Healy: A medication tracker built for real caregiving complexity
COMPANY
Concept project
ROLE
Product Designer
PLATFORM
iOS App
YEAR
2025
Healy: A medication tracker built for real caregiving complexity
COMPANY
Concept project
ROLE
Product Designer
PLATFORM
iOS App
YEAR
2025
Healy: A medication tracker built for real caregiving complexity
COMPANY
Concept project
ROLE
Product Designer
PLATFORM
iOS App
YEAR
2025
Project description
Managing medication sounds simple until it isn't. A parent tracking their child's allergy treatment while also managing a spouse's chronic condition. A young adult with MS navigating refills, injections, and appointments across multiple doctors. The reality of medication adherence is messy, personal, and often invisible to app designers. Healy is a concept iOS app I designed to address this complexity — helping users schedule doses, manage multiple patients, and stay motivated throughout treatment, all within a minimal, approachable interface.
Managing medication sounds simple until it isn't. A parent tracking their child's allergy treatment while also managing a spouse's chronic condition. A young adult with MS navigating refills, injections, and appointments across multiple doctors. The reality of medication adherence is messy, personal, and often invisible to app designers. Healy is a concept iOS app I designed to address this complexity — helping users schedule doses, manage multiple patients, and stay motivated throughout treatment, all within a minimal, approachable interface.
The challenge
Most medication apps are built for a single user with a simple regimen. But research showed that a significant portion of real users are caregivers — managing schedules for children, elderly parents, or partners alongside their own treatment.
The design challenge was twofold: handle genuine complexity without creating a complex interface, and make a health tool that feels supportive rather than clinical.
Most medication apps are built for a single user with a simple regimen. But research showed that a significant portion of real users are caregivers — managing schedules for children, elderly parents, or partners alongside their own treatment.
The design challenge was twofold: handle genuine complexity without creating a complex interface, and make a health tool that feels supportive rather than clinical.
Research & discovery
I interviewed 5 participants aged 25–60, each managing different medication needs — from chronic conditions like MS and heart disease to short-term treatments and seasonal allergies. Alongside user interviews, I conducted a competitive analysis of Medisafe, MyTherapy, Apple Health, Flo, and Redcare.
I interviewed 5 participants aged 25–60, each managing different medication needs — from chronic conditions like MS and heart disease to short-term treatments and seasonal allergies. Alongside user interviews, I conducted a competitive analysis of Medisafe, MyTherapy, Apple Health, Flo, and Redcare.
Three personas emerged that drove all design decisions:
Maria, 26 — Chronic MS Managing her own injections around travel constraints, refill bureaucracy, and multiple specialists. Needs reminders not just for doses, but for the entire surrounding admin process.
Michael, 40 — Caregiver + patient Tracking his father's critical heart medication and his own blood pressure simultaneously. The risk of confusion between profiles isn't inconvenient — it's dangerous.
Bianca, 32 — Parent Managing her child's seasonal allergy treatment with her own vitamin regimen. Needs proactive, not reactive reminders — treatment should start before symptoms appear.
Key research constraints I had to design around:
Chronic condition users have established routines; acute illness users need much more flexibility
Not every condition has a clear "completion" — depression, for example, may require mood tracking long after medication ends
Health topics are sensitive — recruiting honest research participants required careful framing
Research & discovery
Gathered insights on user pain points (like managing multiple family profiles and tracking varied medication regimens), and benchmarked competitors.
Ideation & concept development
Defined a minimalist, neumorphic visual language that meets the client’s need for a clean, non-overloaded interface while emphasizing key interactions.
Research & Discovery
Gathered insights on user pain points (like managing multiple family profiles and tracking varied medication regimens), and benchmarked competitors.
UX design & user flows
Mapped out detailed user journeys (e.g., adding new medication, error handling for expired drugs, switching profiles) through comprehensive wireframes and interactive prototypes.
