Care Companion

Competitive Audit

I analyzed two direct competitors and one indirect competitor, focusing on their mobile apps. This assessment included evaluating general information, initial user impressions, interaction quality, visual design, and content effectiveness. The audit highlighted each competitor's strengths and weaknesses, revealing opportunities for improvement in the healthcare management app sector.

User Research

I conducted interviews with five users to delve into their experiences and identify pain points. By asking targeted questions, I was able to gather valuable insights that informed a comprehensive analysis of user needs and challenges.

Pain Points

Through the competitive audit and user research, I identified key user pain points:

• Time constraints
• Limited appointment availability
• Uncertainty about wait times

• Complex appointment procedure

Persona

Leveraging insights from the competitive audit and user interviews, I crafted a comprehensive user persona. This approach enabled me to deeply understand the user's needs and frustrations, ensuring the design effectively addressed these pain points, resulting in a user-friendly and efficient solution.

Problem Statement:

Sarah is a working mom who needs a quick and easy way to check in for her doctor's appointments because she's always short on time.

User Journey Map

Mapping Sarah's journey highlighted the critical need for a streamlined booking process, emphasizing the user's desire for efficiency and simplicity. This understanding informed the wireframe structure, ensuring it aligns with user expectations and enhances the overall experience.

Ideation

I conducted a Crazy 8's session to design the solution, identifying the need for a unified, up-to-date, and interactive platform. With a rough idea in hand, I quickly generated a variety of concepts. This method allowed me to explore multiple configurations rapidly, focusing on user-centric features like easy appointment booking.

Wireframes

After selecting the most promising features from the crazy 8's activity, I designed wireframes for the required screens.

Low-fidelity Prototype

From wireframes to interaction, I crafted a low-fidelity prototype. This lean model, built on user flow, opened the door to early usability testing. It marked a crucial step from concept to testable app.

Usability Studies

To refine the app design, I conducted two usability studies with a group of five participants in each study. These studies focused on understanding how users interact with the app and identifying pain points in the user flow.

Round 1 Findings 

• Users want a streamlined check-in experience
• Users want clarity on the information gathered and the security of their information
• Users want to be able to schedule multiple appointments at once

Round 2 Findings

• Users want better scheduling options for recurring appointments
• Users want a calendar option when scheduling for more clarity

Design System

Before proceeding to the mock-ups, I developed a design system grounded in color theory and the WCAG 2.0 design guidelines. I selected a strong blue and green color to evoke a clean design that is also calming and frequently used in healthcare settings. For the primary font, I chose Work Sans due to its readability and clean, modern design.

Mockups

With a solid design system in place, the project moved to high-fidelity mockups. Focusing on refining the visuals to reflect the findings of the usability study.

Usability Studies

To refine the app design, I conducted two usability studies with a group of five participants in each study. These studies focused on understanding how users interact with the app and identifying pain points in the user flow.

Round 1 Findings 

• Users want a streamlined check-in experience
• Users want clarity on the information gathered and the security of their information
• Users want to be able to schedule multiple appointments at once

Round 2 Findings

• Users want better scheduling options for recurring appointments
• Users want a calendar option when scheduling for more clarity

Design System

Before proceeding to the mock-ups, I developed a design system grounded in color theory and the WCAG 2.0 design guidelines. I selected a strong blue and green color to evoke a clean design that is also calming and frequently used in healthcare settings. For the primary font, I chose Work Sans due to its readability and clean, modern design.

Mockups

With a solid design system in place, the project moved to high-fidelity mockups. Focusing on refining the visuals to reflect the findings of the usability study.

High-fidelity Prototype

Interactivity was then added to create the final deliverable, a fully functioning app, ready to be sent off to a developer. Care Companion's high-fidelity prototype delivers enhanced functionality, responsive features, and a transparent data security agreement. It's a fully realized solution, committed to diverse healthcare needs.

View High-fidelity Prototype

Impact

After finalizing the app, I conducted a pilot test with three users, resulting in an impressive usability score of 9/10. Although the app is yet to be fully developed, participants in the pilot praised its unique features, particularly the recurring booking option, which significantly enhances user convenience.

Color Contrast

To ensure the app meets WCAG 2.0 standards for color contrast, I crafted a color palette that aligns with AA or higher requirements. By using the Figma plugin 'Use Contrast,' I confirmed these standards were consistently applied across the app, enhancing accessibility for users with visual impairments.

Recurring Booking

Introduced a recurring booking feature to streamline the scheduling process for users with chronic conditions or ongoing treatments, allowing them to easily set up regular appointments. This feature reduces the need for repetitive manual scheduling, making the app more accessible and convenient for those with high-frequency needs.

Text Hierarchy

While the design system facilitates faster implementation and creation of the overall design, it also supports the establishment of a structured text hierarchy. This hierarchy enables users to easily distinguish between different sections and types of information, while also providing a clear structure for screen readers.

Text Alternatives

Many users with impairments require text that can be converted into other formats. To ensure accessibility for all users, I created alternative text (alt text) for all images, which not only enhances user experience but also aids developers and ensures compliance with WCAG standards.

Learnings and outcomes

• Importance of iterative testing

As I tested the app I realized how important it was to understand the user's perspective and better understand my short falls in create a comprehensive app at first, allowing me to modify the app accordingly.

• Importance of user research

User insights shaped the app's evolution. Sleek design alone falls short; thorough research fuels real-world functionality. Early missteps taught me: true usability stems from understanding our audience.

• Functionality can be simple

Simple solutions often yield surprising results. While I envisioned complex appointment-booking features, users gravitated towards a basic recurring reservation button. This understanding emerged during usability testing, reshaping my design approach and highlighting the power of streamlined functionality. Sometimes, less truly is more in user experience design.

Next Steps

• To further validate the app’s effectiveness I would continue conducting user testing to uncover areas of improvement, particularly with a broader audience. This would ensure the app performs well for individuals across various demographics and medical needs.

• Based on user feedback, I would consider adding features such as a tailored health resource section, similar to a personalized WebMD experience, where users can access information specific to their medical conditions and broaden their understanding of overall health.

• I would explore integrating the app with other health-related platforms, such as fitness trackers or electronic health records, to provide a more comprehensive and connected healthcare experience for users.