Project: CareChain allows users with mental disorders to privately and securely communicate with their loved ones. This application not only facilitates interactions but also, enables the sharing of personal information such as medication, mood tracking etc.

Team/Duration: This is a student project where we perform the end-to-end design process. The team consisted of five students and we collaborated throughout the project. I mainly focused on synthesizing research and designing the user interface elements of the application. 

Tools/Methods: Affinity mapping, user research and synthesis, user flows and diagramming, generating personas, wire-framing. Tools: Sketch, Invision. 

Individuals with depression find it difficult to communicate their feelings and talk to others about their challenges.

CareChain is a mobile application that facilitates a virtual support network that provides encouragement and accountability to an individual undergoing treatment for depression.

DISCOVERING USER PAIN POINTS

The team conducted TEN user interviews and and gathered insights that gave direction to the design solution. The user interviews helped create personas, the minimal viable product and user flow for the application.

Target User Groups 

User going through treatment for depression: Five users out of the ten interviewees were users going through depression. These individuals are going through regular therapy and are on prescribed medication. This group was categorized as Patient Users. The application is primarily catering to this user group. 

The loved ones of those going through therapy for depression: The remaining interviewees were individuals who are providing support to the Patient Users. They are either a parent, a significant other, or a friend of the Patient User. This group of users were categorized as Support Users. 
CareChain helps facilitate communication between a Patient User and a Support User.  

What people had to say

“I have a hard time keeping myself motivated and communicating my moods.”

“I’d rather people not have to ask if I’m on my meds. If I feel like sharing that, it’ll be with people I trust.”

“I am concerned that my information might get in the wrong hands.”

Key Takeaways from Patient Users 

Users found it difficult to keep up with their medications

Users are unable to communicate their moods

Users did not want to openly share their information on applications. Secruity was a concern.

Users did not want to seem over-bearing when reaching out to their loved ones. 

Key Takeaways from Support Users 

Users struggled with providing the appropriate help to thier loved ones.

PERSONA TYPES

Patient User

Profile

Lisa has been diagnosed with depression for seven years. She considers her treatment plan to be good, but she says she still struggles with motivating herself to stay on track and that it’s easy to “spiral” downward. She is on medication and goes for therapy twice a week. She considers her fiancée as her biggest support.

Pain Points

Struggles to keep herself motivated

Difficultly adhering to her treatment

Does not want to burden her loved one(s) and finds it hard to talk about her depression

User Goals

Needs a way to communicate her moods and feelings 

 Medication reminders and updates

Secure sharing

Mood tracker 

Profile

James has been engaged to patient user for seven months and has known the patient user for three years. He uses a smartphone daily and it is his main form of communication with his partner when they are physically not together. He always tries his best to be there for him partner and provide unconditional support on the best and the worst days.

Pain Points

Does not know how to be really supportive and take actionable steps to help his partner

User Goals

Mood tracking to better support his partner

Check-ins or reminders for better communication.

Behaviour patterns to figure out a trend and support when required.

REDEFINING USER GOALS

Tracking

Security

Sharing

Communicating

NAVIGATING THE APPLICATION

Medication Reminders and Tracking

One of the key features of this application allows users to store and track their data. Patient Users don't only store this data, but can also share it with their Support User. The goal is to motivate Patient Users to take their medication timely. By sharing this information, Support Users can ensure that their loved ones take their medication and are making progress.

Mood Tracking

While synthesizing the research, we discovered that Patient Users were sometimes afraid of reaching out as they did not want to seem over-bearing. To solve for this hesitation, Patient Users can log their daily moods and track that data. The application generates a visual log that is also shared with the Support User. Any irregularities in this trend, will prompt the Support User to check-in with the Patient User. As a result, the Patient User will not feel too over-bearing and the Support User can provide the appropriate help needed. 

DESIGN RECOMMENDATIONS

FUTURE WORK

Conduct further research to explore other areas of mental health disorders and solve for users who might benefit from this platform.

Conduct user tests to ensure a user friendly interface.