MeCo
Year: 2023
Length: 4 weeks
Member: (Individual project)
Course: Designstudio, Editorial
Module: Storytelling
External resources: Psychologist, Solbjørg Torheim Hanitz
In this project, I wanted to take a closer look at the potential for digitization within mental health treatment in Norway. More specifically on how innovation through design potentially can facilitate for effective practice, support, and guidance for patients during the time periods between therapy sessions. It is the most important time in the course of therapy, but the least facilitated! I also wanted to explore how this can streamline processes for psychologists in providing appropriate follow-up to patients during this time.
“The project explores how methods for attention training used in MCT can be digitized and made available to patients in treatment”
Through an exploratory approach, I used the method ‘prototyping for dialogue’ as as the main method in the process when working with relevant external stakeholder related to the topic. This provided me with valuable insights into the topic and enabled quicker evaluation and assessment of concepts and proposals along the way. It helped me defining the content, problem areas and the areas of opportunity. In addition, i did a lot of iterations based on feedback from usertesting on the interface itself. For the way forward, I would test more of the actual experience of such a solution.
Skills: Prototyping (UX/UI)📱 - Interviews🙋♀️ - Conversation with external stakeholder🤝 - Sketching📝 - Testing🤳 - Visual profile🖍️ - Presenting👋 - Research📔- Problem-solving📝
The process
Final Interface
Final reflections & thought
The project addresses an important challenge within a short and limited timeframe - but it tackles an issue that could help improve healthcare services by strengthening follow-up care. I understand that physical meetings and one-on-one contact can’t be replaced, but they can be strengthened through digital solutions. I encountered a lot of skepticism from the older generation when testing, but my intention is that those who are willing and able could make use of such a solution, but that there are still other options available, such as physical documents.
I’m glad I started sketching early and built a strong foundation with research and mapping, which allowed me to quickly generate ideas. However, I wish I had started testing the user experience earlier, as the feedback I received was incredibly valuable and helped drive the process forward. I’m still uncertain whether the service should connect the psychologist directly with the patient, but this is an evaluation to be addressed in the next stages.