Client
Conceptual
Season
Spring 2024
Timeline
4 Months
Sage Sight is a mental well-being aid app that helps individuals authenticate mental health information and resources on social networking sites and save them for their journey.
project overview
Focus Areas
HealthTech, Social Good, Mobile App, Personalized Experiences, Mental Health, Wireframing, Prototyping
Tools and Software Used
Google Sheets
Miro
Google Docs
Google Forms
Figma
Google Suite
scope + constraints
SageSight is a concept app designed to promote mental health awareness and accessibility by verifying the accuracy of mental health content on social platforms. Key features include user rating reports, content verification, and curated mental health boards, empowering users to manage their well-being with reliable resources. Developed as part of a senior studio course focused on social good in UX, I chose to center the project on mental health, driven by my commitment to combating misinformation and improving access to trustworthy content.
team + role
Our team consisted of a graphic designer, UX content writer, project manager, and myself as the UX designer. As the UX Designer, I led the design process by creating user flows, wireframes, and prototypes, and contributed to UX research and ideation to shape the app’s features. Together, we conducted research, ideation, and design, refining SageSight’s core features.
challenges
Mental health resources are expensive, plagued by misinformation and bias, time-consuming and often one size fits all.
How can we create a digital mental health resource that is accessible and personalized?
goals
Define a conceptual digital tool that improves mental health for social good that is mindful of user's time and financial constraints while being personalized for their journey.
How can we integrate mental health wellness into various individual's experiences and lifestyles?
outcomes
A conceptual app design that integrates seamlessly into users daily flow allowing them to collect and filter mental health resources that resonate with their needs and journey.
discovery highlights
During discovery we carried out thorough secondary research to grasp and delineate the context related to the accessibility and understanding of mental health. This involved comprehending and contrasting the current market space of existing products, initiatives, and entities working within the mental health sector, various brainstorming episodes to taper down our focus, and mapping shifts in societal influence over time.
After exploring the context and landscape of mental health we reached out with an anonymous survey to better understand how people may use digital products in their relationship with mental health.
60%
of the 25 respondents use social media as a primary source of information about mental health treatments and challenges.
76%
of the 25 respondents reported Lack of Time as a barrier they or someone they know has faced when trying to access information or treatment for mental health.
100%
of the 25 respondents have experienced or know someone who has experienced mental health challenges.
cost barrier
cost of treatment and resources was reported as an experienced or perceived barrier in accessing accurate and helpful information about mental health treatments and resources
misinformation
concerns were a common theme among respondents with many reports of this acting as a barrier or concern in engaging with digital platforms for mental health
personalized
respondents reported a theme of needing or wanting resources that fit their personal schedule and individual life experiences
Disclaimer: The images above serve as examples of the inspiration for app features and are used solely for reference within this case study. All rights to these images are owned by their respective creators and are included here strictly for illustrative purposes.
ideation from inspiration
During the ideation phase, we drew inspiration from applications known for transparency, personalization, and user engagement. These insights directly shaped our user-centric solution, designed to empower users to confidently assess and engage with mental health information on social media. By meeting users where they are, our approach enhances trust and aligns with our commitment to creating meaningful, impactful design.
unveiling hidden insights
Drawing inspiration from Poke’ Genie, our solution integrates an overlay feature that allows users to assess the credibility of social media content in real-time, without interrupting their experience. This innovative approach ensures that users have immediate access to the information they need to make informed decisions, directly within their social media interactions.
personalized journey
Taking cues from Pinterest, we designed our app to allow users to collect, organize, and personalize their mental health resources. This approach ensures that users can curate information that aligns with their unique needs and preferences, enhancing their engagement and making the content more relevant and actionable.
informed consumption
Inspired by Yuka and Indecode, we focused on building an interface that empowers users to make informed decisions by providing clear, trustworthy evaluations of mental health content on social media. Just as these apps deliver transparency in product information, our solution will offer users reliable insights, helping them navigate the complex landscape of mental health resources with confidence.
process highlights
user flow
Charting the user experience with a flow diagram to map out the in-app and overlay features and pathways
wireframes
Using the user flow diagram as a map I began building out a rough layout of key screens to bring the process to life
prototype test
Increasing the fidelity of the design from wireframes to a mid-fidelity prototype we conducted task based usability tests oriented around key features
testing outcomes
Mid-fidelity prototypes were used to conduct task based usability tests that were followed by a post task user reflection interview to analyze the user's initial reaction to the app and features.
0%
No critical errors were reported during the tasks, indicating a high level of usability in the tested prototype. This demonstrates that the interface was well-understood and functioned as expected without causing users to make mistakes that could hinder their experience
100%
All participants successfully completed each designated task. This high success rate highlights the effectiveness of the app’s design and its ability to guide users through intended functionalities smoothly.
Task-Based Assessments
Participants were asked to perform specific tasks using the prototype, and their interactions were closely observed to identify usability issues and areas for improvement.
Single Testing Opportunity
Due to project constraints, there was only one opportunity for a comprehensive usability test, necessitating thorough preparation and execution to gather as much insight as possible in a limited timeframe.
