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Design for social good

Volunteer work with blood donation Centers in Algeria

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User research

UI/UX Design

Conducting interviews

Paper and digital wireframing

Low and high-fidelity prototyping

conducting usability studies

accounting for accessibility

iterating on designs.

Surveys

Writing

UI/UX Designer

Doctors and medical staff

Engineer

Blood donation is a crucial part of modern healthcare. Every year, millions of people require blood transfusions to save their lives. However, many blood banks struggle to maintain an adequate supply of blood due to a lack of donors. In recent years, there has been a significant push to increase blood donation rates through education and awareness campaigns. As part of this effort, we are creating a website and app that streamlines the blood donation process and encourages more people to become donors.

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The purpose of this case study is to outline the process of designing a blood donation app. The app aims to increase blood donations, educate users about the importance of donating blood, understand the process of donating, and answer common questions they have about blood donation. Our goal is to create a platform that connects blood donation centers with donors and provides informative articles about blood donation.

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I used the design thinking approach to solve this problem

 

 

 

 

 

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The first step in designing the app was to conduct research to better understand the needs and preferences of potential users. This involved:

Conducting surveys and interviews with individuals who have donated blood in the past, as well as those who have not.

Reviewing existing blood donation apps to identify their strengths and weaknesses.

Researching blood donation centers and their processes for accepting donations.

Because this app has two journeys I did research with blood donors And with people who work in blood donation centers. to see the problem from both sides and make sure not to omit any details that may slow the process later

Research with blood donors and potential users

I started by conducting user research to understand the needs of potential blood donors. We conducted surveys and interviews with people who had donated blood in the past, as well as those who had never donated.

Did you donate blood before :

if yes, how was the experience

if no, what are the fears/questions you have about blood donations

People who needed blood before how was the experience

Donors who see posts about cases that need blood on social media mostly can not donate because: they live in a different city or when they see the post it is too late

People who want to donate blood tend to hesitate because they have a lot of worries

Most people who want to donate for the first time don’t know how and where

there is no coordination between donation centers and donors

Many potential donors were unsure about the donation process and had questions about eligibility requirements, safety concerns, and the donation experience.

Some potential donors found it difficult to locate blood donation centers or schedule appointments that fit their schedules.

 

Research with workers in the blood donation centers

I conducted interviews with workers in the donation blood centers to learn the struggles they face on a daily basis

Most cases get posted on social media and people don’t engage with those posts

When they need a special blood type they rarely find it among the blood donors they show up

They noticed that donors who came for the first time and faced struggle donating blood never come back

it takes so much time to collect the needed blood and some donors come too late

I conducted a competitive analysis to understand the current landscape of blood donation websites and apps. i reviewed existing platforms and identified their strengths and weaknesses

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The existing app and websites mainly have the same features which are searching for blood donors based on the location

The number of people who register on those websites and apps is small ( because they don’t even know it exists) and the number of donors with rare blood types is even smaller

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We can determine if the product fits the market and provides value by answering the following questions:

Is there a real problem that needs to be solved

There are several problems that we hope the blood donation application will provide a solution for.

Is the problem frequent enough for enough people

Every single day Blood donation center and individuals struggle to find blood donors compared to the demand for blood

Can the app or the website solve this problem

The application facilitates the blood donation process, increases awareness about this issue, and provides a lot of other features as well

People die due to the lack of donated blood

The absence of awareness about blood donation in the Algerian community

People who want to donate blood tend to hesitate or don’t know how and where to donate blood

Blood donation centers don’t have connections with blood donors

Raise awareness among people about the benefits of blood donation

Make the blood donation process easy for blood donors

Connect people and blood donation centers for donating and receiving blood

Blood shortages: Blood shortages occur when there is not enough blood available to meet the demand. A blood donation app can help to increase the supply of blood by making it easier for people to donate.

Lack of awareness: Many people are not aware of the importance of blood donation or how to donate. A blood donation app can raise awareness about the importance of blood donation and provide information about how to donate.

Inefficient blood collection: Blood collection can be inefficient if there are not enough donors or if the process is cumbersome. A blood donation app can streamline the blood collection process and make it more efficient.

Difficulty finding blood: Sometimes people need specific types of blood that are rare or hard to find. A blood donation app can help to connect donors with patients who need specific types of blood.

Lack of transparency: Some people may be hesitant to donate blood because they are not sure what happens to their donation or how it is used. A blood donation app can provide transparency about the blood donation process and how donations are used.

I began by creating a user flow that outlined the steps involved in donating blood. and designed a site map that organized our platform's content and features in a clear and intuitive way. focusing on a clean, intuitive design that would make it easy for users to navigate and understand the process of donating blood

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I identified several key features as necessary for the app, including :

blood donation center locator: A feature that allows users to find local blood donation centers and blood drives nearby

eligibility checker: A feature that shows the user's eligibility to donate blood based on their location, age, and previous donations

donation scheduling system: A donation scheduling system that allows users to easily book appointments at their preferred blood donation centers

reminder system: A reminder system that notifies donors when they are eligible to donate again

donation history map: A feature that allows users to track their blood donation history and view their personal health statistics

a feature that provides educational information about the importance of donating blood and the impact it can have on individuals and communities.

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Users who want to donate blood register in the app and create a profile and become blood donors

Blood donors get to learn about the donation process in a fun and an engaging way

Receive notifications from nearby centers

when they want to donate :

Raise awareness by providing articles about different topics related to blood donation

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Once the key features were identified, the design process began. The app's branding was developed, including the color scheme, typography, and logo. Wireframes and prototypes were created for the app's user interface, with a focus on creating an intuitive and user-friendly design.

