User research → Problem definition → Design → Prototyping → Testing → Handoff

Improving Health

Through Design

Designed to empower users to manage diabetes effortlessly, Colibri simplifies complex tasks and enhances daily health outcomes.

Year: 2018

Duration: 9 months

Platforms: iOS

Role: Product Designer

Overview

Colibri Glucose Control is an iOS app designed to help people with diabetes easily track, review, and analyze glucose readings, carbohydrate intake, and insulin consumption. By focusing on simplicity and usability, the app empowers users to better manage their condition, reducing the cognitive load required for calculating insulin doses and identifying trends.

The Problem

Managing diabetes requires balancing glucose, carbs, and insulin, but complex interfaces make critical tasks like dose calculation time-consuming and prone to errors.

The Goal

Design an intuitive, on-the-go solution that:

  1. Simplifies insulin dose calculations.

  2. Provides meaningful insights for short- and long-term diabetes management.

  3. Encourages user engagement with a clear and user-friendly interface.

Research and Discovery

User Research

I conducted interviews with insulin-dependent individuals to identify pain points and opportunities for improvement. Key insights included:

  • Difficulty calculating insulin doses accurately under time pressure.

  • The need for personalized ratios to reflect individual needs.

  • Frustration with interfaces that were not designed for quick, on-the-go use.

Competitive Analysis

Analyzed existing diabetes management tools, identifying gaps:

  • Overly complex dashboards.

  • Lack of personalized dosage adjustments.

  • Insufficient trend analysis for long-term monitoring.

Design Process

Problem Definition

Scoping and Ideation

Wireframing and Prototyping

Usability Testing

Iteration and Development

How might we simplify the process of insulin dosage calculation while providing users with actionable insights to better manage their diabetes?

Key features identified:

  • Insulin Dose Calculator: Simple, real-time calculation based on current glucose level and carbohydrate intake.

  • Diary Screen: Log daily glucose readings, carbs, and insulin intake for short-term actions.

  • Statistics Section: Analyze long-term trends and prepare for medical consultations.

  • Customization Options: Personalize insulin-to-carb ratios in settings.

Created low-fidelity wireframes to define app structure and flows:

  • Focused on a clean, minimalist UI for quick navigation.

  • Iterated based on feedback from user testing sessions.

Developed an interactive prototype in Xcode to simulate key features:

  • Real-time insulin dose calculator with predictive glucose graph.

  • Seamless transitions between diary, statistics, and settings screens.

Conducted usability testing with a group of 10 participants:

  • Tasks included logging glucose readings, calculating insulin doses, and analyzing statistics.

  • Metrics tracked: task completion time, error rates, and user satisfaction.

  • Results: 90% of users completed tasks without errors, with an average satisfaction score of 4.7/5.

  • Adjusted designs based on usability feedback to streamline navigation.

  • Used Xcode to develop a fully functional prototype, integrating real-time calculations and interactive graphs.

  • Debugged and optimized the app for smooth performance.

Solution

Insulin Dose Calculator

Diary Screen

  • Tracks daily glucose readings, carbs, and insulin intake in one place.

  • Provides actionable insights for immediate adjustments, such as snacking or additional insulin.

Statistics and Trends

  • Visualizes trends over the past three months, with average figures for quick interpretation.

  • Helps users prepare for medical appointments with precise data summaries.

  • Calculates doses based on user-defined insulin-to-carb ratios and current glucose levels.

  • The predictive graph shows expected glucose levels two hours post-meal.

Impact

User Feedback

Six months post-launch, Colibri GC had over 400 downloads and an average App Store rating of 4.5 stars

Engagement

75% of users actively used the app at least three times a week.

60% of users continued using the app after three months.

Business Impact

Built trust among the diabetes community, creating opportunities for future partnerships with healthcare providers.