Polar
(work in progress)
🗒️ Project Summary
Bipolar disorder is a serious mental illness that affects millions of people around the world. It is characterised by severe mood swings, from manic highs to depressive lows. Polar was developed to help individuals living with the disorder manage their symptoms and track their moods. The challenge was to design a product that could be easily used by people with a range of technical skills, who may also be in different mental states.
🤓 My Role
I was responsible for a range of tasks that spanned from user research and analysis to wireframing, prototyping, UI design, interaction design, and developer handoff.
Here is a more detailed break down of my role:
User Research & Analysis: I conducted user research and analysis to understand the needs and pain points of people who could benefit from a mood tracking app. I conducted interviews, surveys, and focus groups to gather data and gain insight into what users wanted from the app.
Wireframing: I created wireframes to visualise and validate the concepts and features that I came up with during user research. These wireframes served as a foundation for the design and helped me to flesh out the structure of the app.
Prototyping: I then created high-fidelity prototypes to further validate the concepts and features that I had created during the wireframing phase. These prototypes helped to communicate my ideas to the development team and stakeholders.
UI Design: I was responsible for designing the visual appearance of the app, including the typography, colour palette, and overall look and feel. I also designed custom illustrations and icons to help bring the app to life.
Interaction Design: I designed the interactions and animations for the app, making sure that the interactions were intuitive, fluid, and calming for users. I also designed the micro-interactions and ensured that they were well integrated into the overall design.
Developer Handoff: I worked closely with the development team to ensure a smooth handoff process and to ensure that my designs were properly implemented in the final product. I provided detailed documentation and specifications to help the development team understand my designs and bring them to life.
👀 Research
To better understand the needs and challenges faced by individuals with bipolar disorder, I conducted a series of user interviews and surveys. This helped to gain a deeper understanding of the specific symptoms and challenges faced by users, and to design features and functionality that would be most helpful to them.
Some of the most notable pain points included:
Lack of motivation: Users said that they struggle to consistently use mood tracking apps, as they find it difficult to stay motivated. This is especially true when users are in a depressive state, and may feel overwhelmed by the task of logging their moods.
Tedious input: Logging mood can be a tedious and time-consuming process, especially when users have to input the same information repeatedly.
Medical tracking & reminders: Some users reported that they struggle to keep track of the tasks they need to complete in order to manage their disorder, such as taking medication, seeing a therapist, or engaging in self-care activities. This can result in users feeling overwhelmed and stressed, which can further exacerbate their symptoms.
Limited symptom management resources: One common pain point among our users is the the lack resources to help manage the disorder. Users reported feeling frustrated and unsupported in their journey, which lead to a lack of motivation to continue using the app, as well as a sense of isolation on their mental health journey.
Lack of integration with other tools: Some mood tracking apps do not integrate with other services used, such as the apple health app, making it difficult to track sleep and exercise information in one place. Users wanted to see how the tracked data (specifically sleep and activity level) affects their symptoms.
✏️ Ideation
Based on the insights gathered from the research, I created a series of wireframes to explore different design concepts and layouts. These wireframes were then tested with a small group of users, who provided feedback and suggestions for improvement.
Using this feedback, we created high-fidelity prototypes of the app, incorporating the best design elements from our wireframes and incorporating new ideas and insights from our user testing. These prototypes were then tested again, allowing us to make any final tweaks and improvements to the app's design.
💻 UI & Interaction Design
One of the key goals of our design was to create an app that was both aesthetically pleasing and functional. I incorporated calming colours and animations, and used intuitive and straightforward navigation to help users quickly find the information they needed.
One important aspect of the Polar user experience was the thoughtful use of colour to represent different moods. I created a colour palette that was calming, supportive, and reflective of the moods being tracked. For example, a cool blue was associated with manic moods, a warm red with depressive moods, a rich purple with mixed moods, and a light grey with stable moods. These colours were subtly incorporated throughout the app, dynamically changing based on which mood the user was currently tracking. The result was a visually engaging experience that provided users with a clear and meaningful representation of their moods.
For example, when a user selects the Manic mood when logging their mood, a subtle blue blur is added to the background, highlighting the interaction and providing a visual cue for the user.
🎯 KPIs
User engagement: The percentage of users who log their moods and symptoms on a regular basis
Customisation: The percentage of users who customise the app to their needs
Data visualisation: The percentage of users who find the visualisations of their moods and symptoms helpful
Context and insights: The percentage of users who find the explanations of common symptoms and moods associated with Bipolar Disorder helpful
User satisfaction: The percentage of users who find the app helpful in managing and tracking their condition
Polar
(work in progress)
🗒️ Project Summary
Bipolar disorder is a serious mental illness that affects millions of people around the world. It is characterised by severe mood swings, from manic highs to depressive lows. Polar was developed to help individuals living with the disorder manage their symptoms and track their moods. The challenge was to design a product that could be easily used by people with a range of technical skills, who may also be in different mental states.
