The company aims to develop a rapid COVID-19 antigen test kit. Results are transmitted via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi from the reader to a mobile phone or a tablet. The company is targeting point-of-care screening to be available in Q2 2021 and by late 2021 have remote self-testing be an option.
COMPANY OVERVIEW
I've been working as a digital product designer and in charge of mobile and tablet app design since March 2020. Testing features are under development. Features except testing are personal design concepts, not included in the company decision.
Product Status: Under development, will launch in Q2 2021
Duration: Mar 2020 - present
Team: Lisa Dimond(CEO), Anglike Kefalas(Marketing Chief), Ashley Allen(CTO), Ande Meadows(Developer), Ravi K. Thota(Developer)
PROJECT BRIEF
Patients
People do the COVID-19 test and get results in only 30 seconds. After the test, they have access to consult doctors.
Doctors
Doctors can get patients' data from the cloud for diagnostic use.
Public health
Public health surveillance, such as CDC, WHO, can track population data in real-time.
GOALS
Define product(app) requirements
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Enable people to use a test kit to get tested and read the test result on a mobile phone or a tablet in 30 seconds.
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Provide simple interfaces for users to run tests with no requirement to enter data.
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Simplify the user guide with proper language and images/videos.
Here's the key roles in the ecosystem
SOLUTION
Rapid COVID-19 testing
When I joined the project, the company had already working on the solution below - getting the reader and the mobile phone paired and the test result is reported on the mobile screen. Where I was going to contribute was the mobile app experience.
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Add a Title
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Final design - high-fidelity prototypes
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User testing feedback
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Step by step guide is helpful
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Big icons for showing test results can help convey the message more intuitively.
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There's no reader's battery status on the phone. It may not be noticed if the reader's battery is low.
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The "See more information" button is not clear enough to take them to the next step of consultation.
What doesn't work
What works
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Animated instructions to help users to follow through with the testing process.
Easy to follow instructions
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Digital product design
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user research, wireframes, ideation
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low to hi-fi mockups, prototypes, user testing
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MY CONTRIBUTION
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Physical product design
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testing device design concept
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paper user guide design
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Rapid COVID-19 antigen test and consultation
Easy. Accessible. Affordable.
Delays in getting results
Long lines at testing sties
Time consuming
Highly inefficient
PROBLEM
Today's testing is not satisfying
Testing is essential to fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. Once people learn they are infected, they would alert others of the risk, and stop the spread. But months into the pandemic, many people still are frustrated and confused about virus testing.
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User flow
1. COVID-19 testing
KEY USERFLOWS
I created low-fidelity prototypes for the testing workflows and discussed with the engineers to see the feasibility of technical triggers, and then went to six different people to get their feedback on the user experience for the iteration.
We brought in clear instructions combined animated graphics and full explanations all together to guide people through the testing. We intentionally avoided interactions with the screen from people start collecting samples to running the test. When the cartridge is inserted into the reader, it will report to the mobile app, and the app will automatically show the next step.
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Show the test results with easy to understand icons and text.
Clear results
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Recommend multiple doctors available to the user. Users can communicate with doctors through message, call, or video call.
Multiple options for consultation
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It also has a tablet version for those users who prefer larger screens when using the app.
Compatible on different devices
DESIGN SYSTEM
Topography
I chose to use Quicksand that can give a friendly feel and complement the theme. Weight ranges from regular to bold.
I also tried to explore different prototypes for the physical device. In the healthcare space, the button tends to be mechanical due to its special usage.
Reader Design
PHYSICAL PRODUCT
Develop a laboratory version
NEXT STEP
We've finalized the customer-facing app design, and started designing another version for lab use. Usually, a batch of samples will be tested in labs and the product requirements are different from the one we used for the customer-facing version. I've made the user flow and am reaching out to experts in the lab to get feedback on it.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Doing things meaningful
The global pandemic has quickly sparked one of the most extensive health behavior change campaigns in history, upon which countless lives depend. We’ve seen people from all walks of life are seeking ways to help communities and support one another. I am no exception. I felt horned to have the opportunity to design products that can potentially benefit people all around the world.
Efficient collaberation with mutilple teams
I kicked off the project right after the lockdown. Every design phase and the decision was made online. Effective communication and collaboration become more essential than before. Figma and Slack have become our most important tools working together. I enhanced my capability of representing design thinking in discussions with product stakeholders, assessing design needs for projects, working with product managers to scope and refine projects.
