May. | rohremala

Reimagining 1st trimester
pregnancy journey

Methods

Wireframing,

Protoyping,

User research,

Journey maps,

Concept testing,

Product strategy,

Roles

UX Designer

Interview Facilitator

May is a app that is built to help first time mothers focused on handholding them through their experiences during the first trimester of pregnancy. For the Design Research and Integration course, my team was tasked with designing a digital interface that promotes equitable access to healthcare. We were given the freedom to identify our users and their pain points. Over 15 weeks, we designed and user-tested the prototype with pregnant individuals, who were our primary users.

Not interested in Process?

Skip to the Final prototype

Team

Rohitha Remala,

Heba Jaleel,

Patrick Baca-Chandler,

Wren Jiayuan Wang

Links

Presentation

Accessibility Report

Role and Responsibilities

As a UX designer working on a design research case study, I embraced multiple roles, including leading user research calls, creating UX/UI screens, and managing project guidelines. My key contributions included :

- Transforming insights from user interviews and research into actionable features.
- Managing the design language and system to maintain consistency.
- Ensuring the Figma design build aligned with the project timeline.
- Enhancing accessibility by integrating various affordances into the interactivity.

Project Timeline

Through the project sprint of 15 weeks the process of research, synthesis and testing was executed through 7 phases:

Preliminary generative research
Brainstorming & concept ideation
User research - I : Qualitative analysis
Brainstorming II & Concept synthesis
Prototyping
User research - II : Evaluative research through user testing
Hi-fidelity prototyping

Each of these phases has internal research stages which are discussed in detail below.

These phases can be iterated through many sprints in agile development model until a product which can be pushed into the market is built.

Preliminary Research

We started with the question: "How might we enable equitable access to medications, vaccines, and public services?" The problem we aimed to address was the significant barriers preventing certain groups from accessing these essential health resources. Our goal was to identify and understand these disparities, and develop solutions that ensure all individuals have fair access to the medications, vaccines, and public services they need. Through this lens, we aimed to create a more inclusive and equitable healthcare system for everyone.

What equitable access to healthcare means?

Equitable access to healthcare means ensuring that all individuals, regardless of their socioeconomic status, geographic location, race, ethnicity, gender, disability, or other personal characteristics, have the same opportunity to obtain high-quality healthcare services. It is about leveling the playing field so that everyone can achieve their highest possible standard of health.

Some key aspects of equitable access include Affordability, Availability, Accessibility, Accommodation, Acceptability, Quality, Awareness, Non-Discrimination.

By addressing these factors, we can move closer to achieving equitable access to healthcare, ensuring that all individuals can lead healthy, fulfilling lives. While we might think these issues stand for women in marginalized communities we are wrong.

25% of uninsured women usually obtain care at an emergency room or other non-traditional site, compared to only 3% of privately insured women.
Racial/ethnic disparities exist, with higher complaints among Hispanic (20%) and American Indian/Alaska Native (20%) women compared to White women.
Women's health is also Exiguous: With limited guidance from providers, pregnant women struggle to discern accurate health information from misinformation, especially when relying on other sources like the internet or social circles.

Ideation and Discovery - Foundational Research and User Interviews

For a week, we researched healthcare accessibility for pregnant women of color and low income. Our findings showed that the main barrier wasn't race or income but access to information, affecting women from all backgrounds. Every pregnancy is unique and presents its own set of challenges.

We chose to focus on equitable healthcare for pregnant women because existing apps primarily address menstrual health, leaving a gap in pregnancy support. Pregnancy involves unique challenges like monitoring prenatal health, managing symptoms, understanding nutrition, and preparing for childbirth. These needs require specialized solutions that period-tracking apps don't provide.

To further understand the current market landscape we conducted an initial round of User Research, through user interviews. These interviews revealed that women encounter unique logistical and financial barriers to accessing healthcare, often stemming from their roles as caregivers and lower average incomes. These challenges are further intensified for pregnant women, particularly those experiencing geriatric pregnancies, who face even more pronounced difficulties in obtaining the necessary care and support.

