Mobile App Design
Rewire Your Brain
At-A-Glance
‘Dopago’ is a CBT-based psychotherapy app designed for modern day people who are living in a time of unprecedented access to instant gratifications, high-dopamine stimuli. Dopago aims to induce adequate level of dopamine for each individuals allowing them to have a pleasurable rehab journey.
Solo Project
My Role
Product Design - user research, visual design
Timeline
Dec 2022 - Jan 2023
Tools
Figma, Miro
Starting thoughts…
We are now all addicts to a degree
As a curious observer of human nature, I've noticed many of my peers are struggling with minor addictions that prevent them from focusing on their main goals in life.
SOLUTION
Make the journey pleasurable
During my research, I discovered that simply abstaining from addictive behavior alone is not a long-term solution. To rewire the reward circuit, it's necessary to plan carefully for inducing the right amount of dopamine for each individual and to use techniques that trick the brain into maintaining motivation.
Your AI Therapists
Dopago provides 24/7 support, whether you want to chat casually about your day, engage in interactive CBT sessions, or even discuss your musical preferences.
Track, Prevent, Conquer
Track your dopamine level by logging your daily activities. Learn from your recent setbacks. Defeat your addiction.
Gamify your journey
The more you engage with your therapist, accomplish your daily tasks and classes, and take quizzes, the greater the rewards you can earn.
01. DISCOVER
What should we focus on to help people recover from addiction?
Secondary Research
Starting with white paper research, I began to understand the mechanism behind the addiction. Also, I stumbled upon a very interesting social trend that is worth looking to get good context and insights.
"Okay, now I understand that dopamine is the key to addiction, and people are attempting to abstain from activities that trigger its release. Why is this trend so popular and controversial? Let's hear them out!"
Screener Survey
While looking at above results, I became curious about the factors that might contribute to the controversial opinions during the dopamine detox process. Firstly, I conducted screeners to gather general statistics and identify suitable interviewees.
Respondents
22.4
AGE
72%
Addicted to certain categories
3.1
Severity
(out of 5)
Internet
Top category
61%
Tried dopamine fasting or similar kind
83%
Failed to get out of addiction
"It's concerning that many young people are struggling with moderate addiction to specific activities, and over 60% of them have attempted self-treatment without success. I'm curious about their reasons for self-guided therapy and the factors that contributed to their success or failure."
User Interview
Interviewees
Throughout the screener, I was able to select 7 interviewees who have tried either self-guided therapy or in-person therapy.
"Recognizing one's addiction and seeking treatment before it reaches a severe state seem crucial. Unfortunately, ineffective self-guided treatments often worsen the symptoms, ultimately leading to in-person therapy with medication which costs more time and resources."
Expert Interview
I thought making an app that affects people's mental health cannot be done without expert's verification. Therefore, I conducted a final round of interview with a neuroscientist from a university to obtain additional insights and scientific evidence behind the behavior observed from user interview.
"The public's misunderstanding of dopamine has led them to use scientifically unproven treatment methods, resulting in a state of dopamine deficiency. By using CBT treatment methods, it is possible to effectively regulate dopamine levels and recover from addiction in a healthy manner."
Competitor Analysis
I started off by monitoring direct and indirect competitors that provide similar concepts to my product: treatment, motivation, and monitoring. By doing so, I was able to gather ideas and solutions for improving the user experience by implementing different features.
No community feature
Doctor appointment unavailable
Lack of follow-ups
CBT based treatment
Emotional Design (Therapeutic animations, motions, writings)
Some feel its overly gamified
not suitable for serious learners
The reward system (badges, xp, streak…)
Feedback from animation (not to get confused or get lost)
Painless account creation
No treatments provided
High cognitive load
Motivating quotes, challenges, etc
Online therapy
Active communities (get help 24/7)
Dated interface design
Onboarding takes forever
Long-term habit forming process
Accountability Buddy
Built and supported by experts
Prioritization Matrix
I used a 2 x 2 prioritization matrix to categorize the needs based on users' necessity and priority. Then, I decided on the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) features for the product.
Must Have
Necessary for the product
Computer based, interactive CBT
Emotional, playful design
Supportive communities
Comprehensive track dashboard
Gamify for keeping up motivation
Should Have
Significant in the long run
Interactive courses / lessons
Personalized recommendation of treatments
24/7 support
Expert's coach
Could Have
Slightly increase product's worth
Journey
Online therapy
Challenge feature
Accountability buddy
Won't Have
Can be ignored for now
Education Videos
Article search
Research Synthesis
After having done the user and desk research, I synthesized the data and insights to find seven pain points that are crucial for users to success.
PAIN POINTS
Staying motivated
Interactive communication
Not professionally proven methods
Difficult to understand complicated mechanism of addiction
Lack of active communities / emotional support
Time & Cost of in-person therapy
Subject to fall in dopamine deficiency
Can't visually track their addiction state
Don't know how to replace bad habits with productive routines
Negative emotional state
Dopamine imbalance
In-person therapy appointment
Based on the user pain points and the finding from the research, I narrowed them down to the critical criteria I need to focus on.
