TESS

An  INTUITIVE and ENGAGING health management app with a holistic approach to HELPING individuals diagnosed with GI disorders MANAGE their health.

Check out TESS in action!

MEET TESS

Tess is an app designed to make logging information about gastrointestinal health a bit less...painful. By providing an effective and entertaining platform, Tess can encourage individuals to track and communicate important information about their gastrointestinal health more comfortably. This can ultimately lead to better communication with healthcare professionals and more accurate diagnoses and treatments.

*The information in the Food section of the app, spelled FODMAP, is not a misspelling. It is the term given to the chemicals, etc that have been shown to produce gastric and digestive issues.

Before being rebranded to TESS, the app was called Mood, Food, and Pood. The purpose of the rebranding was to address any concerns users may have with the name and to help the app aesthetically more enjoyable to use.

Check out some of  Tess's key screens.  

Now, let's flush out the details. 

SUMMARY

Scope: Create an app to make it easier and more enjoyable for those who suffer from GI (Gastrointestinal) disorders to track vital information about their health.

Role: Principal Designer, Researcher, Content Creator, Visual Designer.

Tools: Figma, Google Material, Google Forms, Pre-graphed index cards, Maze, and Canva. 

Timeframe: Initial design - 3 weeks, Redesign - 5 weeks.

Deliverables: Mind Map, How Might We, Competitor Analysis, Survey, User Interviews, Personas, Site Map, User Flow, Mood Board, Story Board, Logo, Design System, Wireframes, Prototype

AN UNCOMFORTABLE SUBJECT

Many people feel embarrassed to discuss stomach and bowel issues, which can lead to a lack of proper treatment or delayed treatment until their condition becomes severe or life-threatening.

THE CHALLENGE

Existing apps for gastrointestinal (GI) health have limitations and excluded the wide range of GI disorders and the ability to provide comprehensive logging and reporting features, causing user frustration. 

By developing an app like Tess with the ability to encompass all aspects of the GI puzzle and provide comprehensive reporting features, Tess addresses a crucial gap in the market. 

This consolidation of functionalities and comprehensive reporting can streamline the process for users, making it easier for them to track and communicate information about their GI health effectively and has the potential to enhance communication with healthcare professionals and improve the overall management of GI disorders.

The Hi-Fi Solution

Users can log, analyze, and share their health information with their healthcare provider using a single app.

The Lo-Fi MVP

The wireframes for Tess went through several iterations before the final MVP. The goal was to make the logging process as simple as possible. However, some changes were necessary to improve its usability.

Design Approach

Through extensive research, including user interviews, surveys, discussions with medical professionals, sketches, and divergent thinking, I identified the most common and critical features that users needed for the design.

Research Insights

Assessing the Competition

Through competitor analysis, I found that the three similar apps to the one I was designing had limited analysis capabilities, lacked error correction functions, and did not include tracking for mood or food. However, their strengths primarily focused on tracking bowel movements.

User Flows and Stories

It needed to be as simple and painless as possible to log information. Take a look at the flow to log food.

Paper Prototyping

During the design process, I asked myself several questions to enhance the user experience:

• How can I minimize the number of clicks required to complete a flow?
• Would an auto-scroll feature for transitioning between sections be beneficial?
• Should I use drop-down menus, tiles, light colors, dark colors, or buttons?
• What design choices can I make to ensure the logging process is painless and discreet for users?

The goal was to address these questions and find solutions that simplify the logging process and create a seamless and user-friendly experience.

Each entry made by the user in any section of the app serves as a data point that can be included in customizable reports. These reports can be shared with their physician, and used to identify patterns and triggers or help the user gain better control over their disorder.

Adding Color, Style, and Branding

I chose soft tones for their calming effect in the app's design. Additionally, I implemented color-coding for different app categories to assist users with low literacy or cognitive abilities.

Outcomes and Testing

By incorporating feedback from the initial design, conducting a visual redesign, and conducting user testing, we obtained valuable insights and achieved interesting results.

New users have the option to create an account or log in. Once logged in, they can access the main menu and select their preferred logging option.

GI episodes can be triggered by stress. In some cases, reducing stress can help alleviate the duration and intensity of an episode. Users have the ability to choose from various calming options within the app to help relieve their symptoms.

The New Entry logging process is designed to capture data quickly with minimal clicks. It guides users through a series of steps. Pre-populated lists of foods and beverages enable fast logging, and there is an option to manually enter a food if it's not found in the lists. Confirmed entries are then available in the data section of the app's reports.

Users are guided through a series of questions about their bowel movements, including details about shape, color, frequency, and urgency. Additionally, they have the option to input any symptoms or add other noteworthy information.

In the Data section, users can generate customized reports and easily export or send them to their physician.

Design Conclusion 

During the initial design phase of the app, I was concerned about the temptation to include more features than necessary for the minimum viable product (MVP). However, during usability testing, many participants expressed their immediate willingness to use the app, which was highly encouraging. It reinforced the potential impact the app could have in helping numerous individuals.

Sometimes, I personally struggle with the challenge of accepting that simplicity is often the best approach. I can be tempted to overload users with information and features, thinking it will enhance their experience. To overcome this, I actively seek feedback from colleagues and users on a regular basis to ensure that I stay focused and aligned with the essential needs of the users. This feedback-driven approach helps me maintain a user-centered design and avoid unnecessary complexity.

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Rachel Ruitberg

UX Designer

Baltimore, MD

rachel.ruitberg@gmail.com

(C) 2023 Rachel Ruitberg