brand designer @ usc
explorations
PENPOINT
A severe peanut allergy can lead to an anaphylactic attack within minutes, requiring immediate intervention.
On a busy Friday night, an individual at a restaurant accidentally ingests a peanut. The ambulance is estimated to arrive in 30 minutes—far too late to prevent a fatal outcome. Meanwhile, someone in a nearby restaurant may have had an EpiPen readily available, but the lack of communication or awareness leaves this life-saving resource unused.
Timeline
5 weeks
Role
Founder / Product Designer
Tools
Figma
PROblem
How Might We
"How might we design a tool that enables EpiPen users to efficiently communicate their need for an EpiPen and facilitate the sharing or transfer of one?"
Solution
Mobile Design
PenPoint is an app that connects EpiPen users using GPS tracking technology.
It exists to pinpoint EpiPens. Allowing for Good Samaritan acts where users can give their EpiPen in emergency situations.
research
Initial Problem Analysis
When it comes to sharing locations and distributing expensive healthcare products, achieving both legality and feasibility becomes significantly more challenging. My goal was to design a highly trustworthy experience where users could be easily reimbursed—or even rewarded—for their acts of goodwill.
Sharing your location with a stranger or getting into their car is not an entirely new concept. To better understand how to establish trust and safety in these scenarios, I began by studying location-based apps like Uber and Lyft.
Clear ride tracking provides users with a sense of security: Your ride is on the way!
Features like driver profile images and ratings build trust by offering transparency about who you're interacting with
Finally, the use of simple, saved payment methods ensures seamless transactions—a crucial convenience, especially in urgent situations
research
Feasibility + Legality
When it comes to sharing locations and distributing expensive healthcare products, achieving both legality and feasibility becomes significantly more challenging. My goal was to design a highly trustworthy experience where users could be easily reimbursed—or even rewarded—for their acts of goodwill.
Sharing your location with a stranger or getting into their car is not an entirely new concept. To better understand how to establish trust and safety in these scenarios, I began by studying location-based apps like Uber and Lyft.
Clear ride tracking provides users with a sense of security: Your ride is on the way!
Features like driver profile images and ratings build trust by offering transparency about who you're interacting with
Finally, the use of simple, saved payment methods ensures seamless transactions—a crucial convenience, especially in urgent situations
We created a very rough initial flow to begin architecting the app
We realized an important part of this app would be the notifications.
research
User Interviews
After conducting 10 interviews with potential users we recognized the purpose of the app was not instantly recognizable. To combat confusion I built out the landing page and navigation.
I then moved on to building out iterations of more mid to high fidelity flows. This encompassed branding and tone of the app.
"I would reorganize the landing page, I don't know why there are a lot of vertical lines, it looks like a data graph"
- Angela R. (USC)
"Maybe have the emergency button be at the center and made bigger?"
- Chris T. (UCLA Health Research)
"I think add more descriptions or clear iconography? I was a bit confused how to use the app."
- Mikaila W. (Eventbrite UX Designer)
We created a lo-fi mockup of initial screens which then implicated much of our final design strategy. A lot of common characteristics (bottom nav, login, account creation) of a normal UI were questioned in our design to accommodate for the
Solution
Iteration #2
Users wanted to see a more usable and accessible prototype where there would be
(A) A clear incentive to use the app
(B) An emergency flow
(A) Many users worried about the feasibility of the idea. We added an incentive flow to walks through the logistics of receiving or giving an EpiPen
(B) This emergency flow showcases a user looking for an EpiPen
Solution
Final Screens
Based on design critiques from industry professionals and insights gathered through user interviews, I sought to implement the following:
A progress bar to allow beneficiaries to clearly track the Good Samaritan's journey
A system to assess and ensure the integrity of the Good Samaritan
A strong visual hierarchy to effectively direct users to the emergency button
I finalized our app into three flows: Onboarding , Good Samaritan (Hero), and Beneficiary.
Onboarding Flow
App onboarding and tutorial. Requires insurance, medical, and bank information to ensure easy future use.
Good Samaritan (Hero) Flow
I wanted to gamify the experience for the giver. They would receive metrics on their response rate and delivery time. Over time these metrics would allow for givers to gain validity.
Beneficiary Flow
I used an off-red, rounded edges, and a sans-serif font for a calming UX during high-stress events. The emergency button is prominently placed for quick access, while a progress bar tracks the Good Samaritan's journey and rating for transparency.
Solution
Final Product
We ended the sprint on these last flows. Link to the Figma here
Onboarding Flow
Beneficiary Flow
Good Samaritan Flow
Solution
Key Metrics
After shipping the design of the app…
Predicted engagement increased 50%
Usage increased 30%
Solution
Takeaways
PenPoint was a great learning experience and I was grateful to have worked on it with such a lovely team. Over the course of 15 weeks we conducted 10 interviews, completed 5 rounds of design critiques, and shipped 3 high fidelity prototypes.
However, I recognized the full potential of the app wasn’t reached yet. Here’s a short list of items I wished I had been able to spend more time fleshing out:
The legality and feasibility of the app
How would children interact with the interface?
Could there be a children and parent collaboration mode?
How would a more succinct and trustworthy reimbursement flow look? Not over chat? Through a third-party platform?