Designing an LVAD decision aid for seniors with end-stage heart failure...
Case Study | Code Blue
Details
UI/UX & Graphic Designer, Webmaster
09/16 - 12/16
Professor Antaki (of Carnegie Mellon University's Biomedical Engineering Department) was preparing to test a non-biased, LVAD decision aid video on senior citizens with end-stage heart failure. Code Blue was brought to format the video into a web-app.
Design
Starting Out
Based on research and user interviews, Code Blue realized that a Hypertext FAQ wasn't enough. To satisfy user needs, a web-app prototype with these three features was needed...
1. Hypertext FAQ
2. Search Option
3. Easy-to-understand prognostic information
Pleased with our proposal, Prof. Antaki gave the go-ahead for us to proceed.
UI/UX Design
The main challenge was creating a format that senior citizens who were also seriously ill could work with. This set up three goals I had to make the UI achieve:
• Compatible with aging senses and motor skills on both a desktop computer and on a patient provided Apple tablet
• Simple and forgiving to users; most seniors don't use smart technology because they feel embarrassed that they can't use it without significant help
• Keeping users calm with the presentation of sensitive, possibly depressing information
1st Wireframe
2nd Wireframe
3rd Wireframe
4th Wireframe
To make the UI easy for seniors, all features are simple, big, and easy to understand. All buttons and links are big to handle shaky motor control and vibrate the tablet if that device is used.
Modern UI conventions were thrown out when research and play-testers showed that older, more familiar and ingrained UI standards were wanted.
To keep a sense of calm, I implemented a soothing color palate. After much play-testing, I settled on using shades of warm green and brown (8).
To keep a sense of calm, I implemented a soothing color palate. After much play-testing, I settled on using shades of warm green and brown (8).
The result is a straight-to-the-point, blunt but non-stresser interface. The web-app prototype ended up helping to cut Prof. Antaki's research time line, while giving room for improvement during his testing.
Graphic Design
For Code Blue's branding, I focused on the theme of finding and connecting information. This was carried out with the idea webs throughout the design. Since our users were heart-failure patients, I tied that in with our logo by turning the "B" into a heart with a monitor line.