I carry these symptoms and the apprehensions they build throughout the entire first trimester.
~ Caraline Ziezel, 36

This sentiment highlights the pervasive and ongoing nature of pregnancy-related symptoms and concerns that start in the first trimester and persist, affecting their daily life and overall well-being. This insight underscores the need for continuous support and reliable information throughout the early stages of pregnancy.

How Might We's

Insight Gathering

Crazy 8s Exercise

HMW-2

hmw1

mayArtboard 7

HMW-2

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Insight Mapping -2

cr3

mayArtboard 6

Insight Mapping -2

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8-1

cr2

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Goal Statement

The  Pregnancy Tracking Mobile App - May,   (what is the product) will let users  to keep track and find pregnancy tailored information.  (perform action)
Which will be a  one stop shop for pregnant individuals to find pregnancy catered information, (how?) By  eliminating the use of multiple counterfeit application - like period trackers, where pregnancy information is a subsection.

We will measure its effectiveness by  number of users updating daily progress and time spent on the app's various resources.  (how will we measure it?)

We envisioned an app that provides comprehensive guidance throughout the entire pregnancy journey, with a particular emphasis on the first trimester. The reasons for this focus included :

Novel Experiences: For many women, the first trimester is a period of new and unfamiliar experiences, requiring extensive information and support.
Shift in Focus: In the later trimesters, the emphasis often shifts toward the baby and involves other parties, such as family members and doulas, who play a significant role in the support system.
High Information Consumption: The first trimester is a time when a vast amount of information is consumed, as women seek to understand and manage their symptoms, health, and the developmental stages of their pregnancy. This period requires tailored and accessible resources to address the unique challenges faced by expectant mothers.

Journey map, Personas, Competitive analysis, Low/Mid Fidelity prototypes

Competitive audit

To grasp the features and facilities of current products, we did a competitive analysis against some well known products, and also included some products that were currently being used by our interviewees.

Journey Map

This Map shows the overall user journey of a pregnant individual, including the highs and lows of pregnancy.

1Asset 2_4x-8

Initial Lo-Fi wireframes build using Figma

Competitive audit

Hi-Fi Prototypes

Home Screen

Features and Resources

Usability Testing

interview feedback - 1

interview feedback- 2

interview feedback - 1

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Expert Feedback

The project was showcased to a formal panel of designers from diverse fields, including Arjun Kalyanpur, Grace Know, Antya Waegemann, Evie Cheung, and Allan Chochinov, The work was also reviewed by designers Carly Simmons, and Abriel Shipley. Here are key takeaways :

Carly Simmons

Director of Design at Measures for Justice

I appreciate the various features explored and the femininity conveyed through the app's branding and design language. However, I recommend double-checking the color choices through an accessibility API to ensure they are compliant.

Antya Waegemann

Product Designer @ Tinder

I'm impressed with the comprehensive information provided. However, I would like to see more options for users to easily customize the content according to their specific stage of pregnancy.

Abriel Shipley

Lead Product Design Consultant | Mentor

When designing the app, you need to consider the various temporary or situational impairment pregnant individuals might experience. These can range from sore eyes to needing assistance to get up, as well as more severe symptoms. It's crucial to factor in these challenges to ensure the app is accessible and user-friendly for our target users.

The majority of the feedback focused on app accessibility. Based on usability testing and expert critiques, I iterated on the design to enhance accessibility and inclusion. See the full

Outcomes

This project was one of the most memorable UX design and research experiences I've ever had.
Prior to this app, I had never collaborated with a team from ideation to deployment—only as an independent designer or developer working with a PM or engineer.
This project cemented my ability to think as both a developer and a UX researcher, providing me with tools to run the user-centric design process.
It opened new avenues for design research and usability testing.
Apart from providing a repeatable process, it also taught product management, time management, and team management techniques within the 15-week sprint.