The Haven app is a conceptual prototype I created during my 6-month long capstone project for my UX certification program.
The Problem
Haven is an app that helps connect people to quality mental health professionals who align with their preferences, solving a need for millions of users in the United States.
My Role
I was in charge of executing the full life cycle of the product. The work flow included:
- Market Research and Competitive Analysis
- User Research
- Solution Ideation
- Information Architecture
- Wireframing
- UI Prototyping
- Usability Testing
- Presenting to Stakeholder
The Approach
To design the Haven App, I used the insights I gained from user research (e.g. secondary research, competitive analysis, user interviews, synthesis methods). For example, I had identified the following as being roadblocks in the help-seeking process: affordability, accessibility, flexibility, expertise, diversity (of both the individual and the demographic they serve), empathy, and communication; and I used this knowledge strategically to dictate what features the app would have. I predicted if I could satisfy or appeal to each of these areas, I would succeed in helping connect people with the right therapist for them.
The Solution
The Takeaway
If Haven were an available mobile app, I am confident that it would assist users in their hunt for the perfect therapist; many user testing participants responded positively to the app’s precise manual search filters and detailed therapist profiles. However, there are a few things I would have done differently. For example, I would have limited the scope at the beginning. It being my first UX project, I didn’t know how long it would take to wireframe and prototype. I initially planned for more features in the MVP than were actually delivered, such as a Favorites screen so that users could keep track of which therapists caught their attention.