2023 | UX Design, UI Design
Simplifying health and meals for solo living
9 minutes reading time
Project Details
My Role
User Research, Low fidelity wireframing
Team
Aryan Desai, Mugdha Sanketh, Mekhla Subramanian
Duration
3 weeks
Tools
Figma, Photoshop
Overview
Encountering health challenges while residing alone can present obstacles in procuring essential medical care, medication, equipment, and sustenance. The resultant dependence on friends or neighbors can become burdensome.
The proposed solution involves the establishment of a comprehensive platform facilitating seamless access to medical professionals, prescribed medication, and nourishing home-cooked meals, thereby addressing the multifaceted needs of individuals living independently
UX Research plan
As university students, we collectively experienced the challenges of self-care while navigating the demands of academic life, particularly as our peers were often occupied with their studies. In addition to the complexities of accessing medical professionals and obtaining prescribed medications, the availability of nourishing home-cooked meals good for recovery proved to be elusive. This predicament was exacerbated in shared accommodations, where individuals responsible for culinary responsibilities often lacked the expertise in preparing wholesome meals suitable for those in compromised health.
Recognizing the genuine struggle inherent in this situation, we undertook a comprehensive research initiative. We formulated a questionnaire and engaged with individuals across various demographic profiles who live independently. Following a week of thorough investigation, we convened to collectively analyze our findings, construct personas, and develop empathy maps to comprehensively understand the diverse challenges faced by individuals in solitary living conditions.
Personas
After conversing with individuals living alone, several points that emerged as prevalent concerns, which were not initially considered, include:
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Difficulty finding specific medicines in nearby stores
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Confusion arising from multiple sources of information
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Experiencing financial pressure due to expenditures on medicines and medical equipment
Empathy Mapping
To better immerse ourselves in users' experiences and cater to their needs and emotions throughout the design process, we utilized empathy mapping. This practice aids us in effectively addressing genuine user needs and alleviating frustrations by capturing insights into their motivations and pain points.
Illustrating Experiences
Story Boarding
We each diverged and created our own storyboards to visualize the full weight of the issues and present potential solutions that might solve them.
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In the storyboard I crafted, I depicted the range of reactions and emotions experienced by a college student when feeling unwell. I illustrated their journey in navigating external pressures, depicting the struggle to determine the most convenient and optimal course of action while grappling with physical discomfort such as fatigue, a heavy body, and a persistent headache.
Created by me
Ideation
Information Architecture
We identified critical information components including medical resources, meal options, delivery services, and user account management. These components were strategically aligned with key stages in the user journey as we commenced the development of the information architecture. Our focus involved understanding the hierarchy and various features we could offer, coupled with a thorough analysis of market competitors. This exploration allowed us to incorporate their strengths and address any shortcomings, ensuring a comprehensive and competitive offering.
We conducted card sorting exercises with potential users to collaboratively group and categorize information, helping in the logical organization of content aligned with users' mental models. Subsequently, immersed in an iterative design process, continually revisiting and refining the information architecture for optimal user experience.
Task Flow
We also made task flows to visually illustrate the sequence of steps users undertake to complete specific tasks. I took the task of consulting a doctor.
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Task : Consult a doctor
Wireframes
I actively contributed to constructing and visualizing what we envisioned the app to look like. My focus was on determining the most user-centric layout that would best serve our users.
Homepage
Account
Cart
Online Consultation
Shop
Medicines
Ordering Food
Final Product
Within the given timeframe, we prototyped low-fidelity versions to assess the functionality and alignment with our envisioned design. Additionally, we created high-fidelity screens to articulate and understand the visual language we aimed to establish.
User Testing
After conducting user testing with our peers, we received varied feedback. Key responses included:
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Effortless Navigation: Users found the navigation to be smooth and were able to complete tasks with ease.
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Clear Understanding of Services: The services offered by the app were well-understood by users, providing clarity.
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Unclear Text on Homepage Button: Users noted difficulty in reading the text used on the button within the picture, indicating a readability issue that needs improvement.
My Learnings
Time management was something I learned in this project. We took too long to come up with an idea, and as a result, we had to cram a lot of the later stages of work, causing a lot of stress and chaos. In retrospect, we could have worked with more initiative at the beginning, which would have helped in a more thorough design process. For instance, during user testing, we couldn't get many people to participate due to lack of time, and we weren't able to produce enough high-fidelity frames. Still, I'm glad the app fulfilled the users' desires and accomplished their goals. Nevertheless, it was fun to work with the group. It was smooth sailing without many conflicts.