How might we assist women with PCOS in optimizing their lifestyle while managing their condition?
about the project
The team embarked on these project to address the challenges women with PCOS face in managing their lifestyle. By leveraging UX design principles, created a personalized self-management app that generates tailored to-do lists and connects users to a supportive community. Goal was to provide actionable plans and foster a space for women to improve their overall well-being and menstrual health.
team
4 designers
duration
3 months (aug - oct 2023)
project type
- product design
- hi-fi prototype
my role
- product design
- hi-fi prototype
[what is pcos?]
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal condition affecting women of reproductive age
It usually starts during adolescence, but symptoms may fluctuate over time. PCOS can cause hormonal imbalances, irregular periods, excess androgen levels and cysts in the ovaries.
PCOS is a chronic condition and cannot be cured
[why this project?]
PCOS complicates managing lifestyle and health, creating difficulties with exercise and diet routines. This complexity demands effective solutions to support women with PCOS.
The motivation for the Ova Care project stemmed from a team member's struggle with PCOS. Recognizing the challenges women face in managing this condition, I saw an opportunity, through research, to create something that could genuinely improve routines for women facing similar health issues.
Team Foxtrot with Dr. Adeoti Efundademu Oshinowo, M.D., MPH, FMIG, FACOG OB/GYN at the Sidney & Lois Eskenazi Hospital
[solution]
OvaCare is a personalized PCOS management app offering a health task list and community support. It provides actionable plans for small, impactful changes to enhance well-being and menstrual health.
[success metrics]
[features]
Let’s Get Started
Quick and easy onboarding
The process involves answering questions about your symptoms, diet, and conditions to create a personalized plan.
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Tailored just for you
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Instant setup
Your Home Base
Where the magic happens
Check your tasks, explore details, and make adjustments to keep your plan on track.
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Task overview
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Dive into details
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Make it yours
Create Your Task
Design your journey
Add personal tasks for fitness or wellness to customize your plan and stay on track.
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Customize your routine
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Add personal goals
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Stay in control
Support Community
Connect and thrive
Join a community of people with similar experiences, share insights, and get task suggestions.
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Share and receive tips
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Find your support
[design process]
[research methods]
👀🗒️ 3 hours
field studies
✏️📔 2 day
dairy studies
🧑🏻💻 9 semi structured
user interviews
🕵🏼 multiple website
online ethnography
[field and dairy studies]
4 key insights into PCOS management and daily routines were identified.
I shadowed a PCOS patient throughout her day and asked her to keep a diary of her activities to understand her dietary habits, fitness activities, and emotional responses. Goal was to observe how PCOS affects her daily life and identify any challenges she faces in managing her condition.
[ethnography and user interviews]
3 main reasons behind the challenges were identified.
I conducted 2 interviews and online ethnography to gather detailed experiences from individuals managing PCOS. By analyzing these interviews and forum discussions, I aimed to uncover the challenges faced in managing the condition.
[affinity mapping]
organizing insights through affinity mapping for pcos management
Affinity mapping was used to structure the extensive insights gathered from interviews, observation, and surveys. This method helped categorize and identify key themes, reaching final findings for the project.
[findings]
finding #1
4 key insights into difficulties to manage pcos
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structured daily schedule around pcos
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emotional stress affects food choices
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conflicting medical advice
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Market apps underperform.
finding #2
3 main reasons behind the challenges were identified.
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structured exercise and diet routine
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community support and shared experiences
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reliable knowledge for effective management
finding #3
pcos a vicious cycle
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Symptoms lead to remedies.
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Anxiety drives gynecologist visits.
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Neglect causes recurring symptoms.
Great, the problem is defined
Now it’s time for brainstorming! 🌟
[ideas and insights]
The team reviewed and voted on various solutions, narrowing them down based on interviews and further research.
[brainstorming board]
[design direction]
Explored 3 options and chose a to-do list with buddy connect to support lifestyle changes and community engagement.
[how is the list generated?]
The OvaCare to-do list is generated based on the user's symptoms, diet, and prevailing conditions.
The app uses evidence-based recommendations from medical professionals and insights from community suggestions to create a personalized task list. Users seeking more specific plans can subscribe to the premium version for access to doctors
Awesome, we have the ideas!
Time to bring them to life! 💡
[design concept]
📊 Guided
Offer clear, actionable PCOS management guidance.
🤝 Community-Driven
Create a supportive space for users to connect and share.
📝 Personalized
Tailored recommendations based on individual needs.
[information architecture]
[lo-fidelity prototype]
[testing + improvements]
Based on feedback from 3 patients and 2 gynaecologist, made 3 rounds of iterations with 3 major improvements.
Added task completion progress indicators (5/12) for clearer tracking of user tasks
phase1
phase2
phase3
Added a search button in the community section for easier access to chats and suggestions
phase1
phase2
Added a pop-up to confirm task creation
phase1
phase2
phase3
Here’s the final version of the design 🎨
[design system]
color schema
fonts
[final design]
👀💻👇
Check out the clickable prototype here!
[my takeaways]
1. Start with a comprehensive understanding of user needs
Conducting thorough stakeholder interviews and user research at the beginning helped identify the core challenges faced by women with PCOS. This deep understanding allowed us to tailor the app’s features to directly address these needs, ensuring the solution was relevant and effective.
2. Deep research uncovers unique insights and solutions
Despite the commonality of PCOS and existing solutions, our extensive research into user behavior and competitor offerings helped us craft a distinctive approach. By focusing on in-depth analysis and evidence-based recommendations, we were able to develop innovative features that addressed core issues and enhanced user engagement effectively.
3. Adapt design based on real-world feedback
Implementing feedback from usability testing led to crucial design improvements, such as better task addition confirmation and progress tracking. This iterative process demonstrated the importance of continuously refining the design based on user input to ensure the app meets their needs and expectations.