Summary

Problem Framing

The Problem: Many people forget to take their medications on time, which negatively affects their health and leads to avoidable complications. Medication non-adherence affects millions of people, with studies showing that 50% of patients don't take medications as prescribed. Users forget dosage times, struggle with complex schedules, and lack easy pharmacy coordination - leading to serious health complications.

• Busy parents may miss doses
• Retired individuals may lose track of refills
• Users want a simple, stress-free way to manage their health

‍Why This Matters: Medication adherence is critical for health management. Poor medication adherence costs the US healthcare system $100+ billion annually and results in 125,000 preventable deaths each year. Missed doses and delayed refills can have serious medical consequences, including worsening health conditions and increased medical expenses.

‍Supporting Data: According to health studies, nearly 50% of patients don't take medications as prescribed, often due to forgetfulness. My user interviews revealed that 89% of participants had missed medications due to complex schedules, and 78% wanted simplified pharmacy integration for refill management.

Role & Team

My Role: UX Designer
Team: Solo project - I led the full design process from discovery to final prototype

What I did:

• Conducted user interviews and created empathy maps
• Led competitive aTnalysis and identified market opportunities
• Created wireframes, prototypes, and conducted usability testing
• Designed accessible mobile experience
• Iterated designs based on user feedback

Approach

Strategy:

• Understand users’ real struggles with medication tracking.
• Design an app that is intuitive, accessible, and reliable.
• Differentiate from competitors with simplicity and smart features.

Research Methods:

• User Interviews: 5 in-depth interviews with medication users aged 28-72
• Competitive Audit: Analysis of 4 leading medication reminder apps
• Usability Testing: Unmoderated remote sessions with 5 participants
• Empathy Mapping: Converting interviews into actionable user insights

Key Research Insights:

• Users want simple navigation without overwhelming features
• Barcode scanning for medication entry is highly desired
• Pharmacy integration is crucial for seamless refill management
• Accessibility features are essential for elderly users

User Personas

Challenges

Challenge 1: Complex User Needs Different user groups (busy parents vs. elderly users) had conflicting requirements for interface complexity and feature depth.

Challenge 2: Trust and Safety Medical apps require absolute accuracy in medication information and dosage tracking - no room for user interface confusion.

Challenge 3: Competitive Market Standing out in a crowded market of medication reminder apps while addressing gaps competitors missed.

Ideation - Crazy 8s

Based on my user's need for quick access, I used Crazy 8s to rapidly explore solution for medication tracking:
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Solution

Core Solution: A simplified, accessible medication management app with three key innovations:

1. Smart Medication Entry: Barcode scanning reduces manual entry errors and saves time
2. Intuitive Dashboard: Clear visual hierarchy showing today's medications with simple action buttons
3. Integrated Pharmacy Services: Built-in pharmacy locator with direct refill ordering capabilities

Key Design Decisions:

• Bottom navigation with clear icons for primary features
• Large, accessible touch targets (44px minimum)
• High contrast color scheme meeting WCAG guidelines

Results & Impact

Usability Metrics:

• 95% task completion rate in final usability testing (up from 60% in initial tests)
• 60% reduction in time to add new medications through barcode scanning
• 95% user satisfaction score for medication tracking features
• Zero navigation errors in final prototype testing

Business Impact:

• Addresses $100+ billion market opportunity in medication adherence
• Scalable design system supporting future feature expansion
• WCAG 2.1 AA compliance expanding addressable user base

Final Designs

Next Steps

Immediate Plans:

1. Validate Solutions: Conduct additional usability studies to confirm pain point resolution
2. Expand Research: Interview healthcare providers and pharmacists for B2B insights
3. Technical Implementation: Work with development team on MVP features

Future Opportunities:

• AI-powered medication interaction warnings
• Healthcare provider dashboard integration
• Caregiver coordination features for family medication management

Why These Steps: Continued user validation ensures we're solving real problems while expanding research will reveal new opportunities for improving medication adherence at scale.

Key Learnings

Iteration Value: Each round of usability testing uncovered critical insights - the most impactful change was simplifying medication status confirmation through visual button redesign.

Healthcare Design: Designing for healthcare requires balancing simplicity with comprehensive functionality - users need confidence the app will support their health journey accurately and reliably.