I created some flat illustrations and used a friendly tone to alleviate users' concerns when they are about to consult doctors.
Brand tone and illustrations
DESIGN SYSTEM
I created some flat illustrations and used a friendly tone to alleviate users' concerns when they are about to
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Final design - high-fidelity prototypes
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Iteration plan
Add a kind reminder and friendly illustrations to make users feel less stressed and have a better sense of how to move ahead.
Add "share medical record" button for giving doctors more information for diagnostic use.
Anyone can use it anywhere. No sample prep, no amplification, no refrigeration
Easy to use
Sample to results in 30 seconds. Detect asymptomatic cases, distinguish from flu
Fast & Accurate
The cost is under $100
Affordable
VALUE PROPOSITION
How good Rapid COVID-19 antigen test is
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Iteration plan
Put the reader's battery status on the app. It will always be good to remind users to charge the reader when the battery is low.
Reduce interactions on the screen. Yes, reduce physical touch on the screen and save testing time for mass screening use and home use.
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User testing feedback
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Doctors' profiles can give users useful information in terms of choosing doctors.
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Different ways of contacting doctors to make the consultation more flexible.
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Something is missing between getting results and choosing from available doctors. A summary of what can be done at this point would relieve patients' concerns.
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Unable to share medical records with the doctor.
What doesn't works
What works
Accuracy
Make it feel precise and accurate
Make users trust the product and the service
Reliability
Universality
applicable to people of all age, gender, region, and income level
DESIGN PRINCIPLES
After analyzed the data I've collected from the research, I found people care mostly about the accuracy and the reliability of the testing. According to the product requirements, the mobile app experience should also be universal to cater to people of all ages worldwide. Thus, these are the fundamental pieces of guidelines and considerations that I came up with and applied.
Up next
UNCOVER INSIGHTS
In order to deliver people an excellent experience on the App, I interviewed 7 people, including healthcare experts, trained testers, and regular people.
The topics were focused on what they are expecting and what are their main concerns when having a fast COVID-19 test.
The question I focused on in the followed areas:
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what they would concern when doing self-testing
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how they are expecting to be instructed during the process
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what are the important things that a patient might miss out on when doing testing
What we found during the research
Here are the key insights and the recommended solutions to each problem.
How might we provide patients with trustworthy and less stressful experience in the rapid COVID-19 testing?
IMPLEMENTATION PAHSE
From high fidelity prototypes to specification
The company is targeting to ship the MVP, which is COVID-19 testing, for the short term. I went into detail on specs - highlighting the core components and indicating the spacing between each component. This became a guideline for our redesign in the future.
DESIGN SYSTEM
Colors
When it comes to the color scheme, I carefully chose blue as the primary color and some vibrant colors as supporting colors to make sure it delivers a friendly feel as a whole.
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Whether or not patients get positive results, they anticipate consulting doctors if they have some syptoms.
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Patients expect to see the results immediately to alleviate the concerns.
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Most users are not testing trained who may get nervous about doing anything wrong in the entire process
Recommendation
give clear step-by-step instructions in the App in a more understandable way.
Recommendation
show a summary of the test results in the first place as well as the further information that patients need.
Recommendation
Users can remotely consult a doctor on the symptoms or test results directly in the App.
It's worth noting that there are some highlights for giving users better experiences. Especially for those people who have never trained to test before. It becomes more vital to guide them through the process without confusion.
FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS
JOURNEY MAP
Rapid COVID-19 test vs today's COVID-19 Testing
I talked to five people who had the experience of getting the COVID-19 test and mapped out their journey to illustrate what they've been through. Comparably, the rapid COVID-19 testing could largely alleviate their anxiety after getting tested and help slow the spread of the coronavirus.
DESIGN DECISION
Based on the business strategy, COVID-19 testing is first major viable product that the company is shipping in the short term. I proposed the consultation as another feature after getting test results in the app, and this feature could be left as an option in the long run.
After deciding the basic feature, we compiled a list of the top key tasks that patients use when testing and consultation.
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User flow
2. Consultation
KEY USERFLOWS
I brought in doctor's photos, availabilities, reviews, allowing patient to choose from the options whenever they need it.
Actual Reader
PHYSICAL PRODUCT
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