationships
Service fee on professional babysitting jobs
Transaction Fees for Credit Redemptions
Advertising and Sponsored Listings
Partnership with local businesses
CHANNELS
Methods I will use to communicate
or deliver value proposition to your
target customers
The revenue I will be generating from each customer
The types of relationships I will be
establishing with specific customer
segment
Mobile App – Scheduling booking and communication
Content Marketing – Blog, newsletters, and expert articles
Social Media & Influencer Marketing – Targeted engagement via Instagram, Facebook groups, and YouTubeAdvertisements
Word of mouth
Google- Reviews & ratings
Local events/meetups - for trust building and networking with potential users
Platform Development and Maintenance
Background Checks and Verification
Payment Gateway Fees
Insurance Costs
Operational cost- Customer Support
Marketing
Subscription Fees for Parents-(monthly or annual membership)
Referral (for every new user )
From Concept to Community
I’m refining the prototype and exploring collaborations with mental health professionals and tech developers. The goal is to evolve this concept into a real tool. If you’re building for women, wellness, or inclusive innovation I’d love to chat. Let’s create something that changes lives.
The biggest lesson?
That good UX isn't about features it's about feelings. This project taught me how to research deeply, translate emotions into design decisions, and connect the dots between user empathy and business value. It was also a reminder that sometimes, solving complex problems starts by simply listening harder. I grew not just as a designer, but as a human being.