Iteration & final delivery
Refined high-fidelity screens based on testing and feedback, finalized the UI kit, and documented the process for a cohesive, ready-to-present project.
Research & discovery
Gathered insights on user pain points (like managing multiple family profiles and tracking varied medication regimens), and benchmarked competitors.
Ideation & concept development
Defined a minimalist, neumorphic visual language that meets the client’s need for a clean, non-overloaded interface while emphasizing key interactions.
Research & Discovery
Gathered insights on user pain points (like managing multiple family profiles and tracking varied medication regimens), and benchmarked competitors.
UX design & user flows
Mapped out detailed user journeys (e.g., adding new medication, error handling for expired drugs, switching profiles) through comprehensive wireframes and interactive prototypes.
Iteration & final delivery
Refined high-fidelity screens based on testing and feedback, finalized the UI kit, and documented the process for a cohesive, ready-to-present project.
Maria
Maria
Chronic multiple sclerosis
Chronic multiple sclerosis
26 years old
26 years old
Persona 1
“When I’m traveling or my doctor isn’t available, having everything in one place—from timely reminders to all my essential documents—would make managing my condition so much easier.”
Refill & bureaucracy
Maria struggles with the complex, multi-step process of obtaining free medication. She needs timely reminders not only for taking my medicine, but also for scheduling doctor appointments, tracking the status of approvals, and managing all related tasks seamlessly.
Maria struggles with the complex, multi-step process of obtaining free medication. She needs timely reminders not only for taking my medicine, but also for scheduling doctor appointments, tracking the status of approvals, and managing all related tasks seamlessly.
Medical records
Consolidate prescriptions, certifications, and vital documents in one easily accessible place. This ensures she can quickly present all the necessary evidence of her condition to any new doctor or specialist, without scrambling for paperwork.
Consolidate prescriptions, certifications, and vital documents in one easily accessible place. This ensures she can quickly present all the necessary evidence of her condition to any new doctor or specialist, without scrambling for paperwork.
Travel constraints
Must plan injections around refrigeration requirements, often worrying about scheduling in new environments.
Must plan injections around refrigeration requirements, often worrying about scheduling in new environments.
Michael
Michael
Manages his father’s serious heart condition and his own blood pressure
Manages his father’s serious heart condition and his own blood pressure
40 years old
40 years old
Persona 2
Persona 2
“When I’m juggling my father’s critical heart meds and my own blood pressure pills, having one place to track it all—schedules, doses, and refills—would relieve so much stress.”
“When I’m juggling my father’s critical heart meds and my own blood pressure pills, having one place to track it all—schedules, doses, and refills—would relieve so much stress.”
Multi-patient management
Multi-patient management
Must easily switch between his father’s medication schedule and his own to avoid confusion or missed doses.
Must easily switch between his father’s medication schedule and his own to avoid confusion or missed doses.
Overdue alerts
Overdue alerts
Worries about forgetting a refill or a critical dose, especially for his father’s heart medication, which could have serious consequences.
Worries about forgetting a refill or a critical dose, especially for his father’s heart medication, which could have serious consequences.
Expiration date monitoring
Expiration date monitoring
Dmitri has heard cautionary stories about expired medications causing complications. He wants the app to alert him when a medication is nearing its expiration, ensuring that all treatments remain safe and effective.
Dmitri has heard cautionary stories about expired medications causing complications. He wants the app to alert him when a medication is nearing its expiration, ensuring that all treatments remain safe and effective.
Bianca
Bianca
Child with seasonal allergies; parent’s own short-term vitamin regimen
Child with seasonal allergies; parent’s own short-term vitamin regimen
32 years old
32 years old
Persona 3
Persona 3
“With my child's allergy meds needed as pollen season nears and my own vitamin regimen in place, I need a smart reminder system that prompts us to start preventive treatment before symptoms hit.”
