Apr 8, 2022
Overview
The Med Health App is a user-friendly mobile application designed to provide access to alternate medicine resources and services. It aims to empower users to take control of their health and well-being by offering a range of features and functionalities.
Project Context
The Med Health App was developed as part of a case study on UI/UX design for alternate medicine. The project aimed to create a user-friendly and intuitive app that provides information and resources on various alternative medicine practices. The development timeline for the app was 6 months, starting from January 2021 and ending in June 2021. The project team utilized a range of tools and technologies to design and develop the app, including:
Roles & Responsibilities
UX Designer
UI designer
Tools & Technologies
Adobe XD : Used for wireframing and creating visual designs for the app. And used for creating and editing visual assets for the app.
InVision: Used for creating interactive prototypes and gathering user feedback.
Problem statement
As health consciousness rises and awareness of the potential side effects of allopathic medicines grows, more individuals are open to exploring alternative medicine. However, the challenge lies in locating trustworthy practitioners of alternative medicine, compounded by a scarcity of accessible information. This lack of understanding about the processes involved in alternative treatments creates a knowledge gap, making it challenging for individuals to navigate the vast landscape of alternative medicinal options.
Problem solution
Finding Reliable Practitioners: The Med Health App provides a comprehensive directory of reliable practitioners specializing in alternate medicine. Users can easily search for practitioners based on their location, specialty, and user reviews.
Accessing Information about Treatments: Users can access a wealth of information about alternate medicine treatments through the Med Health App. The app provides detailed descriptions, benefits, and potential side effects of various treatments, helping users make informed decisions.
Facilitating Online Consultations: The Med Health App offers a convenient platform for online consultations with practitioners. Users can schedule virtual appointments, have video consultations, and receive personalised treatment plans from the comfort of their own homes.
Who are our users?
Patients
The Med Health App is designed to cater to patients who are seeking alternative medicine options.
These users may have chronic illnesses or conditions that have not been effectively treated with conventional medicine.
They are looking for holistic and natural approaches to improve their health and well-being.
Middle aged users
The app also targets middle-aged users who are interested in exploring alternative medicine.
These users may be experiencing age-related health issues and are open to trying different treatment options.
They value convenience and accessibility in managing their health.
Users Seeking Alternative Medicine
The Med Health App is ideal for users who are actively seeking alternative medicine options.
These users may have exhausted conventional treatment options and are looking for alternative approaches.
They value evidence-based information and want to make informed decisions about their health.
Challenges
Time Constraints: Users face challenges in accessing alternate medicine due to the time required to reach clinics.
Lack of Information: Users struggle to find information about practitioners and their expertise in alternate medicine.
Limited Knowledge: Users have a lack of knowledge about alternate medicine and its benefits.
Difficulty in Online Consultations: Users face difficulties in getting online consultations while traveling or being in remote areas.
Solution
Proper Guidance: The Med Health App provides users with proper guidance by offering a user-friendly interface and intuitive navigation. Users can easily find the information they need and navigate through the app without any confusion.
Appropriate Information: The app ensures that users have access to appropriate information by curating content from reliable sources. Users can trust the information provided by the app and make informed decisions regarding their health and well-being.
Acquiring User Information: The Med Health App collects user information through a secure and user-friendly registration process. This allows the app to provide personalized recommendations and tailor the user experience to meet individual needs.
Finding Trustworthy and Reliable Doctors: The app helps users find trustworthy and reliable doctors by providing a comprehensive database of qualified healthcare professionals. Users can read reviews and ratings from other patients to make an informed decision when choosing a doctor.
Design Process(My approach)
Discovery Phase
The discovery phase is the initial stage of the design process where the project team gathers information and gains a deep understanding of the problem and its context. This phase involves various research methods to collect qualitative and quantitative data, such as user interviews, surveys, and data analysis. The key goals of the discovery phase are to identify user needs, pain points, and preferences, as well as to gather insights that will inform the subsequent design phases.
User Research Methods
User research methods are employed during the discovery phase to gain insights into users' behaviors, needs, and motivations. Some common user research methods include:
User Interviews: One-on-one interviews with users to understand their experiences, challenges, and expectations.
Surveys: Questionnaires distributed to a larger sample of users to collect quantitative and qualitative data.
User Interview(25 user)
Two User Research Methods contributed to my discovery: Qualitative and Quantitative. I convey my warm thanks to all who took their time for an online survey and interviews.
I did a survey with 25 potential users in combination with 6 interviews from individual conversation to know their views and experience and to collect both qualitative & quantitative data to validate / invalidate Med Health features & to discover if I could add other features. The target audience were the users between the age of 25-50 who can book appointment for alternate medicine and get care guidelines from mobile application / websites.
