Overview

Distinct 1 Therapy is a counseling and mental health service provider offering remote and in-person therapy sessions. Specializing in a holistic approach, they empower clients to discover, heal, and thrive. Utilizing diverse therapeutic modalities and personalized sessions, Distinct 1 Therapy helps clients in overcoming challenges, fostering resilience, and living purposeful lives.

Challenge

Distinct 1 Therapy, as a new player in the therapy industry, faced the challenge of attracting and engaging new users on their website. They aimed to update their website to reflect professionalism and competitiveness in the market, especially compared to larger therapy platforms. Additionally, with the introduction of new therapy sessions to their practice, they sought to seamlessly integrate these offerings into their website for better user accessibility and understanding.

Clients Goal:

• Revamp all website pages for a fresh look and improved functionality.

• Integrate new pages for therapy services

• Enhance visitor engagement to increase website traffic.

• Ensuring content that avoids evoking any potentially distressful emotions.

• Optimizing website accessibility for all users.

Solution

The solution involved a comprehensive redesign of all webpages to achieve a modern, professional look and improved navigation. New sections for different therapy services were seamlessly integrated, expanding service offerings. Interactive elements and engaging content were added to increase visitor engagement, while sensitivity to emotional triggers ensured a supportive environment. Accessibility features; were optimized for inclusivity.

Process

Role

Tools

Duration

• Discovery

• Ideation

• Design

• Reflection

• UX/UI Designer

• UX Researcher

• Figma

• Fig Jam

• Wix

• Google forms

• Zoom

• 5 Months

1

2

3

4

Discovery

Kick-Off Call

During the kickoff call, we delved into understanding their aspirations and challenges. The team at Distinct 1 Therapy sought to revitalize their online presence to attract and engage new users effectively. Their primary objectives were to modernize the website, introduce new sections for their services, and enhance visitor engagement. Additionally, they emphasized the importance of avoiding content that might evoke distressful emotions and ensuring optimal accessibility for all users. This deep dive into their goals allowed us to lay the groundwork for our collaborative journey towards achieving their vision.

Questions for the Client

During the initial stages of the project, I delved into understanding the unique identity and goals of Distinct 1 Therapy. As the sole designer, my primary focus was to gather comprehensive insights to inform the design process effectively. Through detailed discussions and thorough research, I aimed to grasp Distinct 1 Therapy's positioning within the therapy industry, its target audience, and its overarching objectives.

By asking targeted questions (18) tailored to the client's needs, I sought to uncover key information about their desired brand image, the types of therapy sessions offered, and their expectations for the website's functionality and user experience. This proactive approach allowed me to lay a solid foundation for the design process and ensured alignment between the client's vision and the project's outcomes.

Heuristic Evaluation

Utilizing Jakob's Ten Usability Heuristics as my guiding framework, I conducted a heuristic evaluation to assess the usability of the interface thoroughly. Throughout the evaluation process, it became evident that adherence to consistency and standards, outlined in Heuristic 4, presented significant challenges. A total of 7 errors were identified in this area, highlighting inconsistencies and deviations from established design patterns.

Additionally, notable discrepancies were observed in Heuristic 2, "Match between system and the real world," and Heuristic 1, "Visibility of system status." These sections accounted for a considerable number of errors, indicating issues with system feedback and the alignment of interface elements with users' mental models.

Upon completion of the heuristic evaluation, a total of 22 usability problems were documented. These findings underscored the importance of addressing critical issues related to consistency, real-world mapping, and system feedback to enhance the overall user experience effectively.

Competitive Analysis

Our extensive user research and competitive analysis provided valuable insights that informed our design strategy. By examining industry leaders like BetterHelp Alma and SonderMind, we identified key trends and best practices that shaped our approach to crafting a standout user experience.

Here are the key takeaways from our research and analysis:

• Simplicity in Design: We observed that all three platforms prioritize simplicity in their design approach. By keeping interfaces clean and uncluttered, users can easily navigate the site and find the information they need without feeling overwhelmed.

• Consistent Use of Colors and Styles: Consistency in visual elements such as colors, fonts, and styles is evident across all three platforms. This consistent branding creates a cohesive and professional appearance, reinforcing the brand identity and instilling trust in users.

• Aesthetic Fluidity: Each platform employs an aesthetically pleasing layout that promotes fluid navigation and seamless user interactions. By organizing information logically and prioritizing user-friendly design, these platforms ensure a positive user experience that encourages engagement and exploration.

By integrating these key insights into our design process, we aim to create a visually appealing and user-friendly landing page that effectively communicates our client's brand identity and values. Our goal is to deliver an intuitive and engaging user experience that resonates with our target audience and drives meaningful interactions with the platform.