“With my child's allergy meds needed as pollen season nears and my own vitamin regimen in place, I need a smart reminder system that prompts us to start preventive treatment before symptoms hit.”
Early intervention
Early intervention
Many parents overlook the importance of starting allergy treatment before symptoms worsen. Anna needs proactive alerts to begin medication early, preventing sleep loss and academic disruptions for her child.
Many parents overlook the importance of starting allergy treatment before symptoms worsen. Anna needs proactive alerts to begin medication early, preventing sleep loss and academic disruptions for her child.
Multi-profile management
Multi-profile management
With her child’s allergy schedule and her own temporary vitamin regimen, she requires an intuitive interface to manage both profiles without confusion.
With her child’s allergy schedule and her own temporary vitamin regimen, she requires an intuitive interface to manage both profiles without confusion.
Flexible scheduling
Flexible scheduling
The ability to quickly adjust treatment plans as seasonal conditions change is key, so that the medication plan remains effective and relevant.
The ability to quickly adjust treatment plans as seasonal conditions change is key, so that the medication plan remains effective and relevant.
Michael
Manages his father’s serious heart condition and his own blood pressure
40 years old
Persona 2
“When I’m juggling my father’s critical heart meds and my own blood pressure pills, having one place to track it all—schedules, doses, and refills—would relieve so much stress.”
Expiration date monitoring
Michael has heard cautionary stories about expired medications causing complications. He wants the app to alert him when a medication is nearing its expiration, ensuring that all treatments remain safe and effective.
Multi-patient management
Must easily switch between his father’s medication schedule and his own to avoid confusion or missed doses.
Overdue alerts
Worries about forgetting a refill or a critical dose, especially for his father’s heart medication, which could have serious consequences.
Bianca
Child with seasonal allergies; parent’s own short-term vitamin regimen
32 years old
Persona 3
“With my child's allergy meds needed as pollen season nears and my own vitamin regimen in place, I need a smart reminder system that prompts us to start preventive treatment before symptoms hit.”
Early intervention
Many parents overlook the importance of starting allergy treatment before symptoms worsen. Bianca needs proactive alerts to begin medication early, preventing sleep loss and academic disruptions for her child.
Multi-profile management
With her child’s allergy schedule and her own temporary vitamin regimen, she requires an intuitive interface to manage both profiles without confusion.
Flexible scheduling
The ability to quickly adjust treatment plans as seasonal conditions change is key, so that the medication plan remains effective and relevant.
Established routines vs. acute illness
People with chronic conditions often follow medication schedules automatically, needing fewer adjustments. In contrast, short-term but serious illnesses can demand more frequent changes.
People with chronic conditions often follow medication schedules automatically, needing fewer adjustments. In contrast, short-term but serious illnesses can demand more frequent changes.
Each condition needs a tailored flow, UX, and content. For instance, depression might require tracking daily mood even after medication ends. It’s challenging to cover all conditions—some lack clear progress markers or have fluctuating symptoms.
Each condition needs a tailored flow, UX, and content. For instance, depression might require tracking daily mood even after medication ends. It’s challenging to cover all conditions—some lack clear progress markers or have fluctuating symptoms.
Different conditions, different needs
Different conditions, different needs
Individuals with chronic conditions, as well as their families, may be reluctant to discuss personal health issues, especially those involving children or loved ones. This makes it challenging to recruit participants willing to share in-depth.
Individuals with chronic conditions, as well as their families, may be reluctant to discuss personal health issues, especially those involving children or loved ones. This makes it challenging to recruit participants willing to share in-depth.
Privacy & sensitivity
Privacy & sensitivity
Different conditions, different needs
Each condition needs a tailored flow, UX, and content. For instance, depression might require tracking daily mood even after medication ends. It’s challenging to cover all conditions—some lack clear progress markers or have fluctuating symptoms.
Privacy & sensitivity
Individuals with chronic conditions, as well as their families, may be reluctant to discuss personal health issues, especially those involving children or loved ones. This makes it challenging to recruit participants willing to share in-depth.
