ChroniCircle – The Niche Healthcare App
Client
Ironhack team project re-design
Deliverable
Mobile App MVP
Role
UX/ UI Designer
Timeline
10 days
Project Brief
The ChroniCircles app empowers individuals with chronic conditions by providing a user-friendly mobile platform for comprehensive health management. A key focus is the user profile section, designed to be intuitive and comprehensive. This section allows users to manage and track their health information with a customizable journal, set personalized goals, and visualize progress towards achieving them. Additionally, the app offers self-help tools, educational resources, and access to a supportive online community.
Market Insights: Chronic Conditions & Digital Support
Secondary research delved into the wellness industry and chronic illness management landscape, revealing a booming market with niche products and companies leading in innovation and experimentation. This fragmented consumer health industry is expected to be reshaped by consolidation in the coming decade, pushing product-focused companies towards exploring ecosystem models. Interestingly, while search engines remain a source for health information, authentic content from relatable influencers is now favored over celebrity endorsements. Additionally, research highlighted the positive impact of online communities on well-being, with valuable digital support encompassing resources for self-worth, anxiety, and identity management, alongside features that promote a sense of purpose through helping others.
User Research: Understanding Needs and Preferences
Primary research involved a combination of surveys and interviews to collect both quantitative and qualitative data. While the survey offered insights into general online health management within the target audience, Generative user interviews focused specifically on individuals with chronic conditions. This qualitative data provided deeper insights into their needs and preferences.
Key findings revealed user interest in features related to sports and mental health, a strong preference for personalized plans and educational content, and a reliance on healthcare professionals and family/friends for support. Additionally, users expressed a desire for app features like reminders, journaling, resources related to psychology, and a supportive online community.
The Design Challenge
“Individuals with chronic conditions need an app to track their health, gain holistic insights into their illness, and join collaborative learning and support”
Defining the UX: Empathy & Design Focus
Our research provided insights into the daily needs of our target user, Amelie, who deals with chronic illness. Amelie, an active young person with Lupus, seeks a solution to log her condition, access trustworthy information, and connect with others who understand her daily struggles. To address these needs, the design team prioritized core features for the MVP version using the Feature Prioritization Matrix: Journal, Progress, Community, and Education sections. The user flow for Amelie involves signing up, personalizing settings, customizing her private Journal, making an entry, exploring articles, and joining a Lupus support community where she engages by making a comment.
ChroniCircles tackles chronic condition management with a playful design. This style tile envisions an approachable and optimistic user interface. A vibrant purple for creativity, well-being and refreshing turquoise blue pop against calming neutrals, complemented by clear, friendly "Poppins" fonts for readability. Accompanying illustrations showcase diverse individuals managing health with a positive attitude. Intuitive navigation, uncluttered layouts, and subtle animations create a delightful and user-friendly experience, transforming chronic condition management into a journey towards well-being.
Refining the Design: User Testing Leads the Way
The design journey started with paper sketches, evolving into mid-fidelity wireframes and a prototype. Following the development of a mid-fidelity MVP, user and usability testing yielded crucial insights. Users found the concept helpful and user-friendly, completing the "happy path" task flow flawlessly. However, they desired clearer navigation and easier reading of health progress data. In response, the design team added titles to navigation icons and replaced graphs with widgets in the health progress sections, prioritizing user feedback to refine the final design.
Accessible Health Tech for Underserved Audiences
During this intense and engaging process of developing the ChroniCircles App, I had the opportunity to gain profound insights into the needs and frustrations of individuals with chronic illnesses concerning Healthtech solutions. The experience allowed me to create a solution with the potential to significantly enhance people's well-being through its holistic concept.