MindHug: Revolutionizing Online Therapy
MindHug: Revolutionizing Online Therapy
MindHug: Revolutionizing Online Therapy
Creating MindHug: an MVP developed under tight deadlines to provide accessible, affordable, and stigma-free mental health support.
Role
UI/UX Designer
Role
UI/UX Designer
Role
UI/UX Designer
Role
UI/UX Designer
Duration
Aug 2022 - Nov 2022
Duration
Aug 2022 - Nov 2022
Duration
Aug 2022 - Nov 2022
Duration
Aug 2022 - Nov 2022
Responcibilities
Research, design systems, UX/UI
Responcibilities
Research, design systems, UX/UI
Responcibilities
Research, design systems, UX/UI
Responcibilities
Research, design systems, UX/UI
Introduction: Some words about product and my team
MindHug is an innovative online therapy platform designed using the principles of design thinking to make mental health support more accessible, affordable, and stigma-free, thereby transforming the way people access therapy. In today’s fast-paced world, mental health is more important than ever. Our journey began with a mission to break down the barriers to mental health care and provide a safe, supportive environment for everyone seeking help.
Identifying the Challenge
Our client wanted to create a product that incorporated numerous features borrowed from competitors, without a clear understanding of user needs and priorities. Additionally, we faced extremely tight deadlines, making it crucial to focus on delivering a minimum viable product (MVP) that addressed the most critical aspects of the platform.
Introduction: Some words about product and my team
MindHug is an innovative online therapy platform designed using the principles of design thinking to make mental health support more accessible, affordable, and stigma-free, thereby transforming the way people access therapy. In today’s fast-paced world, mental health is more important than ever. Our journey began with a mission to break down the barriers to mental health care and provide a safe, supportive environment for everyone seeking help.
Identifying the Challenge
Our client wanted to create a product that incorporated numerous features borrowed from competitors, without a clear understanding of user needs and priorities. Additionally, we faced extremely tight deadlines, making it crucial to focus on delivering a minimum viable product (MVP) that addressed the most critical aspects of the platform.
Empathize: Understanding User Needs
To start, we delved into understanding the needs and challenges of potential users:
User interviews: conducted interviews with individuals to understand their difficulties in accessing mental health care, focusing on accessibility, affordability, and stigma.
Surveys and focus groups: collected data from a wider audience to identify common pain points and expectations.
Market research: analyzed existing platforms to identify gaps and opportunities for MindHug.
Empathize: Understanding User Needs
To start, we delved into understanding the needs and challenges of potential users:
User interviews: conducted interviews with individuals to understand their difficulties in accessing mental health care, focusing on accessibility, affordability, and stigma.
Surveys and focus groups: collected data from a wider audience to identify common pain points and expectations.
Market research: analyzed existing platforms to identify gaps and opportunities for MindHug.
Define: Identifying Core Problems
From our empathy phase, we identified several key problems that needed addressing:
Accessibility: traditional therapy sessions were limited by location and rigid schedules.
Affordability: high costs made therapy inaccessible for many.
Stigma: social stigma prevented individuals from seeking help.
Lack of resources: users needed more support between sessions, such as educational materials and self-help tools.
Define: Identifying Core Problems
From our empathy phase, we identified several key problems that needed addressing:
Accessibility: traditional therapy sessions were limited by location and rigid schedules.
Affordability: high costs made therapy inaccessible for many.
Stigma: social stigma prevented individuals from seeking help.
Lack of resources: users needed more support between sessions, such as educational materials and self-help tools.
Prioritization and Use Cases
After conducting the discovery phase and identifying all the user needs and pain points, we realized that we wouldn't be able to implement all the desired features within the tight timeline. To address this, we prioritized the features using the MoSCoW methodology.
With the priority of features and roles clearly defined, we proceeded to write detailed use cases to guide the development process.
Prioritization and Use Cases
After conducting the discovery phase and identifying all the user needs and pain points, we realized that we wouldn't be able to implement all the desired features within the tight timeline. To address this, we prioritized the features using the MoSCoW methodology.
With the priority of features and roles clearly defined, we proceeded to write detailed use cases to guide the development process.
User Flows and Prototyping
Following the creation of use cases, we developed detailed user flows for both therapist and patient roles. These user flows helped us visualize the user journey through the application, ensuring a smooth and intuitive experience. This step was crucial as it allowed us to quickly move on to prototyping:
User Flows: Mapped out the step-by-step interactions for therapists and patients, covering tasks such as scheduling appointments, conducting video sessions, and accessing the resource library.
