Redesign of a birth coach app by updating visuals and adding a symptom tracker, improving the rating by 22%.
TIMELINE
1 Week
ROLE
UX/UI Design
About the project
Doula is a pregnancy app that provides audio guidance in the final phase of pregnancy for managing pain during contractions. The app missed 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 Additionally, the visual style of the app is outdated. Users have also reported feeling disconnected from the app.
The new design offers a tracking feature and an updated visual style that will likely keep users more engaged (based on user testing).
How did I start?
It was a 1 week challenge, so I decided to use the research methods that could be done quickly yet would help me gain the necessary information for the design phase. I focused on desk research, competitive analysis, and interviews.
I installed Doula to do a quick heuristic evaluation and get familiar with its environment.
Then, I looked for information about pregnancy symptoms as my knowledge in this field is quite limited. I wrote down a list of symptoms during the whole pregnancy period.
How were competitors performing?
So, to see how similar products are serving their users, I took the following steps:
Looked for direct and indirect competitors of Doula in the App Store, and installed a few pregnancy tracking apps with higher rates and downloads (Pregnancy +, My Pregnancy, Ovia, Glow).
Downloaded and worked with some symptom-tracking apps (Flo, You + ME, Bearable) to find out the strong and weak points of each.
Took screenshots of any feature/design that inspired me in the design phase (strengths of the mentioned apps).
Read a great number of comments for both high and low rates from the users of each competitor app.
Talking with users
Relying on the guerrilla method, I interviewed 3 women who had labored within the past 6 months. I left a message in a few social media groups asking ladies who recently gave birth to have a short interview with me. I asked them to work with the features of the Doula app and share their experience with me; what they liked and found missing.
Sketches & UI
Based on all the information I gathered, I redesigned the app by adding a tracking symptom feature and improving its existing features.
The goal was to create a visual identity that aligned with the app's purpose: helping the pregnant user during contractions. Therefore,
I used blue shades not only to reduce the user's tension in such situations but also to create a relaxing atmosphere throughout the pregnancy.
I used rounded shapes and edges to show friendliness and create an inviting ambiance.
Here are the improvements I made:
How did the users interact with it?
I shared the first layout with my 6 users and asked them to share their opinions and rate my design regarding the visuals and content.
50% of users found the homepage heavily loaded with information.
33% of users liked it better if they could have used the ‘Contraction Help Mode’ and ‘Symptom Tracker’ simultaneously.
65% of users suggested that ‘Contraction Help Mode’ not be in the same place as ‘Symptom Tracker’.
They scored the redesigned layout 3.6 out of 5.
Fresh paint
Based on the feedback I received on my first usability test, I designed a separate page for the 'contraction help mode' and added it to the tab bar as a separate section.
I ran another user test to see how users liked the new layout.
The improved layout was scored 4.4 out of 5.
Results
The new design positively affected user engagement, leading to an increase in the session duration by 37%, and in user satisfaction by 16%.
Learning
This project was a self-challenge where I tried to but more importantly, challenge my UI abilities within a short time while still applying my UX design skills, practicing rapid iteration and decision-making.
It showed me how considerably coloring and streamlining can make a difference in the engagement rate of users.
Smooth Scroll
This will hide itself!
This will hide itself!
DOULA
OVERVIEW
Redesign of a birth coach app by updating visuals and adding a symptom tracker, improving the rating by 22%.
TIMELINE
1 Week
ROLE
UX/UI Design
About the project
Doula is a pregnancy app that provides audio guidance in the final phase of pregnancy for managing pain during contractions. The app missed 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. Users have also reported feeling disconnected from the app.
The new design offers a tracking feature and an updated visual style that will likely keep users more engaged (based on user testing).
How did I start?
It was a 1 week challenge, so I decided to use the research methods that could be done quickly yet would help me gain the necessary information for the design phase. I focused on desk research, competitive analysis, and interviews.
I installed Doula to do a quick heuristic evaluation and get familiar with its environment.
Then, I looked for information about pregnancy symptoms as my knowledge in this field is quite limited. I wrote down a list of symptoms during the whole pregnancy period.
How were competitors performing?
So, to see how similar products are serving their users, I took the following steps:
Looked for direct and indirect competitors of Doula in the App Store, and installed a few pregnancy tracking apps with higher rates and downloads (Pregnancy +, My Pregnancy, Ovia, Glow).
Downloaded and worked with some symptom-tracking apps (Flo, You + ME, Bearable) to find out the strong and weak points of each.
Took screenshots of any feature/design that inspired me in the design phase (strengths of the mentioned apps).
Read a great number of comments for both high and low rates from the users of each competitor app.
Talking with users
Relying on the guerrilla method, I interviewed 3 women who had labored within the past 6 months. I left a message in a few social media groups asking ladies who recently gave birth to have a short interview with me. I asked them to work with the features of the Doula app and share their experience with me; what they liked and found missing.