Here are some results from the user survey.
Privacy is assured
Get help direct from practitioners
Check up schedule
Easy to use and effective
Place to communicate to Practitioners
Up to date research
Takeaways from the user Interviews
😒 Frustration with the unavailability of alternate medicines.
😒 Doesn't have time to go to the hospital / clinic
😒 Lack of knowledge about alternate medicines tips
😒 Difficulty in finding alternate medicine practitioner.
Key features
Information and Education: The app offers a wealth of reliable and up-to-date information on various alternate medicine practices, including herbal remedies, acupuncture, yoga, and more.
Appointment Booking: Users can easily schedule appointments with certified practitioners and therapists through the app.
Community Support: The app fosters a supportive community where users can connect, share experiences, and seek advice from like-minded individuals.
Track and Monitor: Users can track their progress, set goals, and monitor their health and wellness journey.
Personalised Recommendations: The app provides personalized recommendations based on the user's preferences, goals, and health conditions.
Reminders and Notifications: Users receive reminders and notifications for appointments, medication reminders, and other important updates.
Secure and Private: The app ensures the security and privacy of user data through robust security measures and adherence to data protection regulations
Define Phase
The define phase is a crucial step in the design process where the team analyzes the findings from the research phase and starts to define the problem and the project's direction. In this phase, the team creates user personas and empathy maps based on the results of user research.
User Personas
User personas are fictional representations of the target users. They are created based on real user data collected during the research phase. User personas help the team understand the needs, goals, and behaviors of different user groups. By creating user personas, the team can design a product that caters to the specific needs of the target audience.
Empathy Maps
Empathy maps are tools that help the team develop a deeper understanding of the users' emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. They are created based on the insights gathered during the research phase. Empathy maps consist of four quadrants: 'Says', 'Thinks', 'Feels', and 'Does'. By creating empathy maps, the team can gain empathy for the users and design a product that addresses their emotional needs and motivations.
Ideate Phase
Generation of Ideas
The ideate phase involves brainstorming and generating creative ideas for the design of the Med Health App. Designers and stakeholders collaborate to explore different possibilities and solutions.
Scenario and Storyboarding
Scenarios and storyboards are created to visualize and communicate the user interactions and experiences with the app. This helps in understanding the flow and identifying potential usability issues.
Card Sorting
Card sorting is a technique used to organize and categorize information. It helps in determining the most intuitive and logical structure for the app's navigation and content hierarchy.
Information Architecture
Information architecture involves organizing and structuring the content and functionality of the app. This includes creating a clear and intuitive navigation system and defining the relationships between different components.
Structure
The Med Health App consists of the following main sections:
Home: The landing page of the app, where users can access various features and functionalities.
Profile: Allows users to view and edit their profile information.
Explore: Provides access to different categories of alternative medicine and related content.
Appointments: Allows users to schedule and manage appointments with alternative medicine practitioners.
Resources: Provides access to articles, videos, and other resources related to alternative medicine.
Organization
Within each main section, the screens are organized based on their relevance and flow. The navigation menu and breadcrumbs are used to indicate the user's current location within the app and provide easy access to different sections.
Overall, the information architecture of the Med Health App is designed to ensure a seamless and efficient user experience, allowing users to easily find and access the information and features they need.
User Flow
Wireframes
The wireframes of the Med Health App include the main elements such as navigation menus, search bars, content sections, and buttons. The visual hierarchy is carefully designed to guide users' attention and ensure a seamless user experience.
My process involved brainstorming layouts using a pen and paper; this helped me get more results and help me in making iterations.
Low-fidelity wireframes include main elements and visual elements and are usually static (not interactive).They are used to help map the interface shell, its screens, and the underlying information architecture.
Medium fidelity wireframes start to define specific elements and visual hierarchy
Visual Design
Purpose
The main purpose of the Med Health App is to provide users with a convenient platform to explore and engage with alternate medicine practices. It serves as a comprehensive resource for information, guidance, and support in the pursuit of holistic health.
Key features
Information and Education: The app offers a wealth of reliable and up-to-date information on various alternate medicine practices, including herbal remedies, acupuncture, yoga, and more.
Appointment Booking: Users can easily schedule appointments with certified practitioners and therapists through the app.
Community Support: The app fosters a supportive community where users can connect, share experiences, and seek advice from like-minded individuals.
Track and Monitor: Users can track their progress, set goals, and monitor their health and wellness journey.
Personalised Recommendations: The app provides personalized recommendations based on the user's preferences, goals, and health conditions.
Reminders and Notifications: Users receive reminders and notifications for appointments, medication reminders, and other important updates.
Secure and Private: The app ensures the security and privacy of user data through robust security measures and adherence to data protection regulations