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EBOLA - RAPID PROTOYPE research

CHALLENGE

In the height of the Ebola health scare our team was tasked with coming up with a solution as part of UX global health competition in partnership with USAID and a UN representative from New Guinea

GOAL

Create an experience for the user that could potentially prolong life and help doctors and local village chiefs get patients help

MY ROLE

Looked at insights, project limitations and come up with usable solution that was cost effective to produce in a short time.

CHALLENGE -  For a frenzied 2 weekends we did and emergency health hack to answer the call made by USAID and OpenIDEOs with creating a solution that can not include a digital app due to limited communication. Sms was only technology option because of logistics of remote west african villages affected by illness.

THE TEAM -  Nurses, social worker, ux designer, graphic designer and a developer. Having expertise from people who have traveled to remote areas was helpful for quick insights and nuances.​​

Top 5 challenges

  • Trust of Doctors (family members left, but never returned)

  • Remote access to medical help and food

  • Limited communication methods

  • Contamination and other diseases

  • Infrastructure not devloped
     

Many teams were using sms technology which had already been in motion. Instead we chose to go back to basics and create something for the infected person and their family to use and protect themselves and others until medical help was available and make their experience more tolerable. It included: cleaning, prevention and treatment items. It also included a week worth of hydration items and make ready food and a postcard of hope.It was called Healthy Change Bucket​

PROCESS
Our research included data from CDC, World Health organizations, info from medics on the ground, and advice from team members  items that global organizations already used. We looked at areas that were most infected.  We also had first hand accounts from the Guinea representative as to what the immediate needs were.
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We did initial brainstorming and quick sketches then presented ideas to make sure we were on task with stakeholders.
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After getting approval we came up with the Idea to make an all inclusive Healthy Change bucket to help with short term treatments and that was easy to transport across the terrain

Dual usage bucket for sanitary care and transport

Healthy Change Bucket

  • Life saving temporary emergency buckets

  • Easy to transport items

  • Week worth of cleaning, prevention and treatment items plus a week of food rations

  • Color coded pictogram for quick recognition of ailments and instructions

  • Postcard with illustrated instructions

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Quick paper prototype
The Healthy Change Bucket consisted of three color coded compartments separated by divider and topped with similar internal cover with pictograms for easy to follow instructions.

We decided what items are essential for a week of care based on research. We also had to make sure there were disposable biodegradable bags to hold infected items away from families. 

More detailed prototype
The bucket would be made of industrial grade waterproof plastic and have a wheel base that can be detached from bucket as needed.

POSTCARD - Team member created visual symbols postcard printed locally with directives for additional help

RESULTS - Our Ebola solution Healthy Change came in 3rd place in the challenge and were granted $1000 to help produce the first set of buckets.

NEXT STEPS - Members of the team sourced pricing so the buckets with all of the items could be below $20 per bucket. The prototype was passed onto stakeholders to make samples

CONQUERING BIAS - One of the problems in some of the villages was that people felt left out and stigmatized. Kids did not want to play with family's that were affected and others just remained isolated.  â€‹I was asked to design a series of shirts. One that could be auctioned at the UN for aid to these countries. The other was to provide a sense of unity for the villages and be used for all.

T-shirt design for the United Nations auction to promote health unity in West Africa and build sense of positive moral among residents

Choice 1

Choice 2

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