Clinical leaders repeatedly assured designers of the need to better support family caregivers of persons with dementia.

Clinicians shared existing data, documents and protocols.

Designers conducted rapid ethnographic study with clinical staff, patients and caregivers.

Designers investigated existing solutions such as apps, telemedicine and educational materials.

Designers met with clinical staff, who reported what had been tried in the past and how well it had worked.

Designers and clinicians defined success as a solution that is usable and acceptable to caregivers, free or minimal cost, and improves well-characterised clinical outcomes.

Designers and clinicians agreed to terminate the solution if it failed to produce the agreed-upon outcomes or caused significant harm.

Designers generated potential solutions, drawing on input from clinicians.

Designers, with clinician support, chose to pursue a mobile app, based on convenience, personalisation, visual nature and scalability.

Designers performed multiple rounds of design and testing of prototypes with caregivers and clinicians.

Designers made changes throughout the process, based on user feedback, observed barriers and clinician input.

Designers partnered with clinicians to pilot test the app’s usability, acceptability and efficacy for patients and caregivers.

Designers worked with software developer to create tools needed to allow any clinical service to modify the app to their needs.

Clinicians incorporated the app into their care delivery protocols.