🤓 My Role
I was responsible for a range of tasks that spanned from user research and analysis to wireframing, prototyping, UI design, interaction design, and developer handoff.
Here is a more detailed break down of my role:
User Research & Analysis: I conducted user research and analysis to understand the needs and pain points of people who could benefit from a mood tracking app. I conducted interviews, surveys, and focus groups to gather data and gain insight into what users wanted from the app.
Wireframing: I created wireframes to visualise and validate the concepts and features that I came up with during user research. These wireframes served as a foundation for the design and helped me to flesh out the structure of the app.
Prototyping: I then created high-fidelity prototypes to further validate the concepts and features that I had created during the wireframing phase. These prototypes helped to communicate my ideas to the development team and stakeholders.
UI Design: I was responsible for designing the visual appearance of the app, including the typography, colour palette, and overall look and feel. I also designed custom illustrations and icons to help bring the app to life.
Interaction Design: I designed the interactions and animations for the app, making sure that the interactions were intuitive, fluid, and calming for users. I also designed the micro-interactions and ensured that they were well integrated into the overall design.
Developer Handoff: I worked closely with the development team to ensure a smooth handoff process and to ensure that my designs were properly implemented in the final product. I provided detailed documentation and specifications to help the development team understand my designs and bring them to life.
👀 Research
To better understand the needs and challenges faced by individuals with bipolar disorder, I conducted a series of user interviews and surveys. This helped to gain a deeper understanding of the specific symptoms and challenges faced by users, and to design features and functionality that would be most helpful to them.
Some of the most notable pain points included:
Lack of motivation: Users said that they struggle to consistently use mood tracking apps, as they find it difficult to stay motivated. This is especially true when users are in a depressive state, and may feel overwhelmed by the task of logging their moods.
Tedious input: Logging mood can be a tedious and time-consuming process, especially when users have to input the same information repeatedly.
Medical tracking & reminders: Some users reported that they struggle to keep track of the tasks they need to complete in order to manage their disorder, such as taking medication, seeing a therapist, or engaging in self-care activities. This can result in users feeling overwhelmed and stressed, which can further exacerbate their symptoms.
Limited symptom management resources: One common pain point among our users is the the lack resources to help manage the disorder. Users reported feeling frustrated and unsupported in their journey, which lead to a lack of motivation to continue using the app, as well as a sense of isolation on their mental health journey.
Lack of integration with other tools: Some mood tracking apps do not integrate with other services used, such as the apple health app, making it difficult to track sleep and exercise information in one place. Users wanted to see how the tracked data (specifically sleep and activity level) affects their symptoms.
✏️ Ideation
Based on the insights gathered from the research, I created a series of wireframes to explore different design concepts and layouts. These wireframes were then tested with a small group of users, who provided feedback and suggestions for improvement.
Using this feedback, we created high-fidelity prototypes of the app, incorporating the best design elements from our wireframes and incorporating new ideas and insights from our user testing. These prototypes were then tested again, allowing us to make any final tweaks and improvements to the app's design.
💻 UI & Interaction Design
One of the key goals of our design was to create an app that was both aesthetically pleasing and functional. I incorporated calming colours and animations, and used intuitive and straightforward navigation to help users quickly find the information they needed.
One important aspect of the Polar user experience was the thoughtful use of colour to represent different moods. I created a colour palette that was calming, supportive, and reflective of the moods being tracked. For example, a cool blue was associated with manic moods, a warm red with depressive moods, a rich purple with mixed moods, and a light grey with stable moods. These colours were subtly incorporated throughout the app, dynamically changing based on which mood the user was currently tracking. The result was a visually engaging experience that provided users with a clear and meaningful representation of their moods.
For example, when a user selects the Manic mood when logging their mood, a subtle blue blur is added to the background, highlighting the interaction and providing a visual cue for the user.
🎯 KPIs
User engagement: The percentage of users who log their moods and symptoms on a regular basis
Customisation: The percentage of users who customise the app to their needs
Data visualisation: The percentage of users who find the visualisations of their moods and symptoms helpful
Context and insights: The percentage of users who find the explanations of common symptoms and moods associated with Bipolar Disorder helpful
User satisfaction: The percentage of users who find the app helpful in managing and tracking their condition
Polar
(work in progress)
🗒️ Project Summary
Bipolar disorder is a serious mental illness that affects millions of people around the world. It is characterised by severe mood swings, from manic highs to depressive lows. Polar was developed to help individuals living with the disorder manage their symptoms and track their moods. The challenge was to design a product that could be easily used by people with a range of technical skills, who may also be in different mental states.