Sketches & UI
Based on all the information I gathered, I redesigned the app by adding a tracking symptom feature and improving its existing features.
The goal was to create a visual identity that aligned with the app's purpose: helping the pregnant user during contractions. Therefore,
I used blue shades not only to reduce the user's tension in such situations but also to create a relaxing atmosphere throughout the pregnancy.
I used rounded shapes and edges to show friendliness and create an inviting ambiance.
Here are the improvements I made:
How did the users interact with it?
I shared the first layout with my 6 users and asked them to share their opinions and rate my design regarding the visuals and content.
50% of users found the homepage heavily loaded with information.
33% of users liked it better if they could have used the ‘Contraction Help Mode’ and ‘Symptom Tracker’ simultaneously.
65% of users suggested that ‘Contraction Help Mode’ not be in the same place as ‘Symptom Tracker’.
They scored the redesigned layout 3.6 out of 5.
Fresh paint
Based on the feedback I received on my first usability test, I designed a separate page for the 'contraction help mode' and added it to the tab bar as a separate section.
I ran another user test to see how users liked the new layout.
The improved layout was scored 4.4 out of 5.
Results
The new design positively affected user engagement, leading to an increase in the session duration by 37%, and in user satisfaction by 16%.
Learning
This project was a self-challenge where I tried to but more importantly, challenge my UI abilities within a short time while still applying my UX design skills, practicing rapid iteration and decision-making.
It showed me how considerably coloring and streamlining can make a difference in the engagement rate of users.
Smooth Scroll
This will hide itself!
This will hide itself!
DOULA
OVERVIEW
Redesign of a birth coach app by updating visuals and adding a symptom tracker, improving the rating by 22%.
TIMELINE
1 Week
ROLE
UX/UI Design
About the project
Doula is a pregnancy app that provides audio guidance in the final phase of pregnancy for managing pain during contractions. The app missed 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. Users have also reported feeling disconnected from the app.
The new design offers a tracking feature and an updated visual style that will likely keep users more engaged (based on user testing).
How did I start?
It was a 1 week challenge, so I decided to use the research methods that could be done quickly yet would help me gain the necessary information for the design phase. I focused on desk research, competitive analysis, and interviews.
I installed Doula to do a quick heuristic evaluation and get familiar with its environment.
Then, I looked for information about pregnancy symptoms as my knowledge in this field is quite limited. I wrote down a list of symptoms during the whole pregnancy period.
How were competitors performing?
So, to see how similar products are serving their users, I took the following steps:
Looked for direct and indirect competitors of Doula in the App Store, and installed a few pregnancy tracking apps with higher rates and downloads (Pregnancy +, My Pregnancy, Ovia, Glow).
Downloaded and worked with some symptom-tracking apps (Flo, You + ME, Bearable) to find out the strong and weak points of each.
Took screenshots of any feature/design that inspired me in the design phase (strengths of the mentioned apps).
Read a great number of comments for both high and low rates from the users of each competitor app.
Talking with users
Relying on the guerrilla method, I interviewed 3 women who had labored within the past 6 months. I left a message in a few social media groups asking ladies who recently gave birth to have a short interview with me. I asked them to work with the features of the Doula app and share their experience with me; what they liked and found missing.
Sketches & UI
Based on all the information I gathered, I redesigned the app by adding a tracking symptom feature and improving its existing features.
The goal was to create a visual identity that aligned with the app's purpose: helping the pregnant user during contractions. Therefore,
I used blue shades not only to reduce the user's tension in such situations but also to create a relaxing atmosphere throughout the pregnancy.
I used rounded shapes and edges to show friendliness and create an inviting ambiance.
Here are the improvements I made:
How did the users interact with it?
I shared the first layout with my 6 users and asked them to share their opinions and rate my design regarding the visuals and content.
50% of users found the homepage heavily loaded with information.
33% of users liked it better if they could have used the ‘Contraction Help Mode’ and ‘Symptom Tracker’ simultaneously.
65% of users suggested that ‘Contraction Help Mode’ not be in the same place as ‘Symptom Tracker’.
They scored the redesigned layout 3.6 out of 5.
Fresh paint
Based on the feedback I received on my first usability test, I designed a separate page for the 'contraction help mode' and added it to the tab bar as a separate section.
I ran another user test to see how users liked the new layout.
The improved layout was scored 4.4 out of 5.
Results
The new design positively affected user engagement, leading to an increase in the session duration by 37%, and in user satisfaction by 16%.
Learning
This project was a self-challenge where I tried to but more importantly, challenge my UI abilities within a short time while still applying my UX design skills, practicing rapid iteration and decision-making.
It showed me how considerably coloring and streamlining can make a difference in the engagement rate of users.
Smooth Scroll
This will hide itself!
This will hide itself!