DEXTER

Problem Statement

 How might we streamline mealtime management for parents and caregivers of children who have type 1 diabetes? 

Challenge

• Create an innovative design experience of your choice in the healthcare technology track

• Solve a current problem in the healthcare field utilizing the main pillars of the design process including user research, persona formation, wireframing, prototyping, and usability testing

• Within six weeks develop a sound product demo and business pitch to share with a panel of judges to win money to further build out your team’s venture

User Research

The focus of Dexter is to simplify mealtime management into one seamless app, where caregivers can access real-time glucose data, calculate insulin doses, build homemade recipes, save favorite meals, and track carbs with ease. With Dexter, we aim to restore peace of mind and bring back the joy of mealtime for families navigating type 1 diabetes.

First, we conducted research to gain a better understanding of what pain points our potential users face pertaining to mealtime management and insulin dosage. We conducted a survey and received 25 responses in total.

We asked: What are the primary challenges you face caring for a pediatric patient with type 1 diabetes?

We did an affinity map of the survey responses and the quotes above represented frequent sentiments in relation to caregiver’s experiences caring for pediatric patients with type 1 diabetes.

Personas

After conducting our user research, we created a primary and secondary persona. Our primary persona, Susan, had needs that surrounded having an application that integrated CGM data in real time, had a database of new and frequently created meals, and carb counting/tracking to name a few. Our secondary persona, Austin, is Susan’s child who had frustrations and needs of his own. Austin struggles with his new diagnosis, adjusting to a different lifestyle, and managing the expectations his mother has for him and his health.

Competitive Analysis

In developing Dexter, we conducted a competitive analysis of three popular type 1 diabetes management apps:

• MySugr

• CalorieKing

• MyFitnessPal

While these apps offer helpful tools, none fully meet the complex needs of caregivers managing pediatric type 1 diabetes. We identified a gap: caregivers need a comprehensive tool that addresses all aspects of mealtime management. We created Dexter to be that solution.

Low-fidelity Wireframes

After gathering insights from users and identifying Dexter’s unique value add in terms of features, I started sketching frames that encompassed all new information we gained.

Design Solutions

• Recipe Builder and Food Logger: snap pictures of ingredients, input measurements, and allow Dexter to calculate the total carbs in any homemade meal.

• Extensive Food Database for Accurate Carb Counting: includes a comprehensive food database, covering restaurant items, fast food, and store-bought products. 

• Simplified Insulin Dosage Calculator: For mealtime dosing, caregivers can easily add the meal’s carbohydrate content either manually or from our food log and recipe builder.

• Low BG Corrections: log and save effective low BG correction options, like 8 ounces of orange juice or 4 glucose tabs. 

App Demo

Learnings & Takeaways

• Do not lean on your original assumptions – after research and customer discovery take what you have learned and implement it. In the beginning, my team and I assumed that our users wanted all these features and from combing through our data during affinity mapping we realized that they don’t care about certain features we deemed as important. They had larger pain points they wanted addressed.

• Gather feedback throughout each iteration of the product. Opening the floor to constructive criticism in the beginning will allow you to find any use cases you missed.

• When pitching to business stakeholders lead with impact and solidify your narrative for a seamless delivery.