Case Study:
Brain-Eaze
Mobile App & Responsive Website
Project Overview
The Problem
Mental Health awareness has skyrocketed, especially since the pandemic. Alot of people deal with mental health but don’t even know how to go about getting help or finding a professional that is the right fit for their needs. Some people even don’t feel they have the time to get the help they need.
The Goal
Design an app that can help users find an accessible therapist who matches their needs and accessible mental health support at their fingertips.
The Product
Brain-Eaze is a Mental Health App that helps people match with Therapist, connect with support groups and provide self-help tools for users trying to find accessible mental health support.
My Role
UX Designer leading the app and responsive website design from conception to delivery.
Responsibilities
Conducting interviews, paper and digital wireframing, low and high-fidelity prototyping, conducting usability studies, accounting for accessibility, iterating on designs, determining information architecture, and responsive design.
Project Duration
April 2022- June 2022
Understanding the user
I created interview questions and conducted interviews for users that would be interested in accessible mental health resources.
Most interview participants reported they would like to be matched with a therapist to have zoom or online appointments rather than in-person. They reported that it was important for them to be matched with a therapist that was specific to their needs.
Based on the feedback received, it was clear that users would be open to answer questions in order to match with a therapist who would cater to their needs best; if there was a tool to help them do that.
User Pain Points
1.) Feeling unsafe on video
Some users feel unsafe sharing personal mental health on zoom formats.
2.) Upfront about price
Users would like to know right away If they can afford services so they don't waste time on an app they can't use.
3.) Mismatched w/ therapist
Users would like to be matched with therapists who specialize In their specific case and needs.
Persona and Problem Statement
Priscilla is a middle-aged millennial crypto-investor/artist who needs an accessible mental health platform to safely communicate with a therapist because she battles depression/anxiety and is always on the go.
Competitive Audit
An audit of a few competitor’s products provided direction on gaps and opportunities to address with the Mental Health App.
Starting The Design
Digital Wireframes
After ideating and drafting some paper wireframes, I created the initial designs for the Brain-Eaze App. These designs focused on a questionnaire to match users to the right therapist.
Low-Fidelity Prototype
To prepare for usability testing I created a low-fidelity prototype that connected the user flow of filling out a questionnaire to match with a therapist.
Refining The Designs
Mockups
Based on the insights from the usability studies, I applied design changes like a progress indicator for the questionnaire so users could manage their time and finish the task.
Additional design changes included adding an option to login the app through insurance. Through research, this was the best way to go about insurance sign up through the app.
Accessibility Considerations
1.) Clear labels for interactive elements that can be read by screen readers
2.) Initial focus of the homescreen on personalized recommendations help define the primary task or action for the user.
Responsive Design
Sitemap
With the app designs completed, I started work on designing the responsive website. I used the Brain-Eaze sitemap to guide the organizational structure of each screen’s design to ensure a cohesive and consistent experience across devices.
Responsive Designs
The designs for screen size variation included mobile, tablet, and desktop. I optimized the designs to fit specific user needs of each device and screen size.
High-Fidelity Prototype
The high-fidelity prototype followed the same user flow as the low-fidelity prototype, including design changes after the usability study.
View the Brain-Eaze
Going Forward
Takeaways
Impact
Users shared that the app was an accessible way to connect with mental health support on their time and to therapists that were catered to their needs. They felt supported and comforted that help was at their fingertips.
What I learned
I learned that even though the problem I was trying to solve was a big one, diligently going through each step of the design process and aligning the specific user needs helped me come up with solutions that were both feasible and useful.
Next Steps
1.) Conduct research on how successful the app is in reaching the goal to provide accessible mental health support.
2.) Add more tools and educational resources on mental health and self-help.
3.) Provide incentives for spending time on the app using the self-help tools like journaling and participating in group chats.
Let's Get In Touch!
Thank you for your time for reviewing my work on the Brain-Eaze app!
If you’d like to see more or would like to get in touch, my contact information is provided below.
Email: amandaklein001@gmail.com
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-klein-a87038a9/