Prototyping: Created wireframes and interactive prototypes based on the user flows. This approach allowed us to quickly iterate on designs and gather feedback from stakeholders and potential users.
User Flows and Prototyping
Following the creation of use cases, we developed detailed user flows for both therapist and patient roles. These user flows helped us visualize the user journey through the application, ensuring a smooth and intuitive experience. This step was crucial as it allowed us to quickly move on to prototyping:
User Flows: Mapped out the step-by-step interactions for therapists and patients, covering tasks such as scheduling appointments, conducting video sessions, and accessing the resource library.
Prototyping: Created wireframes and interactive prototypes based on the user flows. This approach allowed us to quickly iterate on designs and gather feedback from stakeholders and potential users.
UI Design: Integrating the Brand
Creating the user interface for MindHug was a crucial step in our design process. Our team worked diligently to align the UI design with Cisco’s existing brand guidelines while introducing new elements to enhance user experience:
Brand Consistency: We inherited key design elements from Cisco’s brand book to ensure consistency across all interfaces. This included typography, color schemes, and iconography.
New UI Elements: While maintaining brand integrity, we also created new UI components tailored specifically for the MindHug platform. This involved designing user-friendly navigation menus, interactive buttons, and intuitive layout structures.
Collaborative Effort: Our design team collaborated closely with the development team to ensure that the UI designs were not only visually appealing but also technically feasible and responsive across different devices.
To provide comprehensive support, we developed both a mobile application for patients and a desktop application for therapists. Mobile application for Patients designed to offer a seamless and accessible therapy experience, allowing patients to schedule appointments, conduct video sessions, and access resources on the go.
UI Design: Integrating the Brand
Creating the user interface for MindHug was a crucial step in our design process. Our team worked diligently to align the UI design with Cisco’s existing brand guidelines while introducing new elements to enhance user experience:
Brand Consistency: We inherited key design elements from Cisco’s brand book to ensure consistency across all interfaces. This included typography, color schemes, and iconography.
New UI Elements: While maintaining brand integrity, we also created new UI components tailored specifically for the MindHug platform. This involved designing user-friendly navigation menus, interactive buttons, and intuitive layout structures.
Collaborative Effort: Our design team collaborated closely with the development team to ensure that the UI designs were not only visually appealing but also technically feasible and responsive across different devices.
To provide comprehensive support, we developed both a mobile application for patients and a desktop application for therapists. Mobile application for Patients designed to offer a seamless and accessible therapy experience, allowing patients to schedule appointments, conduct video sessions, and access resources on the go.
Desktop application for Therapists created to help therapists manage their practice efficiently. The desktop application made it easier for therapists to manage content, schedule sessions, and track patient progress, thereby enhancing the quality of care provided.
Desktop application for Therapists created to help therapists manage their practice efficiently. The desktop application made it easier for therapists to manage content, schedule sessions, and track patient progress, thereby enhancing the quality of care provided.
Reflections on MindHug development
Creating MindHug under tight deadlines taught us the importance of user feedback, flexibility in scheduling and pricing, and community building to reduce mental health stigma. Despite the challenge of developing a minimum viable product (MVP) quickly, we learned valuable lessons in time management and prioritization. Ultimately, MindHug successfully made mental health support more accessible, affordable, and stigma-free, transforming the way people access therapy.
Reflections on MindHug development
Creating MindHug under tight deadlines taught us the importance of user feedback, flexibility in scheduling and pricing, and community building to reduce mental health stigma. Despite the challenge of developing a minimum viable product (MVP) quickly, we learned valuable lessons in time management and prioritization. Ultimately, MindHug successfully made mental health support more accessible, affordable, and stigma-free, transforming the way people access therapy.
Results: Impact on Users
The launch of MindHug marked a significant milestone:
Increased accessibility: users from various regions found it easier to access therapy.
Affordability: flexible pricing made therapy more accessible.
Breaking the stigma: provided a safe space for users to seek help without judgment.
Enhanced support: resource library and support tools helped users feel more supported between sessions.
Conclusion
Results: Impact on Users
The launch of MindHug marked a significant milestone:
Increased accessibility: users from various regions found it easier to access therapy.
Affordability: flexible pricing made therapy more accessible.
Breaking the stigma: provided a safe space for users to seek help without judgment.
Enhanced support: resource library and support tools helped users feel more supported between sessions.
Conclusion
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Copyright 2024 by Viktoria Khurs