Rachel chuman zhang

Let's connect

rachel.cm.zhang@gmail.com

Email copied!

Rachel chuman zhang

Let's connect

rachel.cm.zhang@gmail.com

Email copied!

Rachel chuman zhang

Let's connect

rachel.cm.zhang@gmail.com

Email copied!

Koi

Educational Tool Empowering Children with Diabetes

About Koi

For people who live in remote areas, access to healthcare is poor due to the long distances. Especially for people who live with chronic diseases like diabetes, this puts challenges on getting regular access to healthcare.

We designed Koi because it is hard to get medical care for children living with diabetes in remote areas, especially since they need continuity of care. This solution looks from an individual and a systemic view consisting of a board game with an app, a toy, and a nurse platform.

Team projects

ROLE

UX, UI, Research

TIMELINE

10 weeks

LOCATION

Sweden

challenge

Lack of education on diabetes: Diabetes has increased by 40% in Västerbotten (north of Sweden) between 2009–2019. If not managed well, can lead to heart disease and amputations.

Barriers to care: The current solution lacks continuity of care e.g. travel to a healthcare center is challenging.

Status quo: The role of patients is passive and they have to wait to be treated.

How might we facilitate education, ensure continuity of care, and challenge the status quo between patient and nurse for children living with diabetes?

How might we facilitate education, ensure continuity of care, and challenge the status quo between patient and nurse for children living with diabetes?

outcome

Koi Companion: Challenge the status quo by empowering children by giving them more control and responsibilities to manage diabetes at a distance. When the toy is hugged, it reads the glucose sensor.

Board game: Gamifying learning experiences for children is fun, so their diabetes can be managed well with early education.

Diabetes Nurse Platform: The nurse can keep track of the kid's health data and support them through their learning journey remotely.



outcome

Koi Companion: Challenge the status quo by empowering children by giving them more control and responsibilities to manage diabetes at a distance. When the toy is hugged, it reads the glucose sensor.

Board game: Gamifying learning experiences for children is fun, so their diabetes can be managed well with early education.

Diabetes Nurse Platform: The nurse can keep track of the kid's health data and support them through their learning journey remotely.



Process

Ethnography research: We traveled to Storuman to discover, observe, and chat with medical professionals, the city council, and the local community.

Prototyping: Lo-fi prototyping helped us to think visually and play around the nuances missing from writing and imagination alone.

12 Interviews: 3 People with diabetes type 1, 2 Medical professionals, 4 Parents, 1 Community expert, 2 Siblings, 1 School staff

Role play: Lo-fi prototyping helped us to think visually and play around the nuances missing from writing and imagination alone.

outcome

Koi Companion: Challenge the status quo by empowering children by giving them more control and responsibilities to manage diabetes at a distance. When the toy is hugged, it reads the glucose sensor.

Board game: Gamifying learning experiences for children is fun, so their diabetes can be managed well with early education.

Diabetes Nurse Platform: The nurse can keep track of the kid's health data and support them through their learning journey remotely.



Reflection

The best insights come from chatting with people when they are most relaxed, for example at lunch and dinner table. During our school trip, we listened deeply and tried to see ourselves in other people’s shoes. I also quite enjoyed the design process itself, it’s a huge messy ball, but in the end we tried to tie everything together.

World Expo in Dubai: We are lucky enough to be able to exhibit our Koi at the world expo in Dubai.