KEY INSIGHTS
Effective Treatment
Users seek support from scientifically proven methods that are both time and cost-effective. Users also want to reach out when they feel they need help.
To address our users' needs, we will implement AI-powered therapists developed by experts, offering round-the-clock interactive communication and emotional support.
Interactive Communication
A limitation of self-guided therapy is that it often lacks two-way communication, which can result in people feeling isolated and demotivated.
To address our users' needs, we will offer interactive therapy sessions and courses, supportive online communities, and personalized one-on-one therapy sessions for individuals struggling with more severe addiction.
Right Amount of Dopamine
Inducing right amount of dopamine is crucial to keep one motivated and doesn't fall into negative emotional states.
To address our users' needs, we will incorporate gamification, dopamine level tracking, and a task management system, creating a positive feedback loop through a steady flow of dopamine.
02. EMPATHIZE
Understanding users' needs and pain points
User Persona & Journey Map
Based on the research findings, I have prioritized the MZ generation who exhibit addiction to specific categories as our primary target audience.
How might we motivate people to stay on track DURING their recovery process?
03. IDEATE
Helping users achieve their goal easily.
Crazy 8s
After having done the research and narrowing down to a few MVPs, I started sketching ideas on a paper divided by 8 containers. Allocating one minute per container, I could come up with various ideas and solutions for my product.
Hybrid Card Sorting
Unmoderated hybrid card sorting was conducted to create an Information Architecture that meets user expectations.
Participants
Information Architecture
Based on the previous hybrid card sorting, I created an Information Architecture that meets user expectations.
04. PROTOTYPE
Bringing values to the users
Lo-Fi Wireframing
I produced wireframes for multiple design variations for testing and feedback.
Visual Style
I created a visual identity that fits my product's identity
Design System
I implemented the design system using the Atomic Design methodology. To start, I built a catalog of tokens such as patterns, colors, text styles, icons, and grid systems. This provided me with a set of design guidelines that promote a consistent design language
Usability Testing
I conducted a usability test with five users in my target demographic using the prototype to see how user friendly the service is.
PAIN POINTS
"Like" button in doctor profile is hard to reach.
Alert section in track is not visually highlighting.
"See all" feature not align with other pages in doctor's post screen.
POSITIVE FEEDBACK
Video chat feature with AI Therapist looks excellent example to apply NLP tech.
Prevent setback by expected trigger trend is a brilliant idea.
The idea that users can earn rewards by positive interaction and customize their cute AIs are perfect for those dopamine burst loop.
Implementing Feedback
Before
After
Put the "like" button where comfort reachability can be achieved.
Gave the setback alert tab more contrast for visually alarming.
High Fidelity Design
Interactive Communication
The key to making the AI treatment effective is by creating an interactive experience where the AI can respond directly to you. To make it even more engaging, consider hopping on a video chat with an AI therapist – it's the next best thing to having them right there with you!
Real-Time Design
Users can now enjoy a more immersive therapy experience with the real-time design of the therapy space. The color scheme seamlessly transitions throughout the day, mimicking the natural beauty of a sunrise and sunset. This real-time design helps create a more in-person feel, allowing users to fully immerse themselves in the therapeutic experience.
Get Experts' Advice
Accessing expert articles and seeking medical advice has never been easier. Whether you're simply curious about a certain topic or have concerns about your symptoms, you can easily connect with experts through online chats or by scheduling virtual appointments.
Track Every Aspects
Our platform makes it a breeze for users to track whatever matters most to them. Simply prioritize your goals and tailor your tracking experience using our visually stunning infographics. Our intuitive system allows you to effortlessly monitor your progress, giving you a clear understanding of how far you've come and how much further you need to go.
05. REFLECTION
How can I improve the service?
What I Learned
#1. Research, research, research
Some of my colleagues said I should spend less time in the research process, but honestly, I recognized the more I put effort in research, the better quality could be achieved. I like how my design was able to include much more in-depth understanding of users' pain points that were key to defining the problem scope.
#2. Prioritize target audience
When I first design the app, I was distracted by too much information provided by wide range of voices. Therefore, I tried to satisfy all the users' needs and that's the point I lost to make decisions. I learned prioritizing the most concerned and overlapped problem is crucial to take further steps in design process.
#3. Testing early and often
It would've taken much longer and subjected me to fall in bias if I struggled to make decisions by myself. Luckily, I was able to test my deliverables with wonderful designers and got objective feedbacks that kept me on track.
Next Step
#1. Enhance rewards system
In the app, users can earn gems as a reward and spend them to customize their characters to keep them motivated. This reward system was built for my target audience, the millennials. However, I came to realize that it may not satisfy wider user groups. In this case, I believe a couple of reward options such as growing plants or building a farm would provide more therapeutic effects for users.
#2. Extend trackability with wearable devices
Currently, the app can track and predict behavior only if users manually enter their activities. However, considering that some users do not have enough natural willpower to do so, it may not be the best option. It would be powerful if the app could detect the user's behavior with the motion sensor of the wearable devices and alarm the user who is about to have a setback.
CRAFT
CONTACT
Read.cv
© 2024 Jay Park. All Rights Reserved.
Made with 🩶 and Strawberry Matcha Lattes (120% sugar, less ice).
