The Organization

The Center for Telehealth and Technology (T2) is a division of the Department of Defense based in Tacoma, WA. T2's mission is to develop websites, mobile apps, and other solutions that support the psychological well-being of soldiers and veterans. 

The Product

Biozen is an Android app that shows visual information of a person's mental state by pairing with a compatible headset. It is both a diagnostic tool for clinical psychologists and a teaching tool for patients. Patients use Biozen to learn how their positive and negative thoughts affect their mental health. Biozen also teaches patients to concentrate and think calming thoughts. 

My Role

I was the de facto lead UX designer for T2. I led the design of new products from requirements gathering to implementation. I designed for iOS, Android, desktop web, games built on Unity, and even Second Life. I worked in a usability lab where I collaborated with UX researchers in interviews, usability testing, and other methods. 

For this project, I worked with a product owner, two Android developers, and a senior UX researcher. 

The Challenge

Biozen was available on Google Play for a year when my product owner realized there were major usability problems with the app. Users had a difficult time getting started with the app and understanding its complex functionality. My PO asked that I do a quick evaluation of the app, pinpoint areas of improvement, and propose a quick redesign. 

The Design Process

I met with my PO, a UX researcher, and the app’s developers to discuss the app’s usability issues. The project had a short turn around - just two weeks, so I proposed that we design an in-app tutorial to teach users how to use the app. Unfortunately, an interface redesign was off the table due to budgetary constraints. 

I met with a a clinical psychologist on staff to gain domain knowledge. I learned about biosensors, biofeedback, and diagnostic procedures. I studied these subjects independently in the following days. I needed to understand the app thoroughly in order to explain how to use it to clinicians and lay people alike. I then sketched out a few illustrations to help onboard the user on paper and showed them to my UX Researcher. He gave me useful feedback on the domain, including psychiatric procedure and appropriate terminology.

The Designs

I designed and iterated several screens in Omnigraffle, designed illustrations in Adobe Illustrator, and tweaked the microcopy. I worked closely with the developers throughout the process in order to understand the programmatic constraints and possibilities. The PO accepted the designs and they were implemented.

Measuring Success

The subsequent version of Biozen received mostly positive reviews in the app store. I recommended there be usability testing to compare the effectiveness of the new version, but this was rejected for budgetary reasons.

Lessons Learned

• UX should have been involved in development from the start
• First time user experience is critical. Make a good first impression with a helpful tutorial
• Do what you can. Consider budgetary and time constraints