Merging Empathy, Technology & Health
How empathetic design and user-focused research reshaped the health platform experience for people living with chronic conditions.
Led end-to-end UX research and design for Curatio's chronic-condition support platform, tackling a fragmented, hard-to-scale framework and inconsistent mobile/desktop experiences. Ran ethnographic research and iterative usability testing on the legacy mobile app to redesign onboarding, cutting completion time and improving accessibility across users with varying health conditions. Rebuilt the iOS app's visual identity from a mood board (typography, photography, iconography) into a cohesive, empathetic brand, and reimagined the "circle of friends" feature with an activity-based toggle to strengthen community engagement within native iOS patterns. The result was a unified, responsive platform that improved usability, simplified maintenance and scaling, and delivered a stronger, more welcoming brand experience for people managing chronic conditions.
Perfecting the Onboarding Experience
User testing began with an evaluation of Curatio's legacy mobile app, uncovering key usability issues and informing the foundation of a more accessible onboarding flow for users with varying health conditions. Low and high-fidelity prototypes were built, iteratively tested and refined every few days. The testing approach included task completion timing and feedback on user satisfaction, leading to a streamlined onboarding process that significantly reduced the time required for new users to get started. By the end of the two-week testing phase, onboarding time had decreased notably, enhancing the experience for users across all conditions.
Balancing Brand & Functionality
A major part of the project was redesigning Curatio's iOS app. With limited brand identity and style guidelines, the process began by establishing a mood board to refine the brand's visual language. Typography, photography, and iconography were defined to create a cohesive, empathetic aesthetic that would resonate with users.
The app's functionality evolved alongside this visual framework. One of the primary challenges was reimagining Curatio's "circle of friends" feature within established iOS patterns. A toggle functionality was introduced, allowing users to view friends based on activity and engagement, facilitating a sense of community and support. This adaptable design allowed the app's layout to progress rapidly, with development teams prioritizing essential elements for launch.U
Evaluating Success
Usability: The redesigned Curatio platform improved the onboarding experience, reducing completion times and enabling easier navigation for users with a range of conditions.
Scalability: Moving Curatio to a unified, responsive platform allowed for efficient scaling, simplifying maintenance while expanding accessibility to desktop users.
Brand Alignment: By refining the visual identity and incorporating user feedback, the rebranding effort helped Curatio resonate deeply with users, creating a welcoming, supportive environment for people managing chronic conditions.
