ELECTRA HEATLH
Introduction
Approximately 66% of the U.S. population uses prescription drugs for medical treatment. However, 15% of these individuals find that their treatments are ineffective, and 22% report that their prescribed drugs have worsened their condition. Despite Western doctors' strong emphasis on prescription medications, the lack of treatment effectiveness and patient satisfaction is striking. Preliminary research suggests that patients could benefit from a tool to help track their treatments and better advocate for their healthcare.
Exploring the relationship between health data visualization and patient advocacy was empowering for me as a product designer. I found it incredibly satisfying to create digital solutions within the healthcare industry.
Mobile App
End-to-end Product Designer
August - September 2024
USER INTERVIEWS
AFFINITY MAP
I organized my findings through an affinity map which brought my most prevalent user attitudes and concerns to the surface.
In regards to moving, my users identified pain points that included advocating for their health, objectively reporting their symptoms, and overall privacy concerns.
It was brought to my attention that people are motivated by customization of their treatment management, external app integration, and a human design approach that is simple and bright.
It was clear that users needed an expandable home for their treatments, a way to track physical and psychological symptoms, as well as clear info graphics to represent all logged data.
The Task at Hand:
With these themes in mind, I set out to empower patients by developing a mobile app that organizes treatments and logs their symptoms, ultimately giving the patient a voice in their own healthcare.
Research
COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS
Following an in-depth evaluation using the SWOT method, I found that the selected competitors were all highly rated apps with diverse features like medication tracking, and reminders. Each service had strong engagement with their target demographics, primarily including older adults and chronic patients.
Each app faced challenges such as Medisafe’s complex UI, MyTherapy's lack of mental health integration, and Round Health’s limited features and narrower appeal. Based on these findings, there was a clear corner of the health app market to explore further.
Over a series of interviews targeting young to middle-aged adults, I focused on…
Knowing what obstacles people have have faced while managing their treatments and tracking their progress.
Discovering what makes visual information digestible for the user.
Understanding the user’s experience in advocating for their healthcare.
Define
PROBLEM STATEMENT
Problem: Many people feel uncomfortable and overwhelmed when asked to report how they’ve been feeling to their doctor. Because of this, patients often gloss over their symptoms, and health trends go unnoticed. This usually results in ineffective treatments that discourage the patient in need of help.
How might we prepare patients to share treatment progress with their doctors in a detailed, scalable way that results in better better success rates?
PERSONA
With my problem in mind and considerations on how to solve for it, I echoed my users’ voices in a generalized representation called Luna.
Idea Exploration
FEATURE SET
As a designer, I consistently strive for quality over quantity. After a thorough brainstorming session resulting in many ideas for the app, I carefully prioritized my concepts into four clear categories:
Must Have, Nice To Have, Surprising and Delightful, and Can Come Later
Information
Architecture
SITEMAP
After running a user card sort, I analyzed my results via dendrogram, participant centric analysis, similarity matrix, and standardization grid. The sitemap I built is supported by the data that was collected.
USER FLOWS
Segments of the sitemap were then flushed out into detailed user flows. Here, I focused on Treatment Alerts, Trend Logging, and
Health Goals.
Branding & User
Interface
MOODBOARD
One of my favorite parts of an end-to-end project is conceptualizing the brand and assembling its components. Designing digital visuals has consistently been my passion for over 15 years. After some preliminary research and a mood board, I created elements centered around neumorphism that would support the design of a modern, hip, and user-friendly interface. Here, I landed on the brand name, Electra Health.
Logo Sketches
Brand Name & Logo (Alternate)
Brand Name & Logo (Alternate)
Brand Name & Logo
STYLE TILE
UI KIT
With the brand’s color palette, typography, and info graphic styles established, I built out and organized the app’s component library in Figma.
Wireframes
LOW & HIGH FIDELITY
From just a few simple low fidelity wireframes, Electra Health was transformed into an end-to-end mobile app design. The evolution here highlights the motivation I had to solve for and accommodate my most critical user needs.
Usability Testing
COMMON THEMES
Logo as a Button: Several users were confused about the logo’s role, suggesting it either be centered or act as a homepage button.
Color Palette: While calming, neon yellow/green on buttons was a strain for some users, suggesting a darker shade.
Switches & Buttons: Users frequently requested more text or explanations for switches, particularly around symptoms and treatment details.
Goals Page: Users appreciated the simplicity but wanted more numeric values and clarity in the rings.
Instructions & Clarity: Many users requested additional instructions, pop-ups, or clearer labels across different pages (treatment, symptom tracking, goals).
REVISIONS
Logo as a Button: I entertained the option of having the lighting bolt logo serve as another way to navigate to the homepage in the final prototype.
Color Palette: I reduced the brightness of the brand’s tertiary color to a darker shade of neon green for all functional components, leaving the brand’s logo as is.
Switches & Buttons: I included text identifiers beside switches found on the detail pages to clarify their intention to remind users to take their treatments and log their symptoms.
Goals Page: I added subtext to each ring’s title that clarifies both units measured in, as well as numerical markers for their progress.
Instructions & Clarity: I swapped the switch for an eye icon intended to view and hide each symptom’s line on the overview graph.
Miscellaneous: I instructed navigation bar icons to be filled when the user is on their respective pages. I also navigated the user to the respective symptom when the logging of that symptom was completed.
FINAL PRODUCT
PROTOTYPE
FINAL THOUGHTS
Electra Health addresses the critical need for users to manage their treatments and monitor their symptoms effectively. Through comprehensive user research, iterative prototyping, and detailed usability testing, the app was tailored to meet the specific needs of individuals managing and advocating for ongoing health conditions. By incorporating intuitive reminders for treatment adherence and a seamless symptom logging feature, the app empowers users to take control of their health in a simple, user-friendly way. The final solution not only reduces missed treatments but also enhances users’ ability to track their well-being over time, offering them valuable insights.
Moving forward, the app has potential for further growth, such as expanding integration with wearable devices and carving out a corner for the healthcare provider’s prospective.