Design & iteration
Seven job stories were defined from research. Five were prioritised and implemented across a 3-week design sprint. I built a moodboard to establish visual direction, then moved through wireframes to high-fidelity mockups using a clean neumorphic style.
Medication scheduling QR scanning for fast data entry, pre-filled fields from medication instructions, and a flexible calendar view. The goal was to reduce the time and friction of adding a new medication to under 60 seconds.
Multi-patient management A unified account view showing all profiles at a glance, with fast switching between them. The information architecture was the hardest part — profiles needed to feel distinct without requiring users to fully log out and back in.
Progress & motivation Short-term treatments get a progress bar and milestone celebrations. Long-term chronic medication uses a different model — consistency streaks rather than completion percentages, because "finishing" isn't the goal.
Expiry & alert system Smart notifications for refills, expiring medication, and overdue doses. Notification hierarchy was carefully designed so urgent alerts (missed dose, expired medication) never get buried by routine reminders.
Seven job stories were defined from research. Five were prioritised and implemented across a 3-week design sprint. I built a moodboard to establish visual direction, then moved through wireframes to high-fidelity mockups using a clean neumorphic style.
Medication scheduling QR scanning for fast data entry, pre-filled fields from medication instructions, and a flexible calendar view. The goal was to reduce the time and friction of adding a new medication to under 60 seconds.
Multi-patient management A unified account view showing all profiles at a glance, with fast switching between them. The information architecture was the hardest part — profiles needed to feel distinct without requiring users to fully log out and back in.
Progress & motivation Short-term treatments get a progress bar and milestone celebrations. Long-term chronic medication uses a different model — consistency streaks rather than completion percentages, because "finishing" isn't the goal.
Expiry & alert system Smart notifications for refills, expiring medication, and overdue doses. Notification hierarchy was carefully designed so urgent alerts (missed dose, expired medication) never get buried by routine reminders.
Improvements from usability testing
Improvements from usability testing
5 participants completed moderated usability tests on the core scheduling flow. Four specific improvements came directly from that feedback:
5 participants completed moderated usability tests on the core scheduling flow. Four specific improvements came directly from that feedback:
Adjusting information hierarchy on medication schedule screen
Adjusting information hierarchy on medication schedule screen
Users felt overwhelmed by the initial layout. Sections and subsections were visually separated more clearly, improving scan-ability.
Removed redundant loading screen
Removed redundant loading screen
A loading screen during QR-based import was unnecessary — users already saw a progress bar during scanning. Removed to reduce perceived friction.
Expired medication notification CTA priority
Expired medication notification CTA priority
"Continue Anyway" was originally the primary button, which felt irresponsible. Reversed: "Try Again" became primary, "Continue Anyway" a clear secondary option for edge cases.
CTA label on medication details screen
CTA label on medication details screen
"Save" implied this was a final action. Changed to "Next" to reflect that users were simply moving forward — not committing.
Outcomes
Outcomes
Simplified scheduling
Simplified scheduling
QR entry, pre-fill, and flexible day selection reduced setup complexity significantly
Multi-patient management
Multi-patient management
Unified view and fast switching eliminated the need to navigate between separate accounts
Adherence motivation
Adherence motivation
Progress bars for short-term, streak tracking for chronic conditions
Minimal interface
Minimal interface
Neumorphic design kept the UI light without sacrificing usability
What I learned
Designing for health means designing for anxiety. People checking a medication schedule are often worried — about missed doses, about a family member, about their own condition. Every label, every notification, every empty state carries emotional weight that a shopping app simply doesn't have.
This project also pushed me to think more carefully about the difference between completing a task and managing an ongoing situation. Most UX flows are optimised for completion. Chronic illness management doesn't work that way — the design has to support a relationship with the app that continues indefinitely, without ever feeling like a burden.