Positive Reactions
Participants responded positively to the intuitive design and personalized features of the app, highlighting its ease of use and the engaging nature of the user interface. Feedback emphasized the value of clear, accessible content and the importance of visual elements in enhancing user experience.
iterations + adjustments
From user flow diagrams to low-fidelity wireframes to mid-fidelity prototypes I adjusted the designs to incorporate the visual direction defined by our visual designer and content edits from our project manager and content writer. Collaborative feedback and insights found in usability testing defined the final adjustments to the wireframes and prototype.
feature highlights
user ratings & feedback
Community-based evaluations on mental health profiles contribute to creating a trusted environment by sharing your feedback. This feature empowers users to assess and rate the reliability, positivity, and helpfulness of content shared by others, fostering a community-driven approach to mental health information.
challenges addressed
Misinformation:
With the vast amount of mental health information available on social media, users struggle to discern reliable content from misinformation.
Lack of Trust:
Users often find it difficult to trust sources without validation from others within the community.
solution overview
Community-Reviewed:
The User Ratings & Feedback feature allows users to provide and view ratings on the reliability, positivity, and helpfulness of mental health content shared by others. This community-driven approach not only enhances the credibility of information but also builds a trusted environment where users can confidently engage with content.
Community-Verified:
By enabling users to contribute their feedback, the feature promotes a more accurate and supportive mental health space, where content is vetted by the community itself.
hypotheses projection
Increased Trust:
We predict that by introducing a rating and feedback system, users will become more engaged in verifying and sharing reliable information, which will decrease the spread of misinformation and increase overall trust in the content shared on the platform.
Improved Access:
Over time, the community’s involvement in rating and providing feedback will lead to a higher standard of content, making it easier for users to find and trust valuable mental health resources.
Compile and customize a personal collection of mental health resources, creating a space where users can easily revisit and reflect on content that resonates with them. This feature allows users to save, organize, and explore content on user-created boards for future reference, enhancing their ability to engage with mental health information that aligns with their personal journey.
challenges addressed
Information Overload:
Users often struggle to retain valuable content amidst the overwhelming volume of information available on social media.
Personalization:
A lack of personalized resources can make it difficult for users to find and revisit content that supports their mental health journey.
solution overview
Managing Information:
The Collect & Explore feature allows users to curate their own mental health resource boards, offering a tailored approach to managing information.
Personalized Resources:
By creating and organizing content on personalized boards, users can easily access resources that are most relevant to their needs and interests, fostering a more meaningful and ongoing engagement with the material.
hypotheses projection
User Engagement:
By providing users with a tool to collect and personalize their mental health resources, this feature will increase user satisfaction and engagement, leading to more consistent interaction with the content.
Improved Well-being:
We anticipate that users who regularly engage with their curated boards will experience improved mental well-being, as they will have easy access to trusted, supportive information whenever they need it.
scan content
In a landscape crowded with information, the ability to quickly and accurately assess the reliability of content in your social media feed is crucial. This feature empowers users to effortlessly scan and evaluate the credibility of the information they encounter, reducing overwhelm and enhancing trust in the digital space.
challenges addressed
Persona Pain Points:
Many young adults are overwhelmed by the sheer volume of mental health content on social media, leading to difficulty in discerning credible sources.
Cognitive Overload:
Users face increased stress and confusion due to the prevalence of misinformation.
Trust Issues:
Difficulty in identifying trustworthy resources diminishes confidence in online mental health information.
solution overview
Content Evaluation:
The Scan Content feature provides users with real-time reliability ratings for both text and image content in their social media feeds.
Seamless Integration:
Users can easily access these ratings through an intuitive overlay, allowing them to continue engaging with content without interruption.
User Tags & Summaries:
The feature includes clear indicators (e.g., tags for misinformation) and concise summaries explaining the reliability of the content.
hypotheses projection
Reduced Cognitive Load:
Users will experience less mental fatigue by quickly identifying trustworthy content.
Improved Decision-Making:
The feature is expected to increase users' confidence in the information they engage with, leading to better mental health decisions.
Community Impact:
As users report and flag misinformation, the overall quality of mental health content on social media is anticipated to improve, fostering a more informed user base.
status + reflection
project status
Our capstone project for the UX for Social Good course has reached its conclusion. To evolve this conceptual project into a viable product, securing funding and collaborating with experts in mental health, marketing, and technology development are imperative. Given the sensitive nature of mental health solutions, it is crucial to approach this with rigorous ethical standards and practical feasibility considerations. Employing AI for content analysis and categorization would require extensive input from subject matter experts to ensure our solutions are ethical, effective, and grounded in real-world applicability.
reflection
During this project, our team was deeply engaged in research and analysis, which was both challenging and immensely rewarding. By prioritizing a deep understanding of our target market, audience, and community, we were able to develop a creative and potentially impactful solution aimed at supporting individuals in their mental health journeys. Collaborating closely with fellow students, we embraced a broad, outward-looking approach that fueled our innovative thinking and design process.