A case study and prototype designed for caregivers of children dependent on feeding tubes for nutrition.

Seamlessly manage feeding schedules, track nutritional intake, set personalized alerts, and effortlessly connect with essential resources for your child’s care journey. Share charts with medical professionals and streamline organization between parents, caregivers, and nurses.

Role

  • Sole product designer

Deliverables

  • Comprehensive Research

  • User Interviews

  • User Flows & IA

  • Brand Style Guide

  • High Fidelity Wireframing

  • Prototype

  • User Testing

Duration

  • 2 weeks of topic research

  • 10 weeks interviews > case study

Project Overview

The U.S. preterm birth rate was about 10% in 2022. Most preterm babies need a feeding tube initially due to challenges in coordinating sucking, swallowing, and breathing. However, caregivers lack the tools to manage their children’s feeding schedule and growth once they're discharged home.

Parents & caregivers have limited tools to manage their children’s G-tube feeding management.

Objective

This project strives to contribute to the well-being of caregivers and their children, recognizing the delicate balance between technological innovation, ethical considerations, and practical constraints.

The goal is to offer caregivers a convenient support system, incorporating a management tool and access to valuable resources. We aim to normalize and streamline the experience of tracking a child’s needs and nutrition and improve the care experience for them and their infants.

Designer’s note:

The motivation to explore Gtube Feeding resources stemmed from witnessing several individuals in my life dealing with feeding tube dependency for their infants, despite being completely unrelated and spread across the country. While the experience is not universal, its prevalence is increasing. Most children eventually outgrow their dependency on feeding tubes and lead healthy lives. Additionally, some individuals rely on feeding tubes long-term into adulthood, but I couldn't explore these cases due to a lack of research opportunities and participant connections.


Research & Empathize

Research Goal

To gain insight into the experience and obstacles caregivers face managing and administering G-tube feedings at home.

Methods: Competitive Analysis

Research available resources for G-tube and medical device management.

Compare patterns and features of infant tracking applications, specifically those with real-time tracking solutions.

Competitive Analysis

  • Application gap for infants needing feeding tubes: Despite extensive research, no existing applications were found tailored to home management of G-tube feeding and nutrition in premature infants. Infant tracking applications did not include Gtube feeding options.

  • Pattern: Disclaimers in Infant Applications. All infant applications reviewed included a disclaimer regarding the safety and information provided within the app. This underscores the need for caution and medical professional consultation when using the tool. Clarity of users’ liability must be in combination with their Doctor’s personalized advice.

  • Pattern: Disclaimers in Medical Applications. Medical applications designed for professionals also include disclaimers regarding the information and calculations recommended within the application. This emphasizes the importance of transparency in communicating the limitations of such tools.

User Interviews


Participants

2 Pediatric NICU Nurses who treat patients on feeding tubes. 3 Parents of children who rely on feeding tubes.

Interview Insights

Motivations

  • Ability to monitor feeding remotely/ via phone.

  • “I relied on the Facebook Forum groups for other G-tube families. It’s been beneficial.”

  • “We have a million appointments, doctors’ notes, and calories to track.”

  • We keep a food journal to track calories.

Pain Points

  • Parents saw many doctors and professionals, and the only resource to take home was a printout/ PDF.

  • “I tried to use Huckleberry or other infant schedule tracking apps but they felt a little triggering and highlighted that our experience was different."

  • “We came home with one sheet of information and I was nervous and made a lot of mistakes.”

Needs

  • A more convenient tool to keep a food journal and track calories and reactions.

  • A way to track history or record the G-tube pump.

  • A convenient way to track and order supplies.

  • Easy way to share the feeding and reaction history with medical professionals.



Key Findings from Research and Interviews

  • Parental Exclusion and Triggers: Interviews revealed that parents of children with unique needs feel overlooked or triggered by existing infant apps. These apps lack options that resonate with their caregiving experience, emphasizing the need for a more inclusive solution.

  • A G-tube Pump Compatible Solution: Most parents would like a tool to monitor the pump's progress in real-time. Parents highlighted the desire to turn the pump on and off remotely and schedule a feed to begin at a specified time, allowing for night feeds without disrupting infants’ sleep.

  • PICU Nurse/Hospital Already Have Resources: Research and nurse interviews revealed various hospital tools to record and calculate G-tube feedings and medication. The tools designed for professional use are too technical for home use. Additionally, they lack features crucial for individualized care, such as the ability to save data for a specific child, highlighting the need for a personalized solution for home caregivers.