Ideation

User Stories

In redesigning the therapist website, I employed user stories to understand user needs and preferences deeply. These stories guided the design process, ensuring every aspect of the website catered to specific user goals. Additionally, they facilitated collaboration among the design team and stakeholders, resulting in a website that delivers a seamless user experience aligned with user expectations.

User Flows

User flows played a pivotal role in the redesign of the website, serving as a blueprint to streamline user interactions and enhance the overall user experience. By mapping out user journeys, I was able to identify key touchpoints and design intuitive pathways for users to achieve their goals effectively.

Utilizing five distinct user flows, including guiding first-time users to easily navigate through therapy services, providing detailed therapist profiles for informed decision-making, facilitating seamless appointment scheduling for returning clients, offering access to mental wellness resources through articles and blogs, and enabling easy contact with the company or therapist, I ensured that the website catered to diverse user needs and preferences.

These user flows helped prioritize features and functionalities, ultimately resulting in a website that promotes accessibility, engagement, and empowerment for all users.

Low-Fi Wireframes

Low-fidelity wireframes were instrumental in the development of the therapy website, serving as a foundational framework to visualize the layout and structure of the site's key pages and features. These wireframes provided a simplified representation of the website's interface, focusing on essential elements such as content placement, navigation flow, and functionality without the distraction of visual design elements.

By creating low-fi wireframes, I was able to iterate quickly and collaborate effectively with stakeholders to refine the user experience before investing time and resources into high-fidelity design. This approach allowed for early feedback and adjustments, ensuring that the final website design met user needs and business goals efficiently.

Mid-Fi Wireframes

By creating mid-fi wireframes, I was able to refine the layout and aesthetics of the website, ensuring coherence and consistency across all pages. Additionally, mid-fi wireframes facilitated collaboration with stakeholders by offering a clearer visualization of the final design direction, enabling informed feedback and iteration before proceeding to the high-fidelity design phase.

This approach helped streamline the design process and ensured that the final website design effectively met user needs and business objectives.

Design

Style Guide

Creating a comprehensive style guide was necessary to the development of Distinct 1 Therapy's website, ensuring consistency and coherence in design elements across all pages. In crafting the style guide, I paid meticulous attention to detail, selecting colors, typography, and visual elements that resonated with the brand's ethos and catered to the sensitivities of users seeking therapy.

To avoid triggering negative emotions, particularly for vulnerable users, I consciously opted for icons and images depicting objects rather than faces, maintaining a neutral and reassuring tone throughout the website. Additionally, I chose colors that evoke trust and professionalism, such as various shades of green, white, grays, and black, to instill a sense of calm and reliability.

By adhering to the guidelines outlined in the style guide, I ensured that the website's design fostered a supportive and welcoming environment, conducive to the therapeutic journey of its users.

High-Fidelity Screens

High-fidelity wireframes were instrumental in shaping the development of Distinct 1 Therapy's website, serving as a comprehensive guide for the final design implementation. These wireframes, enriched with actual content, imagery, and interactive features, provided stakeholders with a vivid depiction of the user interface, aiding informed decision-making.

Through iterative refinement and feedback cycles, we meticulously adjusted design elements to seamlessly align with the brand identity and user experience goals. Maintaining consistent communication with the client was paramount throughout the process, as we engaged in regular feedback loops to incorporate their insights and preferences into successive iterations. This collaborative approach ensured that the design evolved in accordance with the client's vision, resulting in a website that not only met but exceeded their expectations.

Ultimately, the utilization of high-fidelity wireframes empowered us to deliver a polished, user-centric website that effectively catered to the needs of Distinct 1 Therapy's audience.

Reflection

Crafting a Compassionate Digital Experience

Reflecting on my experience working on the Distinct 1 Therapy website, I am proud of the strides made in crafting a digital platform that truly resonates with users seeking mental health support.

Throughout this project, I've had the privilege of leveraging my UX/UI design expertise and healthcare background to create a space that is not only visually appealing but also deeply empathetic and intuitive. Collaborating closely with the client, I was able to translate their vision into reality, ensuring that every design element served a purpose in enhancing user interactions and fostering a sense of trust and connection. This project has reinforced the importance of empathy-driven design, as we strive to empower individuals on their journey towards mental wellness.

As I look back on this endeavor, I am reminded of the profound impact that thoughtful design can have on people's lives, and I am grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of this transformative process.

Looking Forward

Moving forward, I am eager to continue honing my skills as a UX/UI designer and applying them to create more empathetic and impactful digital experiences. I look forward to exploring new challenges, collaborating with passionate teams, and making a positive difference in the lives of users through thoughtful and user-centric design.

Thank you for reading my case study!