Path to Well-Being:
A Design Journey into AbleTo's Sessions

Description

As the product designer leading AbleTo's Sessions feature, I was responsible for reimagining the digital experience that empowers users to seamlessly manage their mental health telehealth services. Sessions serves as a centralized hub where users can view upcoming appointments, reschedule or cancel sessions, and schedule new ones. Additionally, the feature enables direct in-app communication between users and their healthcare providers, fostering a more connected and supportive experience on the path to well-being.

Role

Product discovery, concept testing, UX research, end-to-end designing, user testing, handoff and support

What's the problem?

To effectively address the challenges at hand, a comprehensive understanding of the existing problems and pain points was essential. Starting with an in-depth review of current research, enabling the identification of trends, user preferences, and industry best practices. User interviews shed light on usability obstacles, communication hurdles, and scheduling difficulties that needed to be tackled by the Sessions feature.

Furthermore, close collaboration with stakeholders allowed us to integrate their specific needs and expectations, aligning the design process with both user and business objectives. This holistic approach ensured that the ensuing design decisions were informed by real-world challenges and needs, paving the way for an impactful solution.

Exploration

In order to create an effective solution, I took a pragmatic approach. I researched similar digital experiences and industry best practices to gain insights that could guide my design process. Utilizing our existing design system ensured consistency and streamlined efficiency.

To refine my design direction, I presented potential solutions to my design manager, benefiting from their feedback and ensuring alignment with project goals. This collaborative effort enabled me to design a user-centered Sessions feature that effectively addressed user needs within the project's scope.

Sandbox

Throughout the iterative design process, I embraced the notion that being messy initially can lead to refined solutions later on. This approach allowed me to explore various ideas and concepts without the constraint of perfection, fostering a creative environment where innovation could flourish. Leveraging inspiration from both internal and external sources, as well as drawing on established best practices, served as a compass for my design decisions.

While navigating through these iterations, I remained committed to making informed creative choices based on user feedback, usability tests, and our understanding of the behavioral health tech landscape. This strategic blend of experimentation and insight-driven refinement culminated in a design that not only met user expectations but also effectively addressed the complexities of the behavioral health tech ecosystem.

Crit, test, present, and repeat

To ensure the quality and usability of the evolving designs, we have a collaborative atmosphere within the design team, regularly seeking and incorporating feedback. This internal critique process was instrumental in identifying blind spots, uncovering potential improvements, and refining my design solutions. Subsequently, I conducted rigorous user testing sessions, allowing me to validate my design assumptions and gather real-world insights. Armed with user feedback, I presented the designs to stakeholders, engaging in meaningful discussions that integrated their perspectives and refined my approach.

This iterative cycle of design, critique, testing, and stakeholder engagement is a cornerstone of my process, enabling me to steadily enhance the Sessions feature. Through multiple rounds of refinement, I meticulously polished our designs, ensuring they not only aligned with user needs but also resonated with stakeholder expectations. This process ultimately yielded a cohesive and user-friendly Sessions feature that seamlessly integrated into the AbleTo product suite.

Handoff and support

As the design phase culminated, my focus shifted to ensuring a seamless transition from design to implementation. With a meticulous handoff file detailing design specifications, interactions, and assets, I provided engineering teams with the necessary resources for a smooth build process. Embracing an Agile workflow, I maintained an active presence during daily scrum meetings, collaborating closely with developers to address any design-related queries, provide clarifications, and offer support throughout the implementation journey.

This symbiotic relationship between design and engineering ensured that the envisioned user experience was brought to life with precision and fidelity, resulting in a Sessions feature that seamlessly realized its intended purpose.