Define

User Personas

My interviews inspired two Personas, the Organized and Overwhelmed Parent and the Pediatric Home Healthcare Aid

MVP: Working within constraints

Parents sought a tool to manage feeding pumps, but safety concerns made direct control unfeasible. Nonetheless, there was a critical need for a digital resource to calculate nutrition, record feeding data, and connect with healthcare professionals.

To address this, we developed an MVP for caregivers, featuring Gtube feeding data organization, seamless sharing with healthcare professionals, troubleshooting resources, and a community space for support among families navigating similar challenges.


Ideate

Brainstorm and visualize how key tasks on the platform should function and flow.

Task Flow

Task flow 1: Complete full onboarding

Task Flow 2: Schedule or add a feeding to record

Wireframes

Onboarding is vital for gathering healthcare information to optimize our tool's service. User Flow 1 attempts to prioritize efficiency, avoiding unnecessary length and incorporating shortcuts where feasible.

Native IOS app: Mid- fidelity Wireframes > User Flow 1

Native IOS app: Mid- fidelity Wireframes > User Flow 2

Guerilla Testing

In informal user testing, parents explored two flows using the Mid-Fidelity Prototype. Sessions revealed the importance of breaking up the account creation process for a smoother onboarding experience, avoiding user deterrence due to lengthy setup.

Design


The Best Feed_ UI Design Kit employs a navy and white foundation for optimal contrast and clarity. Typography uses an open, easily readable font with subtly playful, childlike round edges. Rounded lines in icons and buttons create a softer interface. Vibrant secondary accent colors inject a lively punch into the traditional palette.

Logo Design

The branding design for Best Feed maintains a traditional blue and white color scheme, aligning with the medical industry. The UI is intentionally simple, but infused with playful colors to prevent it from appearing mundane or sterile.

Logo branding

Style Guide

Adding UI to Wireframes

I carefully considered button interactions, modals, and best practices using Figma components and variables. I used AI to assist with some UX copy, specifically the disclaimer. In a practical setting, a legal team would be necessary for a medical disclaimer.

Hi-Fidelity Wireframe


Prototype

Create Prototype


User Testing

User Tasks

User Flow 1: Participants were tasked with creating an account. I observed their choice to complete the profile during onboarding or postpone it. If the participant deferred, I probed for reasons and then encouraged profile completion to identify friction.

User Flow 2: Participants were prompted to add a feeding.  I also asked participants if any aspects of the product seemed insensitive or non-inclusive of their caregiving experience.

Testing Goal

To evaluate user interactions with Best Feed, noting areas of confusion or difficulty and highlight valuable features.

Identify unnecessary elements and uncover additional considerations related to G-Tube feeding experiences.

Priority Revision Matrix

User Testing Feedback

  • Onboarding is too long. Many users don’t want to continue.

  • Most parents thought the onboarding process was long but knew the information was important to include.

  • The “Nutrition” button and info were vague.

  • Users question why they are asked to create a schedule on the Onboarding screen.

  • The rainbow colors look good together but should feel simpler and more medical.

  • The schedule creation screen is confusing. Should there be a start time?

  • The disclaimer is long. Users don’t even skim; click next.

  • No notes of insensitivity.


Iterate

Disclaimer Screen

Before testing

After user testing

Disclaimer Screen: What’s different?

  • Revised disclaimer to have a visual hierarchy with headings, summary, and numbered bullet points.

  • The user must scroll to the bottom and check the box to agree understanding of the disclaimer to enable the next button

Feeding Calculator

Before testing

After user testing

Feeding Calculator: What’s different?

  • Users gave positive feedback about the formula calculated.

  • Reviewed UI to ensure it is as easy to use as possible to allow for continued use.

  • Made the text on the child’s nutrition profile section larger.

Schedule Onboarding

Before testing

After user testing

What’s different?

  • Users didn’t know what the schedule was for. Included a sample for visual reference of how the schedule could be referenced.

  • Moved the external calendar linking CTA off the onboarding process. It will be a prompt on the “appointment” tab.

Homescreen

Before testing

After user testing

Homescreen: What’s different?

  • Revised the large colored cards to have minimal colored headings to allow for clearer information visualization.

  • Users expressed positive feedback about the icons and navigation. No changes were made to them.


Revised User Flows

USER FLOW 1_ Create Account and complete Profile

Create Account

Complete Profile

USER FLOW 2_ Start on landing page and add a feeding

Introduction to interface

Add and record a feeding


Prototype