Interaction Design: Two Daughters
the Challenge
Two Daughters is an early-stage start-up that delivers nutritious meals to people living with cancer. Their current web presence consists of a landing page, an “about” section, and a contact form. My team’s challenge was to conceptualize their service model, create a site map, prototype important screens, and map out key user flows.
My role: Researcher, Interaction Designer, Content Designer
Methods Applied
Competitive Analysis
Directed Storytelling
Picture Cards
Journey Mapping, Empathy Mapping & Personae
Rapid Iterative Testing & Evaluation
Tools used
Pen & Paper
Sketch
InVision
Aurelius
Keynote
Informed empathy
Because of the charged subject matter, we wanted to infuse our designs with a strong sense of empathy. Understanding that content would be central to how this empathy was conveyed, I crafted the research protocol and created the supporting materials to elicit emotional insights.
Our sessions included directed storytelling and an activity with picture cards, which prompted participants to talk about their positive and negative associations with different food images.
These qualitative insights proved invaluable when designing the content of our prototype.
"Cancer is a family thing."
—Research Participant
Personae
From our interviews, four different user personae emerged: the patient, the caregiver, the friend, and the organizer.
Initially, we thought that the caregiver would emerge as the most likely person to set up a Two Daughters account. This assumption was challenged during our research, in which we learned that the caregivers themselves are often overburdened and in need of support.
"Cancer isn't only exhausting for the patient, but it also takes a toll on the caregivers."
—Research Participant
Site Architecture and user flows
Drawing from existing meal-delivery platforms and blending it with what we knew to be Two Daughters’ unique palliative proposition, we created a basic site map and multiple flow scenarios:
Central to our user flows was the importance of striking the right balance between making accounts both personal and private, allowing administrators to choose how they share and invite participation, and making the processes as streamlined as possible.
Polishing the prototype
Using Rapid Iterative Testing and Evaluation, we refined our prototype as we tested.
Through our research, a constellation of shared values emerged:
Convenience. Administrators wanted it to be easy to set up and maintain. Gifters wanted it to be easy to give, but also to know that it was convenient for the recipients.
Nutrition. Many people are unaware of how challenging and vital good nourishment is when undergoing cancer treatment. The Two Daughters website aims to educate the uninformed while also speaking to people who are experiencing the discomfiting side effects of treatment.
Community. Two Daughters channels our desire to "do" something for cancer patients by providing something of very real, practical value. This desire for community—irrespective of location—helped frame how we told the story of Two Daughters and how users are invited to share their own stories.
These values informed everything from the information architecture of the website to the tone of the copy, the palette of the website, and the images we used.
Key flows
Guided by our research-driven insights, we delivered an interactive prototype that charted three main user flows:
Creating an account
Sending a gift
Ordering a meal
Each flow reflects the care and consideration that distinguishes Two Daughters as the unique, empathic company that it is.
In Reflection
In addition to testing for imagery, I would have included more language-based testing as well, so as to better inform the website copy. (While several insights around word choice arose organically, I would have incorporated more intentional inquiry.) Also, I would have budgeted more time to test the usability of the different flows, so as to uncover our early blind spots more quickly.