This responsive digital platform aims to integrate family-centered care into diabetes management. By demystifying the illness for young patients and encouraging parents to provide the appropriate type of care and support, hi.lo empowers young patients to take charge of their own health.
Roles
Lead Designer + Researcher
Timeline
2020 ECUAA Graduation Award
for Community Engagement
September 2019 - May 2020
Objectives
Understand the needs of
the patients and their families
Through online discussions, interviews and podcasts, I identify the pain points of the individuals involved in the management of the child’s health
Employ participatory design methods
By working with individuals who were diagnosed with diabetes as children, and their caretakers I was able to understand their lived experiences
Integrate research findings
into the digital platform
Using the insights from the research process, I formulate a set of values to base the UI off of. These values helped me make my design choices
Research Process
Secondary Research
To start off, I looked into existing research material. The list of resources comprises mostly of academic studies, podcasts, and online discussions. Using the information we gathered from these sources, we created maps that reflected our understanding.
Primary Research
I wanted to learn and practice some participatory design methods in this project. This was a great way to get the users involved and understand their perspective, experience and needs. For this process, I primarily involved individuals who were diagnosed with diabetes as children.
Values
To sum up my research, I used short and digestible values that I would implement into my design. This is a way of synthesizing that I found to be accessible for me as the designer, as well as for my audience.
Redefine “child-friendly” content
Instead of patronizing cartoons and characters, employ accessible and engaging visuals.
Put the child in the middle of their own health journey
Let them be the main participant in their diabetes management.
Promote engagement in the diabetes community
Forming a community allows child patients to know they are not alone and parents to share their tips and advices.
Encourage caretakers to engage and support
Show them ways they can guide and help their child in an appropriate and non-invasive way.
Encourage transparency and honesty
In other words, don’t sugar coat things. Be honest and realistic about symptoms and potential dangers.
Provide customizability + tailored content
Every person’s case is unique- narrowing and filtering down the material can reduce confusion and information overload.
Design Process
Design Process
Features
After conducting secondary and primary research and doing the Business Model Canvas and the Value Proposition Canvas, these are the features that I found would be the most fundamental in hi.lo. However, overtime, I expect them to change.
Activities, insulin, medication, carbohydrates
Visualized data acquired from log entries and readings
Real-time blood glucose + recent readings
Interactive education material + incentives
Customizable preferences
+ settings
Site Map
This diagram shows the functions and actions of the site page-by-page. It involves the caretaker and the patient’s profile as well as the medical devices connected to hi.lo.
Visual Exploration
Trying out some of the potential layouts at a higher fidelity allows me to visualize what type of visual identity I want hi.lo to adopt. I tested out a variety of styles and components for the Glucose function as a way to explore.
High Fidelity Prototype
Using the wireframes, I developed my first high fidelity prototype. These screen were used in the co-design workshops. In that session, we re-designed a number of elements within the screens. Changes and adjustments from the feedback received from this prototype were integrated into the final one.
Product in Action
Desktop
Trends
This tab allows families to analyze the child’s health data in a holistic and visual way. The filter allows for more selective investigation. In contrast to the existing clinical data charts, this data visualization is accessible to all of the participants of the child’s health, including the young patient themselves.
This tab allows families to analyze the child’s health data in a holistic and visual way. The filter allows for more selective investigation. In contrast to the existing clinical data charts, this data visualization is accessible to all of the participants of the child’s health, including the young patient themselves.
Mobile
Glucose
This is used by the caretaker to receive live updates and leave notes for themselves and the child’s co-caretakers. They are also able to view past readings and send icon messages to their child’s device.
Tablet
Discovery
The discovery tab is a section for young patients to learn more about their diabetes. To keep the user engaged, hi.lo integrated intriguing graphics, interactive tasks and challenges and unlockable features.
This is hi.lo in all 3 of its responsive platforms.
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