BIJAVEDA
Personalized, Holistic Health App
Ayurveda, which finds its roots in India, is one of the oldest healing sciences. Using this system, Bijaveda Health App accesses your current imbalances and provides you with a health plan that meets you where you are right now. With the support of Ayurvedic approaches, body, mind and spirit can be brought into a state of balance, bringing harmony and wellness.
Overview
Finding support for all our individual needs is not easy. Bijaveda Health App is that solution that meets you right where you are every step of the journey.
BIJAVEDA is a health and wellness app based on the principles of Ayurveda. Users find the balance they are seeking through movement practices, diet, and routine to improve their overall health and wellbeing by aligning lifestyle choices with their unique constitutional type.
Role
UX Design, UI Design
Tools
Figma, Balsamiq,
Optimal Workshop, Miro
Duration
Six months
Routine
Create a sustainable system for your lifestyle.
Diet
Align your nutrition to your personal constitutional type.
Practice
Regulate your life through Yoga, Pranayama & Meditation.
Research
01
COMPETITORS
02
SURVEY
03
INTERVIEW
04
INSIGHTS
01 Competitive Analysis
It was important to learn about the competitors in order to know where opportunities lie. I looked at two apps: AyuRythm and My Ayurveda.
Overview: With the integration of sensor technology, AyuRythm measures 7 vitals. Based on the results, users are provided with personalized solutions. Some great information is offered that leads to user suggestions.
Downfalls: Not a wide array of offerings, and no health tracking.
My Ayurveda
Overview: My Ayurveda offers a well-rounded guide to the Ayurvedic lifestyle with recommendations for your Dosha, nutritional guidelines, history, and glossary.
Downfalls: This app is more educational and less interactive.
Areas of Opportunity
-
More variety of engaging practices.
-
Provide personalized suggestions based on the user's engagement history.
-
Progress tracking system.
-
Create a fresh, contemporary brand attractive to users looking for a professional experience.
-
Chat features.
02 Survey
Using an anonymous survey, I reached out to my target audience to ask them what they needed. 49 participants responded with feedback which provided me with a great initial snapshot of what users were looking for.
TAKEAWAYS
-
85% participants would like to create better habits and routine.
-
Majority participants were proactive caring for their health.
-
46% were in need of support outside regular routines.
-
65% reported to having interest in alternative medicine and/or healing practices.
-
67% participants were familiar with Ayurveda in varying degrees.
Sample data from the survey:
03 User Interviews
Three 1:1 interviews were conducted from the Bijaveda target audience to get to know the specific needs and motivations of users.
Goals
-
Find out what needs the user would like to satisfy by using a holistic health and wellness app.
-
Identify what users would like to achieve.
-
Determine if the user wants guidance to improve their routines in order to find more life balance and ease.
-
Find out what will motivate the user to continue engaging with this app.
-
Better understand what features and offerings users would like to utilize in this wellness app.
Quotes
"I feel like I don't really have time for myself."
"I'd love to figure out a way to do all the things I need to do, and not feel exhausted."
"I'd like a way to personalize my health routine and diet."
"I'm always jumping from one health fad to another."
Discoveries
Click image to enlarge
04 Key Research INsights !
Define the user
User Personas
Two user personas were created that were based from the user interviews. These personas assisted my decisions throughout the design process, creating user journeys, flows, and features.
Click through to see more!
User Journey maps
I created journey maps based on the user personas that illustrate the process users go through when completing a task.
Click through to see the more!
User flows
Flow #1
Select & Save Yoga Classes
Flow #2
Select & Save Recipes
Click image to enlarge
Sitemap
I starting my visualization with this sitemap. By creating a visual representation of the hierarchical structure, I was able to better understand how to create the layout for the app. With the assistance of a digital card sort tool, I asked users to organize topics into categories. The results from this study assisted to refine my sitemap even further, combining features that users thought should be together.
Click image to enlarge
low-fidelity / sign-up sequence
Mid-fidelity / onboarding sequence
Using Balsamiq, I wanted to get some quick and easy screens laid out. After I had some task flows and key features figured out, I then started to build out my design into Figma. Iterating continued as I moved from mid-fidelity to a more polished high-fidelity prototype.
Mid-fidelity / Search & save class (simplified)
Test
What's working & What isn't?
Usability testing helped to identify some issues users encountered as they navigated the different features of Bijaveda to complete tasks. While testing the prototype I measured the app's learnability, pinpointed errors, while assessing if the app was enjoyable to use and if it will add value to the business and/or customers who use it. This data helped inform changes made to improve the usability of Bijaveda.
Observations, Errors & Quotes
Click image to enlarge
Based on the usability tests I performed with six participants (P1-P6 illustrated above), I was able to glean a great deal of useful information. The resulting data was organized into observations, errors, and quotes using a Rainbow Spreadsheet method. The top five issues were identified based on the evidence from the usability testing. These issues were then addressed and alterations were made to the prototype.
Key Insights
-
Clarify practice navigation links.
-
Support through community engagement.
-
Limit and/or define technical jargon.
-
Need link to Google calendar.
-
Positive input for monthly tracker.
Refine / design iterations
From the usability testing, I received some vital feedback on many screens and made improvements based on the pain points that were identified.
The Dosha Quiz Results page is a great example of improvements along the iterative process. Based on user feedback, the Dosha Quiz Results page could benefit from being less text-heavy, and in turn easier to digest in a shorter time. I decided to add more images to help illustrate the information provided in order for users to remain interested and informed.
This page is a window into what this app is all about, empowering the user through knowledge. This is the first personalized experience the user has with Bijaveda after the onboarding experience and having taken the quiz. I wanted this page to be educational without being overwhelming.At this point the user either stays for a free trial or decides to move on.
4th iteration
3rd iteration
1st & 2nd iterations
high-fidelity Flows
Yoga Sequence
Book a Doctor Sequence
style guide (examples)
The design system for Bijaveda has been created to ensure a consistent and clear brand identity throughout the app. Here are some of the primary parts defining this product.
Palette
Typography
Icons
Buttons
Final Thoughts
NEXT STEPS
-
Learn more about what the users think and want.
-
Send the prototype through another round of usability testing.
-
Listen and then re-iterate.
I’ve received some very positive support for this theoretical project. It would be fun to place this prototype into the hands of potential stakeholders. Know anyone that would be of interest?
Next feature: From my first round of user interviews, there was interest in a community-based engagement tool. How can Bijaveda connect users through supportive groups via chat and other features?
Reflections
As much as I love having the freedom to make every decision, it is not easy. Being the sole designer, from vision to outcome, and each point along the way, has deepened my appreciation for working with others. I’m grateful for the connections and conversations with peers and mentors that have broadened my perspective and taken me out of my box. I’m more than excited to soon be working collaboratively with a team of awesome designers.
