Mediphin

Portable Health Assistant for International Student

Project Overview

Moving to a new country can be a daunting experience, especially when it comes to navigating unfamiliar healthcare systems. For international students in Melbourne, accessing reliable health information in a busy environment like a pharmacy often feels overwhelming. Language barriers, coupled with the need to quickly adapt to new surroundings, create a stressful shopping experience. This project sought to address these challenges by designing a solution that would empower students to make confident healthcare decisions.

ROLE & DURATION

UX & UI Designer
User Research, Visual design, Prototyping

March - May 2024

TOOLS

Figma, Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, DALL·E

The Problem

Imagine being in a new country, where even buying medicine feels like navigating a maze.

For international students in Melbourne, especially those with limited English, large pharmacies like Chemist Warehouse are overwhelming and confusing. The lack of accessible information in their native languages leaves them anxious and unsupported.

Alone in an unfamiliar environment, they struggle to make confident healthcare decisions, risking disruption to their studies and well-being.

User Research

To understand the challenges faced by international students in Melbourne,
our team undertook a comprehensive research process:

In-depth Interviews

We conducted interviews to uncover the specific struggles students experience when accessing healthcare information.

Store Observations

We observed student behaviours in pharmacies, identifying common navigation and information challenges.

Information synthesis

After gathering the data, we synthesised it using affinity mapping to identify key insights. This analysis informed the creation of Persona, Empathy Map, User Journey. These insights led to the development of a focused problem statement that guided our design process.

Insights

Through our synthesis, three primary pain points emerged, clearly illustrating the challenges our users face. These insights became the cornerstone of our approach.

Pain points 1

Language Barriers

Language barriers have a negative impact on multiple aspects of the shopping experience, affecting both the comprehension of information by the target users and the time required to access that information.

Pain points 2

Lack of accessible healthcare

Students want more efficient and accessible way to access medical advice and assistance. They also need clarity and guidance in this respect.

Pain points 3

Lack of Reliable information

Health is a top priority and students do not want to compromise on it. Hence, they look for reliable information from trustworthy sources as it directly impacts their health and wellbeing.

Conceptualisation

I began by detailing the user journey, outlining key stages from pre-departure to in-store support. This comprehensive journey map provided the foundation for developing the user flow map, which visualises how Mediphin effectively addresses the main pain points at each stage, ensuring a seamless and supportive experience for the user.

The solution

Mediphin is a smart, portable device that supports international students in Melbourne by providing essential health services.
It monitors their well-being, translates medical information, and connects with pharmacy kiosks for personalised medical advice.

From arrival to daily life, Mediphin ensures students have the confidence and support they need in a new environment.

Key Features

The final design of Mediphin was centred around a few key features, each carefully crafted to address the primary pain points identified during research

Real-time Monitoring

The portable device continuously analyses health data and alerts users to potential risks. Provides directions to the pharmacy and assists in navigating items within the pharmacy.

Seamless Interaction

The kiosk and portable device automatically exchange data, ensuring users do not need to exert effort searching for or sharing information.

Remote Expert Support

Trained experts use the user’s preferred language to address health concerns, effectively solving language barriers and providing reliable, in-person information.

high-fidelity wireframe

After several rounds of iteration and refinement, I finalised high-fidelity wireframe.

After-departure Health Monitoring

Default & Alert Screens

The Default Screen offers basic health advice, weather updates, and potential symptoms based on data analysis. When a high-risk potential is detected, the Alert Screen appears

After-departure Health Monitoring

Unlocked Screen

Once unlocked, users will see health advice messages tailored to their current health and environment status.

Recommended Items

Users can check the list of medicines previously recommended by experts and the medicines they have saved.

Going to the Chemist Warehouse

Voice Assistant

By tapping the voice assistant icon, users can easily describe their symptoms and receive assistance based on data analysis.

Simple Map Navigation

A simple map navigation function allows users to easily find the nearest pharmacy.

Receiving Expert Support at Chemist Warehouse

Device Interaction

Once the kiosk detects the user's portable device, it automatically recognises their information and connects to an expert suitable for the user.

Remote Expert Consultation

Students connect with an expert who speaks their preferred language for a video consultation. Expert recommendations are sent to the student's portable device and displayed on their device screen.

Project Learnings

Empathy in Design
Understanding the challenges faced by international students was key to creating a meaningful solution. The in-depth research and repeated analysis tasks were crucial in gaining a deep understanding of the users, ensuring that the design genuinely addressed both their emotional and practical needs.

Holistic User Experience
Designing Mediphin taught me the importance of considering the entire user journey, from pre-departure to in-store experiences. By addressing each touchpoint, I was able to create a seamless and supportive experience that went beyond just the product itself.

Importance of Iteration
Iteration was essential in refining the design. Continuous feedback and testing allowed me to improve the initial concepts, ensuring the final product was both functional and user-friendly.

Tutor Feedback

Congrats on a fantastic work!
‍
Your effort truly shines through with a creative and original approach to tackling pharmacy shopping challenges, setting a strong example in conceptual prototype design.The impact your design solution and prototypes have on enhancing user experience and engaging the audience is remarkable. You've demonstrated a profound understanding of user needs and effectively communicated your ideas with clarity and professionalism.

Your commitment to design research, interaction design solutions, and presentation skills is very well done. I particularly enjoyed the name of your proposal, UI visual style and the way this connects with students.
Keep up with the good job!

Paulina Noches

✉️ CONTACT

yudesign68@gmail.com

Let's create something great together! ✨