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The walkthrough introduces you to the key features and benefits of our blood donation app. It's a brief guide that will help you understand how the app works and how it can make a difference.

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The login interface allows users to securely access their accounts. By entering their registered email and password

New users can create their accounts by signing up.

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Creating an account :

Users provide essential information that blood donation centers require to create their profiles. Details such as name, blood group, address, phone number, and other relevant information are entered to establish a comprehensive profile within the app. This information is crucial for connecting donors with blood donation centers and facilitating the blood donation process effectively. The user's input is securely stored, ensuring that their profile is complete and accurate, ultimately contributing to a more streamlined and efficient blood donation experience.

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The home interface serves as the central hub of the app, offering a range of features designed to enhance the user experience and promote blood donation awareness. Within the home interface, users can explore various sections, including:

News Section: Stay informed about the latest updates, events, and news related to blood donation. Engaging content keeps users informed and motivated to contribute to the cause.

Call to Action: A prominent call to action encourages users to participate in the life-saving act of blood donation. This feature motivates users to take immediate action and make a difference in the lives of those in need.

Patient List: This section adds a human touch to the app by showcasing a list of individuals who require blood donations. By highlighting real-life cases, users are reminded of the impact their contributions can have on patients in critical need.

Navigation Bar: The navigation bar, conveniently located for easy access, provides quick links to essential app features such as articles, the notification, and the profile

Search Bar: a user-friendly search bar that enables donors to effortlessly find nearby blood donation centers and discover the available options in their area. Donors can simply enter their location or use GPS to identify the closest blood donation centers

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This section provides informative articles about various aspects of blood donation. Learn about the importance of donating blood, the donation process, and how your contribution can save lives. These articles have been thoughtfully crafted by me in collaboration with esteemed doctors and dedicated medical staff. Each article is meticulously designed to provide a comprehensive yet easily digestible overview of critical aspects related to blood donation

With insights gathered from the experiences of donors and the expertise of medical professionals, research conducted with both generous donors; the Q&A section is answers to inquiries that range from the basics of blood donation to specific queries about eligibility, the donation process, and post-donation care.

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Users will Stay informed with notifications. Get updates on upcoming blood drives, appointment reminders, new articles, and post-donation impacts. Receive alerts for urgent blood requests to keep donors connected and engaged in our shared mission of saving lives.

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Before donating, answer a series of eligibility questions to determine the donor's eligibility to donate blood at that time. These inquiries, curated by medical professionals, guarantee the well-being and health of the recipient.

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This interface guides users through the donation process. Schedule appointments, locate nearby donation centers on a map, and set reminders for upcoming donations.

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The profile is a personalized space where donors can manage and update their information

Donor Card: The Donor Card section serves as a digital representation of the blood donation profile. It includes essential information such as your name, blood type … etc

Donor History: The Donor History section provides a comprehensive overview of the donor’s past blood donations. It includes dates, locations, and donation quantities.

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I conducted a usability study. The primary objective of this phase was to evaluate the app's interface, features, and overall user experience, and to identify any potential areas for improvement

Research Plan:

Participants: Minimum of 10 participants, including donors of different ages and at least 3 people who have never donated before.

Location and Duration: The study will take place at the blood donation center and last for one day. Each participant will have 15 to 30 minutes.

Recruitment: Donors will be selected from the donation register, while participants who have never donated before can be recruited through social media or local advertising.

Tools: Figma and a note-taking tool will be used to conduct the study, and participants will use both a computer and a phone.

Methodology: Participants will complete a series of tasks while being observed by the researcher. then answer a set of questions related to the app's usability

Data Collection: The researcher will take notes during the session, and no recordings will be made.

Success rate: the percentage of participants who are able to complete tasks without difficulty.

Error rate: the number of errors or mistakes participants make while completing tasks.

User satisfaction: the average rating participants give for their overall app experience.

Retention rate: the percentage of participants who express interest in using the app again in the future.

Can you find the donation center nearest to you? How difficult or easy was it?

Can you schedule an appointment to donate blood? How long did it take you?

Can you walk us through the donation process? Did the app guide you effectively?

Participants answered a series of questions :

The collected data was meticulously analyzed to identify patterns, common issues, and areas of success. This involved reviewing participants' interactions with the app, their success rates in completing tasks, and their comments on usability, user interface, and overall experience.

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Based on the insights gathered from the usability study, iterative refinements were made to the app's design, interface, and functionalities. Usability issues were addressed, and the following adjustments were implemented to enhance user experience and app performance.

Participants had a problem with the language so I added multiple language choices within the app to make it more accessible and inclusive for a wider range of users.

Users can select the language that they are most comfortable with, to ensure that they can navigate and understand the app's content seamlessly

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Users felt confused about the donation process, so I added a pre_reading and an overview of the donation process to help users understand more about blood donation before heading to the donation center

This section offers valuable information and instructions users need to know before donating blood. Educate them about the process and ensure they're well-prepared for a successful donation.

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Users didn’t know what to do after the donation process is over I added a post-donation to thank the donors and provide instructions on what to do after they donate blood.

This section includes post-donation tips, recommendations, and any post-donation actions donors might need to take.

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Multiple languages were incorporated within the app to make it more accessible and inclusive for a wider range of users.

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Through user research, thoughtful design, and close collaboration with blood donation centers, we were able to create a blood donation platform that aims to help connect donors with blood donation centers and provide donors with accurate information on blood donation. The system will help centers manage their inventory and scheduling more efficiently, leading to more successful blood donation campaigns. We believe that our platform has the potential to save countless lives by increasing blood donation rates and improving the efficiency of blood donation centers.