Community App for HS Warriors
HS Warriors
Bridging Global Connections, Building Local Communities, and Providing Ongoing Support for Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) Patients Worldwide
Introduction
Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) is a persistent skin condition known for its painful abscesses and hair follicle inflammation, often occurring in skin fold regions.
Brief
Create an app for HS patients to connect with and support their local community, providing immediate access to share experiences and help one another with the condition.
Role
Lead Designer: User research, Ideation and User Interface Design
Softwares used
Figma and Adobe Creative Suite
Problem statement
The HS Warrior App: Bridging Global Connections, Building Local Communities, and Providing Ongoing Support for Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) Patients Worldwide
Pain Points
These pain points highlight the emotional challenges that individuals with HS may face, emphasizing the importance of addressing not only the physical symptoms but also providing support for the mental and emotional well-being of those affected by the condition.
01 Social Isolation and Stigma:
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Description: The visible and sometimes disfiguring nature of HS lesions can lead to feelings of shame and embarrassment. This may result in individuals withdrawing from social interactions to avoid judgment and stigma.
Impact: Social isolation can contribute to a sense of loneliness and negatively impact relationships. The fear of being judged or misunderstood may lead to missed opportunities for social engagement and support.
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02 Negative Body Image and Self-Esteem:
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Description: HS lesions may affect areas of the body associated with self-esteem and body image. The chronic nature of the condition and the potential scarring may contribute to a negative self-perception.
Impact: Individuals with HS may struggle with self-esteem, feeling unattractive or undesirable. This negative body image can have cascading effects on mental health, influencing confidence and overall well-being.
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03 Depression and Anxiety Due to Uncertainty:
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Description: The chronic and unpredictable nature of HS, with the possibility of recurrent flare-ups, can create a sense of uncertainty about the future. This uncertainty may contribute to feelings of anxiety and depression.
Impact: Living with the constant threat of flare-ups and the inability to predict when they will occur can take a toll on mental health. The emotional burden of managing a condition with no guaranteed resolution can lead to a persistent state of anxiety and stress.
Solution
Develop an HS Community App tailored for local patients, nurturing connections and support, and ensuring seamless access to nearby resources and events. Enhance the accessibility of the local HS community by incorporating:
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Geo-Tagged User Profiles
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Local Meet-up Facilitation (both online and offline)
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A Comprehensive Educational Video Sharing System
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Interactive Community Forums
Research method
The research method employed both quantitative (utilizing surveys and polls within the Facebook community) and qualitative (conducting interviews with HS patients) approaches.
Target users
Women with HS outnumbered men with HS by nearly 3 to 1 (73.8% female and 26.2% male). Patients with HS were most frequently in the fourth decade of life. Patients aged 0 to 17 years represented 2.2% of the HS cohort. Of note, 30.1% of the HS cohort was 50 years or older.
User persona
User Flow for Profile creation
A key aspect of the HS application is constructing user profiles based on the filters and information users provide. This is essential for building an application that is user-friendly and caters to everyone's needs.
Lo - Fidelity Wireframe
After brainstorming key steps for creating a profile, we developed screens. Through multiple testing rounds, we finalized a flow to proceed to the next step: creating High-Fidelity wireframes
Onboarding Screens
Filters
Style guide
I selected purple as the primary color because it symbolizes the HS condition, while yellow/orange serves as the secondary color to evoke skin-related associations.
Logo
The logo underwent multiple rounds of iteration to reach its final design. The use of purple symbolizes HS warriors, and the heart represents the support and love they need to endure the challenges they face every day
Splash screen illustration
Each illustration and icon is carefully designed, inspired by the personas obtained from both qualitative and quantitative research conducted through surveys and individual interviews.
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Sketch various illustrations and choose the one that best suits the persona.
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Refer to the style guide to pick the right colors for the illustration.
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Put the illustration on the mockup and check if the style and colors blend well.
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Apply the same style across the app for a consistent and cohesive look.
Splash screen
Using animated splash screens to convey a quick preview of the app's essence, providing users with a glimpse of what to expect.
User Interface Design
Filters
Worked with users to make filters user-friendly on different tries, making sure the whole process flows smoothly.
Future expansion
​Wearable Technology: Integrating with wearable devices to monitor HS symptoms.
Mental Health Resources: Incorporating mental health and coping resources.
User Surveys: Collecting feedback for continuous improvement.
Data Analytics: Analyzing user data for better insights and future planning
