Medminder
2025
UX Designer
Figma, FigJam, Docs, Zoom
Overview
Medminder is a mobile app that helps users understand and manage their medications through barcode scanning and AI assistance.
By scanning a medication's barcode, users instantly access clear summaries of ingredients, dosage, and usage instructions - eliminating confusion from complex labels. The app includes a digital "Medbox" for organizing medications and setting reminders, serving both elderly users managing multiple prescriptions and younger users tracking supplements.
Kick Off
The Problem
Medication labels are confusing. Complex medical terminology, tiny fonts, and unclear instructions create real barriers for people trying to manage their health safely. This confusion leads to stress, medication errors, and even health risks, especially for elderly users juggling multiple prescriptions or younger people exploring supplements.
Core issue: People lack a simple, reliable way to quickly understand what they're taking and keep track of it all.
Research: Understanding the Real Challenges
I started by analyzing existing scanning tools to understand what worked:
Yuka: Scans food and cosmetics, translating complex ingredients into simple health scores
Google Lens & Apple Visual Intelligence: Provide instant text recognition and visual overlays
These tools proved that scanning functions deliver accurate, real-time information effectively. However, none focused specifically on medication management with tracking capabilities.
Then, I interviewed 5 participants with different medication needs:
Caregiver managing her elderly mother's medications
Individual living independently with chronic conditions
Retiree taking multiple prescriptions
Part-time worker managing daily medications
Health-conscious young person taking supplements regularly
What I Discovered
Users struggle with basic understanding
Most relied on pharmacists, doctors, or Google to understand new medications
Labels felt "impossible to read" due to small text and medical jargon
Several participants had experienced near-mistakes from misunderstanding instructions
Medication management causes stress
Managing multiple medications felt overwhelming and mentally taxing
No adequate tech tools existed to support organization
Users desperately wanted plain-language explanations and visual clarity
Key Insight: Many users lack a comprehensive understanding of their medications, leading to misuse due to forgetfulness or unclear instructions. They often rely on others or online resources to understand medication and monitor their regimens.
Define
Defining the Solution
Based on interviews, I focused on two main groups:
Elderly users taking multiple long-term prescriptions who need help understanding and managing complex medication
Health-conscious younger users tracking supplements who want to understand safe combinations and usage
I framed the design challenge with three questions:
How might we reduce the need for external help in interpreting medication labels?
How might we design a visual system for tracking multiple medications?
How might we offer real-time explanations of confusing ingredients or instructions?
Design
"I delved deeper into the design challenge and decided to create an app that was both user-friendly and inspiring. In addition to providing information, users can also acquire knowledge simultaneously."
I narrowed down three essential features below:
Barcode Quick Scan: Instant access to key medication information through simple scanning
AI Assistant: Built-in chatbot for asking questions about scanned results
Digital Medbox: Organized storage system with medication categorization and reminders
Design Execution
User Flows
I mapped out the user journey for each core feature to understand exactly how users would navigate through the app. This helped me identify critical touchpoints and necessary screens before diving into wireframes.
Low-Fidelity Wireframes
I started sketching in Figma, focusing on structure and simplicity over polish. My priority was visualizing key components and ensuring the layout felt intuitive.
After creating initial sketches, I gathered feedback from mentors and refined the wireframes, adding detail and ensuring all core functionalities were represented and adequate for user testing. This iterative process transformed my rough concepts into feasible designs.
Validate
Low-Fi Testing
I tested the low-fi prototype with four participants, focusing on three goals:
Can users successfully scan medications and add them to Medbox?
Is the AI Chatbot useful and easy to use?
How do users naturally interact with the Medbox?
The initial feedback was invaluable and directly informed my high-fidelity designs.
A/B Testing Button Placement
While designing the medication summary page, I faced a dilemma about button placement. Should the "Add to Medbox" and "Ask AI" buttons appear at the top or bottom of the summary?
This mattered because button position directly impacts user experience and completion rates.
My Approach
Rather than guessing, I created two versions and conducted A/B testing with 5 participants.
Version B (buttons at bottom) won decisively. In a testing with five participants, two prototype versions were provided for experimentation. I watched how they naturally navigated from scan to results, observing their behavior and asking about their preferences. I noticed that users habitually scrolled to the page bottom looking for next actions.
High-Fidelity Design & Final Testing
After the testing, I've been diligently working on the Hi-Fi design. I've refined the visual elements, including realistic images, the appropriate typography, and polished icons, to create the most realistic representation of the final product. Additionally, I conducted final usability testing and received critical feedback that prompted priority revisions.
Adjusted information hierarchy for faster scanning
Refined spacing to improve readability
Fine-tuned color contrast for accessibility
Maintain a consistent UI style for all primary and secondary buttons
Quick Scan & Add to Medbox (Prototype)
Medbox (Prototype)
Results & Impact
Solution
Medminder app delivers three seamless experiences:
Instant Understanding: Users scan a barcode and immediately see clear, plain-language summaries of their medication, no more squinting at tiny labels or googling medical terms
On-Demand Answers: The AI assistant provides instant responses to specific questions about ingredients, interactions, or usage instructions
Organized Management: The digital Medbox keeps all medications organized in one place, with customizable reminders that reduce anxiety and prevent missed doses
Reflection
This project challenged me to think deeply about accessibility and simplicity in UX.
Designing Medminder was more than just creating a medication management app, it was an exercise in empathy, clarity, and purpose. I learned how subtle design decisions, like information hierarchy, button placement, or color tone, all can impact user sense of control and confidence, especially in something as personal as managing health.
This project helped me think as a UX designer in mindset. I learned to advocate for user’s needs, stay curious through feedback, and design with empathy at every step.
Throughout the design journey, I became more comfortable using research insights to justify design decisions and balancing functionality. Testing with users helped me realize that great design isn’t about adding more, it’s about removing friction and guiding people intuitively. Refining typography, spacing, and content tone taught me to communicate reliability through design.