Healthing.ca
Healthing.ca is a Canadian online health and wellness platform that offers a wide range of information, resources, and tools to help users make informed decisions about their health.
Company - Postmedia Network
Role - User Experience Designer
Tenure - Nov 2021 - May 2023
Introduction
Healthing.ca, a health information platform under Postmedia Network Inc., faced challenges in delivering a cohesive and engaging user experience. The absence of a unified design system and limited functionality in key areas, such as the search engine for drug information and news content presentation, hindered user engagement and brand consistency. Tasked with addressing these issues, I developed a comprehensive solution that involved creating a cohesive design system, enhancing the search engine, and redesigning editorial content displays. The goal was to improve both user satisfaction and the overall usability of the platform, aligning Healthing.ca with the broader Postmedia brand while enhancing user interaction with health-related content.
Problem Statement
Healthing.ca lacked a cohesive design system and user-friendly features, leading to poor engagement and inconsistent brand identity. The absence of an optimized search engine for drug information and engaging news content presentation limited the platform's ability to satisfy user needs.
How Might We Statement
How might we create a cohesive design system and implement user-friendly features to improve engagement, enhance brand consistency, and provide users with better access to health-related information on Healthing.ca?
Challenge
Healthing.ca lacked a cohesive design system and essential user-friendly features, hindering user experience. The absence of a robust search engine for drug information and engaging news content presentation limited engagement and brand consistency. The primary challenge was to create a comprehensive design system aligned with Postmedia Network Inc.'s brand while implementing features to improve user engagement and satisfaction.
Research
To understand how Healthing.ca could improve its user experience and compete more effectively, I conducted a thorough competitive analysis of other leading health information platforms. I examined competitors such as WebMD, Mayo Clinic, and Healthline, focusing on their design systems, search functionality, and content presentation.
Key insights from this research highlighted the importance of a well-organized and visually consistent design system, which ensures a seamless user experience across different sections of the platform. I also noted that competitors offered highly optimized search engines for retrieving drug-related information quickly and efficiently, which was a key user need. Additionally, their editorial content was presented in a visually engaging manner, often featuring clean layouts, easy-to-read formats, and interactive elements to increase user interaction.
These findings helped shape my approach, guiding the development of a cohesive design system for Healthing.ca and the improvement of the search engine and editorial content presentation to better align with user expectations and industry standards.
Ideation
Based on the research insights, I began the ideation process by focusing on three core areas: the design system, search functionality, and content presentation. I sketched initial wireframes and user flows that emphasized simplicity and ease of navigation, ensuring consistency across all sections of Healthing.ca. For the design system, I explored various color schemes, typography, and layout structures that would not only align with Postmedia Network Inc.'s brand but also create a visually cohesive and user-friendly interface.
To enhance the search functionality, I ideated ways to streamline the process for users seeking drug information. This included optimizing search filters and creating intuitive indexing for better search results. I also conceptualized how to integrate auto-suggestions and related content links to make the search experience more efficient.
For the editorial boxes, I brainstormed several layout options that would improve the visibility and interaction with health news content. Ideas included highlighting featured articles, adding interactive elements like "related topics," and improving the overall visual hierarchy to ensure key content stood out.
These ideation sessions resulted in actionable design concepts that would later be refined into high-fidelity prototypes and tested for usability.
Usability Testing
To validate the design changes and ensure they improved user experience, I conducted a series of usability tests with a group of representative users. Using an interactive prototype, participants were asked to perform key tasks, such as searching for drug information and interacting with news content. The feedback revealed that users found the new search functionality more intuitive, with quicker access to relevant information, and appreciated the improved editorial content layout for its clarity and engagement.
Based on the results, I made minor adjustments to the search filters and further optimized the layout of the editorial boxes, ensuring the final design met user expectations and enhanced overall satisfaction.
Solution
To enhance the user experience on Healthing.ca, I implemented a comprehensive solution consisting of the following key components:
Design System Development:
- Developed a cohesive design system for Healthing.ca, ensuring consistency across Postmedia Network Inc.'s platforms while reflecting the brand identity and facilitating a seamless user experience.
Search Engine Enhancement:
- Designed and implemented a new search engine tailored to the needs of Healthing.ca users, optimizing it for efficiently retrieving drug-related information and enhancing overall search functionality and indexing.
Editorial Box Redesign:
- Redesigned editorial boxes used to showcase news content on Healthing.ca, focusing on improving visual appeal and usability to increase user engagement and interaction with the featured content.
This comprehensive solution addressed existing challenges, providing users with a more cohesive and user-friendly platform for accessing health-related information. By developing a comprehensive design system, enhancing search engine functionality, and redesigning editorial boxes, the overall usability, accessibility, and engagement of the Healthing.ca website were significantly improved, contributing to a more satisfying user experience for visitors seeking health information.
Results
The comprehensive UX design solution for Cloudamart yielded significant improvements despite initial challenges, leading to notable successes:
Enhanced User Engagement:
Increased metrics such as time spent on the site, page views, and feature interactions indicated higher user engagement and satisfaction.
Improved User Satisfaction:
Post-launch surveys showed a significant rise in user satisfaction. Users appreciated the unified experience and intuitive navigation.
Streamlined User Experience:
The cohesive design system allowed seamless switching between services, enhancing overall usability and reducing the need for multiple apps.
Positive Business Impact:
The unified platform attracted more users, strengthening Cloudamart's market position and differentiating it from competitors.
Team Learning and Growth:
The project, completed with full creative control and without upper management guidance, provided valuable learning experiences and demonstrated the team's ability to deliver high-quality results focused on the end goal.
In summary, the successful implementation of the UX design solution significantly improved user engagement, satisfaction, and overall platform performance, positioning Cloudamart as a leader in the courier delivery industry.
