OVERVIEW
Helping individuals navigate Type 2 Diabetes diagnosis.
YEAR
DURATION
ADVISORS
TOOLS USED
2022
4 months
Amanda Huynh
Adobe InDesign • Adobe Illustrator • Adobe Lightroom • Adobe Premier Pro
THERE ARE 37 MILLION U.S. ADULTS LIVING WITH DIABETES, 11% OF THE U.S. POPULATION.
WHAT IS TYPE 2 DIABETES?
Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) is a chronic condition that develops over time where the body is impaired from turning sugar in thebloodintoenergy.Thisconditionaffectsover37.3million U.S. adults which makes up 11% of the entire U.S. population.
MY FATHER'S JOURNEY WITH T2D
My father was diagnosed with T2D in his early 50's and during the first few months after receiving this diagnosis I observed his struggles and frustrations. This project is an opportunity for me to think up a better experience for not only him, but others embarking on their own T2D journey.
LEARNING FROM LIVED EXPERIENCES
I started by diving headfirst into the online T2D community. I watched videos, read blogs, scrolled through tweets, and sat through tik tok videos to learn how it really feels to live with T2D and to pick out shared experiences or frustrations.
SEEING THE DOCTOR FOR ROUTINE CHECKUP OR FEELING UNWELL
TAKING THE A1C TO TEST BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS
GETTING THE DIAGNOSIS AND GENERAL BRIEFING
“SEE YOU IN THREE MONTHS” FOR A RE-EVALUATION LEAVING PEOPLE FEELING LOST AND ALONE
A TOUGH DIAGNOSIS
I noticed that for many people, the experience of getting diagnosed with T2D was a major sore point. Many remembered feeling shocked, overwhelmed, unsure about what to do next, and very much alone.
HANDOUTS FROM THE DOCTOR FEEL TOO DISPOSABLE AND ARE OFTEN TOSSED ON THE WAY OUT
MOBILE HEALTH APPS HAVE GREAT INFO AND FEATURES BUT CHOOSING FROM THE HUNDREDS OF APPS FEELS OVERWHELMING
EXISTING T2D SUPPORT
Before even beginning to think of a solution I needed to first look at what was currently out there to support people through a T2D diagnosis. What I found was that there really are not many resources available, so I began to expand my search into health and wellness kits, T1D support, and mental health tools.
T1D SUPPORT KITS AND HEALTH AND WELLNESS KITS WERE A GREAT POTENTIAL DESIGN PRECEDENT
DR. KURT HERZER, TRAINED PHYSICIAN, SPECIALIST IN HEALTHCARE POLICY, AND CURRENTLY STUDYING INDUSTRIAL DESIGN.
KEY INSIGHT: INTERVIEWING DR. KURT HERZER
Kurt Herzer is a trained physcian specializing in healthcare policy. We discussed everything from health insurance and the controversial origins of ‘pre-diabetes’ to his own personal experiences working at the hospital. Most importantly, he stressed the importance of acknowledging the ‘stages of change.' What this means is that every person reacts differently towards their diagnosis. Some feel ready to tackle change while others feel overwhelmed and resistant. Thus it is crucial to determine what type of resources and support are suited to each individual's needs.
STAGES ARE NOT LINEAR; DIFFERENT PEOPLE MEET THEIR DIAGNOSIS AT DIFFERENT STAGES AND PROGRESS THROUGH STAGES DIFFERENTLY TOO.
"I'VE GOT THIS"
"OKAY"
"HMMM"
"NO"
DESIGN OBJECTIVE
Provide support during the 3 month post-diagnosis period for those newly navigating T2D by helping them self-assess where they are in their journey and providing easy access to resources tailored to their needs.
SMALLER SCALE OF CHOCOLATE PACKAGING CREATES A PLEASANT EXPERIENCE THROUGH INTIMACY AND EXCITEMENT
LEARNING TO DESIGN EMPATHICALLY
To combat feelings of fear, confusion, and anxiety, it was important for this support kit to make individuals feel cared for, supported, and possibly empowered. I was heavily inspired by the design language of self-care and wellness kits who use bright colors which feel fun and cheerful. I also took inspiration from company on-boarding kits which help new employees navigate a big change by using friendly and inviting written language along with broken down pieces of information in the form of booklets, pamphlets, etc. An unexpected source of inspiration came from looking at chocolate bar packaging which make use of their smaller scale to create a sense of value and intimacy.
PHYSICAL AND DIGITAL INTERFACES
To combine both the presence and value of a physical kit and the convenience of a smartphone app, I decided to design both digital and physical interfaces that in tangent which each other.
MAPPING OUT THE DIGITAL INTERFACE INCLUDING A SELF-REFLECTION QUIZ AND RESOURCE FOLDER ACCESS
A PERSONALIZED JOURNEY
Using Figma, I mapped out a short quiz based on the stages of change concept to help users determine what resources best suit them. Based on their answers they are then guided to different resources which they have access to either though the app or by scanning a corresponding 'support card' which can be kept in a wallet, journal, or simply stored in the kit itself as a reminder of the progress they've made in their journey.
CARRYING VISUAL MOTIFS FROM DIGITAL INTERFACE INTO PHYSICAL INTERFACE AND USING SUPPORTIVE LANGUAGE
MY T2D SUPPORT KIT IN USE
The resulting product combines physical and digital interfaces to create a supportive and personalized kit that guides individuals through the first three months of a type 2 diabetes diagnosis.