Integrating an ethic of care into the design of digital bereavement services: a care-oriented approach

Grief is a deeply personal experience often requiring tailored support. While digital bereavement services offer potential, their effectiveness depends on their ability to address the unique needs of grieving individuals without unintended consequences. This article presents a study on integrating an ethic of care into the design of a prototype for a potential digital bereavement service. Using a user-centred design methodology, the study identified key factors for effective support, including emotionally sensitive language, streamlined triaging, reduced cognitive load, and facilitated user choice, which substantially enhanced the prototype’s perceived support and usability. Findings suggest explicitly operationalising an ethic of care, prioritising immediate needs, minimising vulnerabilities, and empowering user agency, is essential for designing effective digital bereavement services. This work offers critical insights and actionable guidance for designers and bereavement organisations to enhance user satisfaction, ease of use, and overall wellbeing in digital bereavement support.