Project Overview
Millions of people experience migraines, yet diagnosis often requires extensive tracking and communication with healthcare providers. This process can be overwhelming, leaving many undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. Drawing from personal experience, I created Headway, a smartwatch app designed to help users track migraine symptoms and link their data with doctors’ medical systems, facilitating more accurate and timely diagnoses.
With only one week to complete this project, I conceptualised and developed Headway, conducting user research and designing the app interface.
Design Process
Research
Conducted competitor analysis on leading health and migraine apps (e.g., Migraine Buddy, Headache Log). Explored smartwatch features and industry-standard research techniques using resources like Asana’s guide on competitive analysis. Investigated colour therapy for migraines, referencing studies by Harvard Medical School, which highlighted green light's soothing effect.
Ideation and Sketching
Brainstormed features based on real-world challenges (e.g., tracking pain location, duration, and triggers). Created initial sketches emphasising user-friendly, non-overwhelming screens optimised for smartwatch constraints.
Wireframes
Designed and iterated low-fidelity wireframes in Figma, refining layouts to improve usability and visual hierarchy. Transitioned from linear to circular logging interfaces for better clarity and space optimisation.
Design Decisions
Colour Palette: Opted for cooler tones inspired by migraine research to enhance comfort.
Illustrations: Iterated on the head pain map, combining front and side views for better accuracy and user experience.
Feedback and Iterations
Incorporated critique to improve illustrations iterated on the head pain map, combining front and side views for better accuracy and user experience. As well as this, I expanded screen designs, and streamlined user flows. Enhancing interface details like bold text and refining layouts for better readability and alignment with app branding were also adopted.
Reflection
This project was an exciting challenge, combining new research methodologies with smartwatch-specific design constraints. By addressing a common but underserved health issue, I gained valuable experience in designing empathetic, user-centered solutions that solve real-world problems.