Operationalizing SPA · Neeta Khanuja

the design process

The work moved through three phases between June and December 2025: emotion-based self-reflection in Portugal, co-designing SPA-based self-reflection with older adults in India, and refining the tool with domain experts in India.

Illustrated design process in three phases: emotion-based self-reflection in Portugal, co-designing SPA-based self-reflection in India, and refining the SPA tool with domain experts in India.

ii.

co-design at home

We ran pilot co-design sessions with three older adults in their homes in India. They combined exploration, co-creation and refinement to shape the SPA reflection cards and prompts, and gathered feedback on the AI-curated guidance and the tool’s usability. One participant joined a three-hour session that shaped the narratives for the cards and prompts; two others each joined 1.5-hour sessions to refine the prompts, the app and the guidance.

Three illustrated co-design sessions with participants’ quotes: co-creating narratives for the cards, refining the prompts, and discussing AI-curated responses on the phone.

in the appThey preferred to see and choose the cards in the app. Printed cards were a supplement.
concrete wordsAbstract or evaluative words, such as “necessity” or “social ties”, caused confusion. Concrete, present-tense wording worked.
everyday framingThey spoke about aging and self-value through metaphors, daily duties, relationships and contribution, not by naming emotions.
speakingTyping and long writing were hard. They preferred short, slow spoken answers.
audio and textThey wanted guidance as audio or text, with control over saving and sharing it.
scriptureThey trusted guidance that was short, clear and grounded in scripture, especially the Bhagavad Gita, closer to satsang or a mantra than to advice.

iii.

from narratives to cards

We developed the reflection cards through a synthesis of participants’ narratives and the metaphors in them: relationships as a thread that tightens, loosens and shifts over time; life as a river or a tree, where change is growth; the heart as a garden, with feelings as flowers of different fragrances. We chose an abstract, non-figurative visual language to reduce interpretive constraint and support open-ended meaning-making, translating lived experience into structured, culturally grounded reflection prompts.

A table moving from participants’ narratives, to the metaphors drawn from them, to the card visual and prompt, for each of the eight domains. — participants’ narratives, their metaphors, and the card visuals and prompts

iv.

eight reflection cards

The resulting SPA reflection card set of eight cards comprises nine life-aspect domains that structure self-reflection in later life. Each card pairs an abstract visual form with a focused prompt, offering a stable, low-burden entry point for personal reflection across diverse life concerns.

The eight SPA reflection cards with Gujarati titles: social, self-efficacy, age related transitions, life satisfaction, decision-making, self-value, age association and emotions.

socialWhat do relationships mean for you? Over time our relationships change. Some become stronger, and some weaken. What do you think?
self-efficacyWhat we do for others and for ourselves is what shapes us. What do you like to do for yourself? How do you feel about things you can or cannot do?
age related transitionsChange is inevitable in life. Have you ever had the experience of change and how do you accept the changes that come with time?
life satisfactionContentment is important in life. At times we feel greater happiness, and at times we feel less content. What do you do to increase contentment in your life?
decision-makingEvery stage of life is a new beginning. Thoughtful planning is necessary for each new phase. Do you reflect on your needs and make appropriate decisions for your life?
self-valueWhen you do work that you enjoy, it also creates something good for others. Think about actions that add value not only for yourself but for everyone. What actions can you take right now that will benefit both you and others?
age associationGrowing older does not mean life comes to a halt. There are always ways to stay active and connected. How do you remain positive as you age?
emotionsSometimes the heart feels strong, and sometimes it feels fragile. By listening to our emotions, we understand ourselves better. Do you trust your inner self? And which emotion feels the clearest to you today?

review with experts

To assess the tool’s viability, safety, accessibility and cultural resonance, three kinds of domain experts engaged with a working prototype: a cultural scholar from a traditional scripture institute, a trustee of a local old-age home, and researchers and practitioners at a regional HCI conference.

Three illustrated expert reviews with quotes: a cultural scholar from a traditional scripture institute, a trustee of a local old-age home, and a hands-on workshop with HCI researchers and practitioners.

familiar textsWidely known sources, the Bhagavad Gita, selected Upanishads and popular bhajans, were essential for recognition and trust.
compassionReadings should support acceptance, effort and hope, and never frame suffering as punishment or fate.
short explanationsBrief pravachan-style explanations and simple stories, tied to everyday situations such as illness or family conflict.
opennessNo sectarian claims; each reading offered as one possible interpretation.
shared useMany residents had no smartphone or stable internet, so the tool had to work on shared devices and with printed takeaways.
onboardingConcerns about installation, data and safety called for slow, face-to-face, clearly non-clinical introductions.

vi.

three sessions with a psychologist

Three sessions with a psychologist shaped the emotional guardrails, language and personalisation logic of the toolkit, ensuring safety and low-risk interaction: validating the concept and its limits, integrating the other experts and shaping the flow, and co-creating the emotions and activities list.

Three illustrated sessions with the psychologist, with her quotes: concept validation and framing, synthesis after the expert sessions, and co-creating the emotion list, context variables and activities.

wellbeing, not therapyWithout diagnosis or supervision, the tool is gentle wellbeing support, not counselling.
a contained sessionA short arc of reflection, one or two light activities and a closing, so each use ends grounded.
intensityPrompts and activities tagged by emotional intensity, with heavier reflections followed by a cooling-off step.
two takeawaysA reflective takeaway, such as a story or a quote, and an optional action, such as a mudra, a chant or a small practice.
graded emotionsGraded words for joy, fear, anger and sadness, so the tool can tell “slightly down” from “devastated”.
everyday contextSocial circle, living situation, routines and sources of strength personalise the suggestions.

vii.

final design: one session

An older adult picks the card that matches what they want to reflect on and answers its prompt, by speaking or typing. The tool identifies the themes and feelings in what they said, and they rate how strongly they feel them. It then retrieves guidance from the expert-curated knowledge base, and the session ends with a short takeaway, so the reflection can settle.

operationalizing self-perceptions of aging through research through design

the SPA-based self-reflection tool