Fred Hutch Actify
I partnered with the Fred Hutch Cancer Research Center, first as a student and then as a UX Designer, to create a mobile application, Actify. Actify uses Behavioral Activation Therapy (BAT) methodologies to help people with mild to moderate depression.
Project Details
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Fred Hutch wanted to translate behavioral activation therapy (BAT) methodologies for depression into a mobile application with the long-term goal of helping people to quit smoking. We named it Actify.
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Duration: 7 month
Where: Fred Huch Cancer Research Institute
Team size: 3
Role: UX Designer
Tools: Sketch, Invision
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I made early conceptual wireframes, assisted in focus groups and usability studies, and iteratively created prototypes. I created design schemes for user flows and screen layouts.
I specifically focused on the scheduling and tracking aspects of the application as well as iconography. I conducted usability testing after design iterations. I also worked with my team to create the style guide and annotation deck for the final hand-off to development.
The What: Behavioral Activation Therapy
The target user groups for Actify are people with moderate depressive symptoms who could benefit from behavioral activation therapy (BAT). The four core components of the BAT app are 1) value identification, 2) evaluating daily mood, 3) activity monitoring, and 4) activity scheduling. Working with Fred Hutch, we took the foundations of BAT—traditionally an in-person therapy method—and made them major features of the application.
White boarding early ideas
Usability test with a low-fi prototype
Process
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Preliminary Research
Working with subject matter experts from Fred Hutch, we studied materials and secondary research on BAT. The team completed a competitive analysis looking at other therapy and goal tracking apps. Fred Hutch aided in hosting a seven-person focus group. In this focus group, we asked questions related to everyday tasks and dealing with depression as well as what kinds of existing tools and activities are the most helpful.
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Usability Testing and Rapid Prototyping
Usability testing was incorporated during multiple phases and stages of this project. Fred Hutch aided in arranging research participants and provided a usability testing facility. We did four rounds of testing. Initially, we worked with a low-fi prototype, and later with more advanced Invision prototypes that allowed for rapid iterations and A/B studies.
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Collaboration with Stakeholders
Our rapid prototyping was successful despite our compressed timeline because of collaboration with stakeholders. We met with product owners and BAT therapy specialists on a weekly basis to share findings, discuss features, and refine design ideas. We also had regular communication with the contracted development firm, making a detailed style guide and sitemap to support development hand-off.
Early Prototypes and Wireframes
Early Prototype Recording
Early Wireframe Iteration
Early Concept Sketches
Feature Brainstorming
Homescreen and Life Area Wireframe
Defining Values Wireframe
Final Screens and Site Map Examples
Final Home Screen Activity Wheel Design
Final Activity Tracking Design
Character and Messaging Example
Annotation Deck Example
Progress Annotations
Site Map
App Character Annotation
Color Style Guide Example
UI Style Guide Example
Final Designs
My work on Actify concluded when it began a clinical trial. Fred Hutch later secured more funding for Actify Future development and design focused more on smoking cessation. You can download the most recent version of Actify! here.