The CTO of a startup healthcare company contracted with me to redesign an app for a healthcare company focused on supporting individuals with chronic diseases. Throughout the project, the design team identified the specific needs of people with chronic diseases, ensuring that the redesigned app would address real problems and provide effective solutions.

Situation:
The contract scope focused on the redesign of an existing app, aiming to better support individuals managing chronic diseases. The initial app lacked user-centered design and failed to address the unique challenges faced by people living with chronic conditions. I recognized the significance of creating a solution that genuinely catered to the needs of this specific user group.

Task:
My primary task was to redesign the app, ensuring that it provided meaningful solutions and addressed real problems encountered by people with chronic diseases. The team aimed to create an intuitive, accessible, and empowering digital experience that facilitated better disease management and improved overall well-being.

Actions:
I conducted comprehensive user research, engaging with individuals living with chronic diseases to gain deep insights into their daily challenges. This involved in-person interviews, focus groups, and ethnographic research to understand the specific pain points, frustrations, and unmet needs of the target user group.

Through user research, I identified several key problem areas faced by people with chronic diseases. Examples included medication adherence, symptom tracking, accessing reliable information, emotional support, and connecting with a supportive community. These insights formed the foundation for the app's redesign.

Using the identified problem areas, I developed iterative prototypes of the redesigned app. They engaged users with chronic diseases to participate in usability testing, seeking their feedback and insights. This iterative process allowed for continuous refinement and optimization based on real user experiences and preferences.

Recognizing the diverse needs of individuals with chronic diseases, I integrated personalization and customization features into the app. This allowed users to tailor their experience based on their specific condition, symptoms, treatment plans, and preferences. The app provided relevant and targeted content, reminders, and resources, ensuring a personalized journey for each user.

I implemented features that empowered individuals with chronic diseases to better manage their conditions. Examples included medication reminders, symptom tracking and analysis, virtual consultations with healthcare professionals, peer support groups, educational resources, and goal-setting tools. These features aimed to foster self-care, improve disease management, and enhance overall well-being.

Results:
The redesigned app provided a user-centered solution by addressing real problems faced by individuals with chronic diseases. By incorporating their needs, preferences, and pain points, the app became an effective tool for managing conditions and improving quality of life. The app's intuitive interface, personalized features, and empowerment tools contributed to better disease management. Users could track their symptoms, manage medications, access reliable information, engage with healthcare professionals, and connect with a supportive community. These functionalities enabled individuals to actively participate in their care and make informed decisions.

Following the app's redesign, the average daily app usage time grew by 42%, indicating that users found the app valuable and engaging. Test feedback indicated that users found the interface intuitive, the content relevant, and the support resources valuable. The app fostered a sense of empowerment, encouraging users to take charge of their health and engage in proactive solutions.