🤓 My Role
I was responsible for a range of tasks that spanned from user research and analysis to wireframing, prototyping, UI design, interaction design, and developer handoff.
Here is a more detailed break down of my role:
User Research & Analysis: I conducted user research and analysis to understand the needs and pain points of people who could benefit from a mood tracking app. I conducted interviews, surveys, and focus groups to gather data and gain insight into what users wanted from the app.
Wireframing: I created wireframes to visualise and validate the concepts and features that I came up with during user research. These wireframes served as a foundation for the design and helped me to flesh out the structure of the app.
Prototyping: I then created high-fidelity prototypes to further validate the concepts and features that I had created during the wireframing phase. These prototypes helped to communicate my ideas to the development team and stakeholders.
UI Design: I was responsible for designing the visual appearance of the app, including the typography, colour palette, and overall look and feel. I also designed custom illustrations and icons to help bring the app to life.
Interaction Design: I designed the interactions and animations for the app, making sure that the interactions were intuitive, fluid, and calming for users. I also designed the micro-interactions and ensured that they were well integrated into the overall design.
Developer Handoff: I worked closely with the development team to ensure a smooth handoff process and to ensure that my designs were properly implemented in the final product. I provided detailed documentation and specifications to help the development team understand my designs and bring them to life.
👀 Research
To better understand the needs and challenges faced by individuals with bipolar disorder, I conducted a series of user interviews and surveys. This helped to gain a deeper understanding of the specific symptoms and challenges faced by users, and to design features and functionality that would be most helpful to them.
Some of the most notable pain points included:
Lack of motivation: Users said that they struggle to consistently use mood tracking apps, as they find it difficult to stay motivated. This is especially true when users are in a depressive state, and may feel overwhelmed by the task of logging their moods.
Tedious input: Logging mood can be a tedious and time-consuming process, especially when users have to input the same information repeatedly.
Medical tracking & reminders: Some users reported that they struggle to keep track of the tasks they need to complete in order to manage their disorder, such as taking medication, seeing a therapist, or engaging in self-care activities. This can result in users feeling overwhelmed and stressed, which can further exacerbate their symptoms.
Limited symptom management resources: One common pain point among our users is the the lack resources to help manage the disorder. Users reported feeling frustrated and unsupported in their journey, which lead to a lack of motivation to continue using the app, as well as a sense of isolation on their mental health journey.
Lack of integration with other tools: Some mood tracking apps do not integrate with other services used, such as the apple health app, making it difficult to track sleep and exercise information in one place. Users wanted to see how the tracked data (specifically sleep and activity level) affects their symptoms.
✏️ Ideation
Based on the insights gathered from the research, I created a series of wireframes to explore different design concepts and layouts. These wireframes were then tested with a small group of users, who provided feedback and suggestions for improvement.
Using this feedback, we created high-fidelity prototypes of the app, incorporating the best design elements from our wireframes and incorporating new ideas and insights from our user testing. These prototypes were then tested again, allowing us to make any final tweaks and improvements to the app's design.
💻 UI & Interaction Design
One of the key goals of our design was to create an app that was both aesthetically pleasing and functional. I incorporated calming colours and animations, and used intuitive and straightforward navigation to help users quickly find the information they needed.
One important aspect of the Polar user experience was the thoughtful use of colour to represent different moods. I created a colour palette that was calming, supportive, and reflective of the moods being tracked. For example, a cool blue was associated with manic moods, a warm red with depressive moods, a rich purple with mixed moods, and a light grey with stable moods. These colours were subtly incorporated throughout the app, dynamically changing based on which mood the user was currently tracking. The result was a visually engaging experience that provided users with a clear and meaningful representation of their moods.
For example, when a user selects the Manic mood when logging their mood, a subtle blue blur is added to the background, highlighting the interaction and providing a visual cue for the user.
🎯 KPIs
User engagement: The percentage of users who log their moods and symptoms on a regular basis
Customisation: The percentage of users who customise the app to their needs
Data visualisation: The percentage of users who find the visualisations of their moods and symptoms helpful
Context and insights: The percentage of users who find the explanations of common symptoms and moods associated with Bipolar Disorder helpful
User satisfaction: The percentage of users who find the app helpful in managing and tracking their condition
