Context
Given the opportunity to update the design for a pregnancy app developed in 2014; I researched and analysed the pain points of the existing app in order to update the visual style and improve the user experience. The project was given an advisory 10-hour time limit, so I had to take this into account when establishing what could feasibly be achieved and what to focus on.
Deliverables within the time frame
* Focus on the core features of the application
* Develop an additional feature for the application
* Create a cleaner, simpler visual style
Brief
Doula is a pregnancy app which provides audio guidance in the final phase of pregnancy for managing the pain during contractions. Additionally, users can view statistics of their contractions. The app is missing a symptom tracker that expectant mothers can use to log their symptoms and monitor changes throughout their pregnancy.
Additionally, the visual style of the app is outdated and not very engaging. Users have also reported feeling disconnected from the app and are looking for a more personal and supportive experience.
Desk Research and Affinity Mapping
As the time frame was limited to obtain user interviews, I used the user reviews from the Google Play Store in order to form an overview of the app's positive and pain points.
Whilst overwhelmingly positive, the main pain points were around technical errors and audio issues. The app also required users to give a 5✩ review to access one of the main paid features for free.
Google Play reviews:
Seems a bit too basic and no general walk-through. Everything is for purchase or "do this task to access content" nice option. The music is nice but I wish there were better options.
✩✩✩✩ - May 27, 2021
I both love and hate this app.i tested it before my labour and liked the sounds so was happy to use it. However I didn't let it run long enough so didn't test it properly. when it came to labour I was listening to it but every time or got to the end of the audio it crashed and closed the app which infuriated me as I was in agony.
✩✩✩ - March 24, 2019
How Might We Statements
The insights that I determined that I needed to take into account were broad, and some elements could not be addressed within the given time frame or within the scope of a redesign. From the research, I devised the following How Might We statements. From left to right, top to bottom I considered the following insights:
* To feel that they are having a personalised birthing experience, users want the option to upload their own audio or playlists.
* Users feel frustrated at having to review the app before being able to access some features, and it's not immediately apparent which features are paid or free.
* Frequent technical errors, crashes and bugs also leave users frustrated with their app experience.
* App instructions are wordy, and not easily understood. Users should be able to quickly and intuitively understand how to use the app.
* There are currently no apps that allow for tracking the expectant parents' symptoms and emotions for the entire length of the pregnancy.
* Users need to tailor personalised content to their birthing experience in an intuitive and simple way
* Users currently feel disconnected from the app as it does not allow for customisation or personalisation.
* Users want a more modern aesthetic.
User Stories
“ As a user, I want to be able to track my contractions, so that I can monitor when I am ready to go to hospital.”
Acceptance criteria
* I must be able to use the app intuitively and easily during labour
* I must be able to see real-time data as to how my labour is progressing
* I must be able to seek advice as to when to go to the hospital/call my midwife.
* I should be able to share this information easily with my birthing partner so they can support me through this process.
“As a user, I want to be able to keep track of how my symptoms develop during my pregnancy so that I can monitor whether I am meeting milestones. ”
Acceptance criteria
* I must be able to input a range of different symptoms that I experience throughout each trimester.
* I must be able to edit symptoms if I input them incorrectly.
* I must be able to add symptoms retroactively if the app isn’t used frequently.
* After I have logged a trimester, I should be able to see how my symptoms fit with a typical pregnancy.
* I should be able to see advice for what symptoms are expected during different birth milestones
Ideation
Moving the ideation forward to prototype stage I started with some very rough sketches. As I had a limited time frame I only focused on the main homescreen with an idea for having a page including birth milestones in the form of a calendar.
Design System
I wanted to use photography for a splash page but keep the interface simple so I chose a neutral and feminine colour palette and three main typefaces: Italiana, Arunika Demo and Kumbh Sans.
High Fidelity Prototype
This is the MVP that I was able to create within the 10-hour advisory window. It prototypes most of the key functions and allows users to select home screen buttons, scroll and add symptoms and check milestones.
Reflections
The redesign of the app gives a cleaner aesthetic, with an additional symptom tracker and milestone tracker. In more developed versions, the statistics would be accessible from the symptom tracker page. Along with milestone markers, the app would also give advice as to when to contact the midwife. There would also be a share button at this stage allowing the user to share via Whatsapp or messages to get in contact with a birthing partner. In the settings, the user would be able to add custom symptoms that don't fall within the typical symptoms for the trimester. This first-round concept redesign has many potential future developments and room for improvement.
Feedback
+ The overall structure of the delivery is clean and organized.
- Explore visual design inspirations, the design could look more attractive
- Placement of the buttons can also be improved by not overlapping buttons on each other
- The symptom tracker functionality can be improved by showing a more extended version of the symptom picker options.