Connect.
Mobile Platform
Creating an interactive mobile platform
Creating Connect. as a platform for professionals in the dental industry to communicate and help track specific interactions. The dental industry handles high volumes of work on a weekly basis, creating more jobs for both practicing dentist and the prosthetic technician in the laboratory. Illegible handwriting and lack of proper communication is not uncommon amongst dental professionals, creating frustration and stress for both parties.
Driven by personal experiences and wanting to resolve an over looked longing issue, to transform and shift towards digitisation and record logging of interaction to keep accountability. Connect. looks to creating a smoother user flow and experience between all users.
My Role
As a UX & UI Designer, during this project I had the responsibilities of completing all tasks from an end-to-end project.
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Conducting user research: creating and distributing user surveys; conducting user interviews; and competitor analysis
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Synthesis: Affinity mapping; empathy mapping; customer journey mapping; persona/s; HMWs
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Ideation: Crazy 8s; storyboarding; MVPs; User flow; Information architecture; wireframing; UI Designs
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Delivery: lo-fi prototype; usability testing; hi-fi prototype
Design Tools
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Figma & FigJam; Miro; Pen & Paper
Time Frame
12 Weeks / 3 Months
Main objective of this project is to improve work efficiency, creating a more seamless flow between each user and having minimal room for error where friction can occur.
Problem Statement
Dental professionals lack efficient communication between other interprofessional workers, triggering uncertainty, stress and frustration, as they would not be able to gain an insight if the dental work is on-track before the next scheduled appointment - resulting in chasing up the work and having no indication where it may be, leading to valuable time wasted.
Discovery and Research
Understanding the problem
To better understand the issue and gain multiple point of views, I had decided to carry out research by looking into competitors with similar digital products targeting the dental industry, as well as conducting surveys and interviews to gather insights from other users in the same industry, seeing whether it is a common occurrence and to validate my problem statement.
Competitor Analysis
Upon initial research, there was only 2 companies that were providing digital service and communication between dental professionals. MagicTouch Software, and LabStar. Using SWOT analysing to determine how each competitor compares and where there are opportunities.
Survey
The survey was able to provide with some simple and generalised information about our users.
12 people total partook the survey
Age range 20 - 50 years old
Occupation: Dental Technicians; Prosthetists; Dentists; and Dental Nurses
84.6% of users believed that it would be beneficial for both clinic and laboratories to integrate a live tracking
Users saw communication issues with other professionals, leading to work being delayed or not be kept up with due to unawareness of the job
"Part of the problem is there is no universal system of communication. Everyone uses a different system which makes tracking communication difficult"
User Interviews
From the survey data, I was able to form an interview guide to asks users, in hoping to find answers where I was able to get more qualitative answers. Total 4 people interviewed
"Common knowledge that doctor's handwriting is very illegible, making it hard sometimes to read what they're asking for"
"When trying to contact a dentist in regards to a certain patient, or providing advice on how to proceed with a job, there tend to be times when they're not available or having to leave a message on several platforms, in hoping they'll get back to you soon"
"This kind of workflow has been around for decades, or even centuries, honestly I have just dealt with the situation and adapt to it"
Define
Synthesis research to generate insights uncovering and problem
With the research I had gathered, I was able to synthesis the information into both Affinity and Empathy Mapping, and general a personas and create a customer journey map.
Develop and Ideate
Exploring effective solutions using an iterative approach
Configuring several How Might We questions on how we may help solve for the problem, and using them in a self administered Crazy 8s workshop to quick generate ideas.
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How might we enhance the interaction experience when providing and receiving information from each end user?
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How might we redesign and integrate current dental management and communication app/system and create a more versatile cloud app?
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How might we ensure users can work efficiently with all the necessary information?
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How might we allow users to work efficiently and communicate effectively simultaneously without delays?
Crazy 8s
Key Outcomes from the session:
Direct messaging between users | Communication and interaction log | Digital laboratory work form that requires all information before submission | Integrated tracking service
Minimum Viable Product
Storyboarding
User Flow & IA
From the MVPs that was indicated, developed a user flow to see how a user would navigate from the task
Wireframe
When the user flow and IA was defined, I created a simple visual representation of the platform. Collating ideas from the initial research, exisiting platforms and integrating other platforms into the one.
Using the wireframe, reviewed the placement and layout of the features on each screen.
Delivering
Building the solutions
Using the base of the wireframe, developing and iterating the prototype for Connect. creating a lo-fi prototype that serves as an initial usability testing.
Lo-Fi Prototype
From the lo-fi prototype, I was able to conduct usability test, looking at both functionality and the UI.
Final Design
For the final design, I iterated and changed the initial UI of the app, as well as changing the positioning of certain call to action buttons and features.
Due to the time frame, I was only able to conduct 1 final usability test with the final design. The participant found it easy to use and straight forward with the flow.
Outcome
Connect. is able to provide users within the dental field a more reliable way to communicate and to digital send and submit work to dental technician. As well as allowing technicians to easily communicate and track the work progress. This would assist with work management and production flow within the dental laboratory.
Retrospective & Reflection
Upon looking back at the project, there are a few factors that could have been completed differently and where improvements can be made.
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Completing research into the colours that are more suited for a platform such as this. Understanding the colours and how to use them correctly and more appropriately.
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Researching more into designs and UI for specific platforms, to then understand on how to create a more appealing and better flowing interface.
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Using the wireframe to test out the functionality for a platform where communication is a key function, and to utilise the time better to improve this function.
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Indicating my MVP at an earlier stage to then have a better understanding on the areas to focus on for the wireframing and prototyping.