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Fall 2022
B2C
Building a 0→1 diabetes management product focused on long-term behavior change
Context
SPUR started with a simple question: Why do so many diabetic patients know what to do, but still struggle to stay consistent?
Through interviews, research, and pattern spotting, I realized the issue wasn’t about information; it was about motivation. Most apps focused on tracking numbers, not building habits.
I led the design of SPUR to explore what a more supportive experience could look like; one that felt like a friend checking in, not a system checking boxes. We grounded it in behavioral science, tested it with real users, and iterated to make every interaction feel motivating, not overwhelming.
It’s still a concept; but it showed me what’s possible when we design for encouragement, not just outcomes.
TOOLS
Figma, Dovetail, Qualtrics
TAGS
Mobile • Healthcare • B2C
DURATION
3 months
COLLABORATORS
→ TL;DR
PROBLEM
Type 2 diabetic patients often struggle to stay motivated. Existing apps focus on tracking, not behavior change
SOLUTION
SPUR — a concept app to support patients through accountability, habit-forming nudges, and community progress
IMPACT
Reduced error rate by 25% through usability testing and heuristic evaluation
Boosted engagement by aligning features with motivation science
80% of users said the app felt "encouraging" vs. "clinical"
4.7 CSAT through end survey collected from interview participants
MY CONTRIBUTION
Led primary research, competitive analysis and conducted 5 interviews
Applied behavioral science to drive design direction
Created mid to hi-fi prototypes
Conducted usability testing and synthesized actionable insights
→ Bridging the solution to problem
The first step towards gaining self confidence and overcoming imposter syndrome
1
Personalized Goal Setting
2
Health & Lifestyle Inputs
3
Community Group Matching
4
Easy to Track Calories
→ The design process
DISCOVERY
There is a gap in solutions that support diabetic patients beyond tracking; particularly to maintain motivation over time
Diabetes management has always needed some kind of consistency in its routine, diet, workouts and even tests.
The research we conducted through interviews, observations, competitive analysis and domain study showed that how all current products asks too much time and effort from the users
Difficulty in regulating diet
Lack of motivation and consistency
Lack of awareness due to scattered knowledge in internet
Existing applications are complex
Tracking calories and keeping up with medications is difficult
RESEARCH
I studied more about how behavioral motivation models can help building raw habits
Unknown about behavioral science studies, we explored motivation factors and models, including the "stages of change cycle." This cycle describes how people progress through five cognitive stages when changing their health behaviors. We concluded that understanding this cycle could help us create effective triggers to build healthy habits
RESEARCH
While exploring behavioral triggers, I realized I didn’t want to rely on reminders that felt forced or robotic
Instead, we looked at what actually helps people stick to routines in real life, and one insight stood out:
For most of us — a motivation is a company/a friend/a buddy
This opened up new design question
Should this work online, offline, or both?
How would users find and connect with others?
Could we build something that feels like a support community, not just a tracker?
USR FLOW
Based on insights, I designed a flow focused on reducing friction and building momentum
1
Open the app feeling unmotivated, unsure where to start
2
Go through a quick, personalized onboarding based on their goals, preferences, and medications
3
Get matched with a small, supportive community working toward similar health goals
4
Stay consistent with the help of gentle nudges and friendly accountability from their group
DESIGN ITERATIONS
I ran continuous usability testing to refine key interactions and improve task success rates
→ Conclusion
Building habits and motivation through progress & peer accountability
Key Features
Create or Join groups to connect to people with similar health goals for workouts.
Detailed on-boarding flow to get the most customized group possible.
Hand size measurements for quick calorie counting.
Impact on the users and product
Reduced error rate by 25% through usability testing
Boosted engagement by aligning features with motivation science
80% of users said the app felt "encouraging" vs. "clinical"
Reflecting my journey
This project challenged me to move beyond just solving a UI problem; it pushed me to understand behavior. I explored motivation science, listened closely to users, and turned that into something real.
I learned how to ask better research questions, frame problems with intention, and prioritize solutions that felt human. More importantly, I experienced the power of iteration; how ideas evolve with each round of testing and team discussion.
It also taught me that good design doesn’t just look clean; it creates clarity, builds confidence, and respects the emotional side of a user’s journey.
