Starboard

Context

Starboard was a solo project done to explore current problem spaces within mental healthcare, particularly why it was so difficult for mental health patients to find therapists. I spearheaded the UX/UI design process under the guidance of a senior design mentor.

Team

Irene X. (me) - Designer
Farid S. - Senior designer

Responsibilities

I was responsible for user research, brand design, UX/UI design, and usability testing. Senior designer Farid S. advised on my deliverables.

Timeline

March - June 2022

Problem

Navigation and support

Mental health patients have trouble finding therapists who are available and suit their preferences. Therapists are not always transparent with information, so users have to jump through hoops to contact them. Constant rejections make it difficult for patients to stay motivated to search.

Solution

Comprehensive search experience

Navigate search with filters

Filters help users quickly express their preferences for a therapist they feel most comfortable with.

Connect users with trusted friends

Users can request their close family and friends to become "trusted friends". If the user becomes inactive for a few months, Starboard will send email reminders to the trusted friend, suggesting that they encourage the user or help them search for a therapist.

Bookmarks and consultation requests

Users can bookmark therapists help them keep track of their progress, and can easily request a consultation to get in touch.

Describe mental health concerns

Users can type in symptoms and choose suggestions from Starboard. They can also read a description of a particular condition, helping them understand their concerns better.

90%

of users found Starboard to be easier to use and more elegant than Psychology Today, the leading therapist search website.

+26%

was the increase in task completion rate from the first usability test to the last.

Research

Options are limited

My white paper research showed that societal factors impact available resources.
A few key issues include:
‍
Availability: The demand for therapists exceeds the supply, so there are less available therapists.
Finances: Sessions can cost up to hundreds of dollars if patients don't have the right insurance.
Demographics: Many patients seek therapists with diverse backgrounds, which shrinks the available pool.

Competitive Analysis

Opaque and disjointed search experience

Upon looking into three current industry solutions, I found that search sites don't provide the transparency patients need.
‍
Sites didn't adequately display therapists' availability, and in some cases, users weren't able to request or schedule appointments. Users had to leave the website to do extra research and request consultations, making for a disjointed experience.

User Research

Need for credible support

The users I interviewed didn't fully understand their mental health conditions, and felt vulnerable reaching out to therapists when there was no transparency about availability.

At the same time, they more successful when they received support from credible sources like friends, family, and healthcare professionals.

Subheading 2

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