Help every family adopt healthy lifestyles effortlessly.
Healthii
The idea for this project came from my personal journey of reversing Type II pre-diabetes within three months during the COVID period. I began by conducting user interviews to test our initial assumptions and quickly realized that I, like many others, had misconceptions about maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Based on these insights, I designed a solution specifically for low-income families living in food deserts, who often lack the resources, knowledge, and time to prioritize health. This app aims to empower people facing similar challenges, providing an accessible pathway to better health in just a few months.
An easy guide to help users make smarter food and exercise choices, overcoming barriers to healthy living. The project aims to develop a mobile app that educates and empowers those traditionally excluded from the organic, healthy eating movement due to high costs or location constraints.
#1 Main Page
Daily cooking videos based on user's main protein choice.
User insights
"prefers simple, affordable recipes with basic, versatile ingredients."
"She values easy-to-understand advice and step-by-step guidance, favoring visuals or quick-read articles over long, technical explanations."
Daily exercise videos based on user's current location.
User insights
"She looks for short, flexible workouts that can be done at home, like bodyweight exercises or walking routines."
"Short workouts that can be done in small bursts, focusing on bodyweight exercises or resistance bands he can use anywhere."
#2 Library
The library feature helps user save their favorite videos and articles: recipes, exercise, and blog articles.
User insights
"He wants small, achievable goals and values such as achievements, or rewards to keep him motivated."
"She appreciates gentle reminders and progress-tracking tools that help her stay accountable."
Discovery
User Interviews
I interviewed 5 persons in my rental building (The median wage of my interviewees was $18/hour, while above Chicago's minimum wage; it is still not enough for their families to shop regularly at Whole Foods, a traditional organic healthy grocery store.
Information Architecture
I developed an information architecture to map the process of finding tips and videos for cooking and exercise. Based on user testing, I added library feature so users can save their favorite clips.
Minimum Viable Features
I then used affinity mapping to see what features are nice to have, what are must-haves, while considering factors such as difficulty to implement, impacts for users and for business (paid plans).
Low-Fi Screens
Hi-Fi Screens
Components
Design System
I built a new design system for this app.
Validate
Usability Test
I conducted a moderated user test with 5 users with different needs to eat healthy and exercise more. I introduced the app to them, and asked them to do the same task of finding, purchasing food, finding recipes, and checking weekly progress. (See chart below)
A Life-style app that connects habits to benefits. I learned that small, incremental changes in user behavior are possible under the right conditions. For example, guiding fast-food consumers toward healthier frozen meals first, before transitioning to home-cooked options. To further enhance a "healthy lifestyle", the following features could be explored.
Gamification and rewards: healthy eating habits get rewarded with favorite restaurants coupons)
Link healthy lifestyles to lower insurance premium.
Future AI Explorations
With Google AI Studio Gemini AI's free form prompt capabilities, users can take photos of what is currently in their fridge or sold in supermarket, get suggestions of their favorite easy-to-cook recipes.
