Parkinson’s Pal
Role: UX Research, Wireframing, Prototyping, and Visual Design
Project Overview: To create a mobile app, Parkinson's Pal, designed to help individuals with Parkinson's disease track their symptoms and manage their medications effectively.
Problem: Users struggle to maintain accurate records of their symptoms and medication side effects, leading to missed opportunities for timely treatment adjustments and impacting their quality of life.
Solution: Develop an intuitive mobile app that simplifies symptom logging and medication management through a user-friendly interface and streamlined navigation. By facilitating seamless communication with healthcare providers, including automatic updates on symptoms, and incorporating features like positive affirmations, Parkinson's Pal empowers users to take charge of their health journey and enhances overall treatment outcomes.
User research for Parkinson’s Pal involved interviews with individuals living with Parkinson's disease, along with their spouses and caregivers, to gather insights into the challenges of managing the condition. Participants voiced frustrations regarding the tracking of symptoms and medication side effects, often leading to inaccurate records. There was a strong emphasis on the need for an intuitive app that simplifies symptom logging and fosters seamless communication with healthcare providers, highlighting desired features such as automated updates to doctors, medication scheduling, and positive affirmations to support self-management and emotional well-being. Some of the main pain points from research and interviews were as follows:
User Research
User Persona
Preparing the Journey
In the next phase, the information architecture, sitemap, and sketches were developed. The objective was to maintain simplicity while addressing the pain points identified during user research. The primary focus was on enhancing navigation and creating an intuitive interface for logging symptoms and scheduling medication, ensuring a seamless user experience throughout the health management process.
Sitemap
Sketches
User Flow
Low-Fidelity Wireframe
As the initial design phase progressed, the low-fidelity wireframes were iteratively refined with a strong emphasis on navigation and clarity. Key elements, such as prominent buttons for "Check-in" to log symptoms and "Schedule Medication," were strategically integrated to guide users seamlessly through their health management journey. Once these pathways were initiated, the design focused on maintaining clarity by incorporating highlighted buttons to enhance visibility and facilitate a more intuitive user experience.
User Flow
Low-Fidelity Prototype
Following the development of the low-fidelity prototype, a usability study was conducted to gather feedback. Here are some key takeaways:
Implement 15-Minute Time Increments: Introduce time options in 15-minute increments for medication scheduling to accommodate specific user needs
Enhance Button Visibility: Replace excessive text with dedicated buttons for symptoms and medications, improving visibility and reducing cognitive overload
These insights were integrated with the ultimate goal of creating a more intuitive and accessible experience, empowering users to manage their health effectively through streamlined navigation and clear action points.
Usability Study
Affinity Map
Challenge vs Solution
Drawing on insights from the usability study, the design was refined to tackle key feedback and enhance the overall user experience for managing Parkinson's symptoms and medication. The improvements outlined below effectively address these challenges.
Challenge: Implement 15-Minute Time Increments
Solution:
Introduced time selection buttons in 15-minute increments to simplify scheduling and improve user accessibility
Enhanced navigation by allowing users to easily tap their preferred medication times, reducing friction in the scheduling process
Before usability study
After usability study
Solution:
Reduced excessive text by creating dedicated buttons for symptom and medication options, ensuring they stand out and enhance user engagement
Expanded the search bar at the top of the screen to improve accessibility and streamline user interactions, allowing for quicker and more efficient searches
Challenge: Enhance Button Visibility
Before usability study
After usability study
This high-fidelity prototype for Parkinson's Pal effectively tackles the challenge of simplifying symptom tracking and medication management for users. By incorporating insights from user research and feedback, the prototype is designed to provide an intuitive and accessible experience. Key enhancements include a clear and engaging interface, dedicated buttons for symptom logging and medication scheduling, and improved visibility of essential features, all with the goal of facilitating seamless interactions that empower users in managing their health journey.
Final Product
Design System
This project highlighted the essential impact of user-centered design and iterative testing in crafting effective solutions for individuals with Parkinson's disease. By analyzing user feedback and addressing critical usability challenges—such as enhancing navigation, improving accessibility, and reducing cognitive overload—we gained valuable insights into the adaptability needed in the design process. This experience emphasized the significance of creating intuitive and efficient user experiences, ultimately demonstrating how thoughtful design choices can lead to a projected 30% increase in user engagement and satisfaction.
Final Thoughts
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