Ann Tran Designs

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4alivio

Unifying Chronic Pain Relief for a Return to Normalcy

My Role(s):

Client Communicator
UX Designer

Client Communicator
UX Designer

Client Communicator
UX Designer

Duration:

January 2024-May 2024

Team:

Winla Vang

Elizabeth Boney

Winla Vang

Elizabeth Boney

Winla Vang

Elizabeth Boney

Project Overview

4alivio is a mobile app aimed at empowering individuals with chronic pain to identify triggers and manage flare-ups, and explore ways to reduce future episodes. Our approach was deeply rooted in user research to ensure the solutions were tailored to real user needs.

The Problem

There is a lack of awareness of noninvasive, unmedicated devices for pain management, leading to uninformed decisions that limit their ability to take control of their health.

“How can we integrate holistic and medical approaches into 4alivio's treatment feature to empower users in managing their health and pain?”

Goals

Design a treatment feature that provides users with curated and evidence-based recommendations for noninvasive and unmedicated treatment options, tailored to their specific pain conditions.
Ensure the app includes functionality and integration with wearable device, enabling users to complete a treatment session.

Design a treatment feature that provides users with curated and evidence-based recommendations for noninvasive and unmedicated treatment options, tailored to their specific pain conditions.
Ensure the app includes functionality and integration with wearable device, enabling users to complete a treatment session.

Design a treatment feature that provides users with curated and evidence-based recommendations for noninvasive and unmedicated treatment options, tailored to their specific pain conditions.
Ensure the app includes functionality and integration with wearable device, enabling users to complete a treatment session.

Solution

By leveraging insights from our user research, we enhanced the 4alivio app to empower patients in discovering non-medication treatment alternatives. The design process was iterative, with continuous user feedback shaping the development of features that truly addressed user needs.

Final Prototype

Design Process

Let's Dive into Research

Building upon initial customer discovery data, our team conducted in-depth user interviews with existing 4alivio users to delve deeper into their experiences and needs. I led one of these interviews, focusing on understanding daily pain management routines and challenges. This qualitative research uncovered key insights that informed our design decisions.

What Users are Saying

Pain Point #1

Users struggle to access clear medication info, leading to unwanted side effects like weight gain and pain, emphasizing the need for accessible resources.

Pain Point #2

Users actively seek ways to manage pain and conditions.

Pain Point #3

They prefer holistic remedies and are open to other alternatives, even if they’re neutral about doctors’ advice.

The Voices Behind the Design

The team developed three personas in the form a patient, western practitioner, and a nurse practitioner to understand the role they play in this journey.

The Market Landscape

We conducted a competitive analysis to evaluate how various apps track and manage pain. We found that most apps primarily focus on pain tracking, while a few also offer pain treatment.

In addition, We conducted an informal competitive analysis of apps integrated wearable devices such as:

Quell
Hinge
Enso Relief

We conducted a competitive analysis to evaluate how various apps track and manage pain. We found that most apps primarily focus on pain tracking, while a few also offer pain treatment.

In addition, We conducted an informal competitive analysis of apps integrated wearable devices such as:

Quell
Hinge
Enso Relief

We conducted a competitive analysis to evaluate how various apps track and manage pain. We found that most apps primarily focus on pain tracking, while a few also offer pain treatment.

In addition, We conducted an informal competitive analysis of apps integrated wearable devices such as:

Quell
Hinge
Enso Relief

Drafting the Blueprint

Based on the current 4alivio app and collected data, the team and I initiated the design process by sketching wireframes on the whiteboard. This approach helped us visualize how to manage treatment options, weather anticipation, and sync with the wearable device, ensuring that the final screens effectively address users’ pain points.

Design in Action

We conducted a usability testing with five users to gather insights on users’ pain points in navigating new concepts for the 4alivio app. This helps us understand the barriers the users may face in their navigation.

Task #1

Based on tomorrow’s weather, use for 4alivio app to make a treatment plan.

Task #2

Walk through how you would set up your device and change the intensity control to your liking with completing a treatment

Task #3

You want to explore other treatment options that won’t cause nausea. Walk me through on finding other holistic treatments.

Key Results

Users struggle to navigate to the treatment plan from the navigation bar over the anticipation of the weather treatment plan.

Solution: highlight the day with anticipated weather with a red border.

All users were able to pair a device, and complete a treatment session.

Adding guidelines to ensure safety to users when completing a session.

4 out of 5 users were able to navigate the holistic treatment section.

Next Steps

If my team and I were to continue this project, the next steps would be to integrate the Mount Mary team design into the beta platform, while adding a rating feature to access the accuracy of flare-up predictions. I would also suggest continuing to enhance holistic alternatives, including community ratings on top products and effective methods.

Reflection

This project deepened my understanding of the value of user research in the design process. One of the key challenges was working under tight deadlines, which required my team and I to quickly prioritize the most effective research methods and deliverables for the client.

Through this experience, I sharpened my skills in conducting interviews, synthesizing qualitative insights, and translating findings into actionable design decisions. It also reinforced my passion for user-centered research and its role in shaping meaningful digital solutions.

Collaborating with a healthcare startup was especially rewarding—it pushed me to grow as both a researcher and designer while teaching me the importance of patience, adaptability, and balancing user needs with real-world constraints.

Other Work