Krisenkompass Redesign

Krisenkompass is a suicide prevention app by the NGO TelefonSeelsorge. This NGO and their mission is very dear and near to my heart and I have been volunteering there even before I finished my Bachelors in Psychology. When I learned of the existence of the Krisenkompass app, I was very curious and had to have a look...

Overview

1. Introduction

2. User Research

3. Redesign

4. Next Steps

The before

The after

1. Introduction

The goal: Make the app easier to use and more intuitive.

The goal of Krisenkompass

The nature of this app is to help people who experience a mental health crisis. It's purpose is to help in the moment the user experiences a crisis in their life.

If you have ever have experienced some crisis in your life, maybe a job loss, the death of a family member, maybe a divorce, then you know that thinking clearly in this circumstance is not possible. It is of the utmost importance then, to give people in crisis an app that is structured very clearly and directly and that gives them help without them having to look for the help.

Along with the right content, this app needs the right design in order to help the most people possible. Please note that this is an app that is created in German, it is so far the only app of its nature in the German language. The usertesting was held in German, so you may use a translation service of your choice if you are interested in the nitty gritty of the users' answers.

Users

The goal of the app is to provide support for people who are in a mental health crisis.

The app aims to support three main user groups:

Individuals considering suicide
Individuals concerned about someone close to them considering suicide
Individuals who have lost someone to suicide

Features

The app assists these user groups by offering various forms of support:

Resource Library: Provides strategies and mindfulness exercises to help users manage specific types of crises.
Mood Tracker: Allows users to track their daily moods across different categories, helping them monitor their mental health over time.
Support Contacts: Users can add trusted contacts to the app, making it easy to reach out for help during a crisis.
Hotline Integration: Direct access to the TelefonSeelsorge hotline, along with links and phone numbers for additional NGOs that specialize in crisis support.

Competitive Analysis

During the redesign process, I conducted a competitive analysis and discovered that there are very few resources like Krisenkompass available. This makes the project even more critical, as it fills a significant gap in the market.

Importance of Krisenkompass

Given the scarcity of similar resources, Krisenkompass stands out as a vital tool for those in need. The unique features and comprehensive support it offers make it an indispensable resource for users experiencing mental health crises. By providing accessible and effective help, Krisenkompass addresses an urgent need in the community, highlighting the importance of its continued development and improvement.

2. User Research

Testing the current app

Testing the current app - asking user's opinions via a usability test
Finding test users for this project was a bit different than finding test users for other products due to the sensitive nature of the topic. I only wanted to ask close friends to test the app because you need to have an atmosphere of trust when talking about the topic of suicide. This group of test users may therefore not be a representative to the larger group of users that would usually use this app, this should be kept in mind when talking about the results of the testing.

User briefing
Imagine you are worried about a friend who you think is at risk of committing suicide.
In your concern, you look for help in the app Krisenkompass which you heard of from another friend who volunteers for Telefonseelsorge. You decide to give it a try and install the app.
Please open the app now. Your goal is to find something that helps you with your worries about your friend. You don’t want them to commit suicide, so you want to get resources that help them and you also want some help for yourself because you feel overwhelmed with this situation.
Please have a look around in the app to see if you can find anything that will help you.
Please think out loud and don’t hesitate to point out anything that you find confusing. There is is no right or wrong in this.

Questions
Walk me through your decision to do that.
Were you able to find what you were looking for?
Walk me through your thoughts on clicking there.
Did you notice whether there was any other way to get to your goal?
What are your thoughts on how you got from here to here?
What are your thoughts on the colors?
What did you think of the layout of the content?

User's impressions about navigation:

"Die App war schwer zu navigieren und die Informationen waren nicht wirklich hilfreich, um meine Sorgen zu bewältigen."

"Ich schätzte die Sicherheitsplanungsfunktion, aber ich fand es schwierig, sie anzupassen und hätte mir mehr Flexibilität gewünscht."

"Ich wünschte, es gäbe mehr Optionen zur Anpassung an meine persönlichen Vorlieben.”

"Die App fühlte sich manchmal zu überwältigend an, mit zu vielen Funktionen und Ressourcen, durch die man navigieren musste.”

"Ich schätze das Angebot an Ressourcen und Informationen, aber ich wünschte, es gäbe mehr Hinweise darauf, wie ich Zugang zu psychosozialen Diensten in meiner Region bekomme.”

User's impressions about visual design:

"Die Benutzeroberfläche war unübersichtlich und das Bildmaterial war überwältigend, was es schwierig machte, die benötigten Ressourcen zu finden.
"Ich fand die App eher schlecht gestaltet, sie war leider nicht visuell ansprechend.”

"Ich fand das Layout und Design der App verwirrend, was die Navigation und das Auffinden der gesuchten Informationen erschwerte.

"Die Verwendung von Farben und Grafiken war verwirrend, und es war nicht immer klar, was die einzelnen Symbole oder Schaltflächen bedeuteten.

"Ich hatte Schwierigkeiten zu verstehen, wie ich einige der Funktionen, wie z. B. das Sicherheitsplanungstool, nutzen konnte, da die visuelle Darstellung nicht intuitiv war.

"Die Schriftgröße und der Schriftstil könnten verbessert werden, da der Text teilweise schwer zu lesen war und es schwierig machte, den Anweisungen zu folgen.

The customer journey, user flows and information architecture

Based on the feedback that I created, I decided to create a comprehensive customer journey map. This holistic approach allowed me to consider every aspect of the design and functionality of the app. My volunteer experience with TelefonSeelsorge provided valuable insights into effectively "marketing" the app and understanding the needs and characteristics of our target audience.

Next, I conducted a thorough analysis of the existing information architecture and user flows. This process included:

Mapping User Flows: I outlined the various paths users could take to complete key tasks within the app, identifying any pain points or inefficiencies.
Evaluating Information Architecture: I assessed the organization and structure of content, ensuring it was intuitive and easily navigable.
Identifying Gaps: I pinpointed areas where users might encounter difficulties or confusion, and proposed solutions to streamline the experience.
Optimizing Navigation: I redesigned the navigation to be more user-friendly, ensuring that critical resources and features were easily accessible.

By analyzing and refining the information architecture and user flows, I aimed to create a seamless, intuitive experience that meets the needs of users in crisis.

3. Redesign

The redesign of the Krisenkompass app focused on creating a more cohesive and intuitive user experience. One of the key changes was addressing the inconsistent use of colors throughout the app. Previously, each section of the app had a distinct color, which users found confusing and unnecessary, especially since the app's structure has now been simplified.

Unified Color Scheme:

Consistency: I replaced the multiple colors with a single, unified color scheme centered around purple. This not only created a more consistent and aesthetically pleasing interface but also improved user comprehension by eliminating the confusion caused by the varying colors.
Brand Alignment: Purple is the main brand color of TelefonSeelsorge, the NGO behind the app. By adopting this color throughout the app, I reinforced the brand identity, making it immediately clear to users that the app is a trusted resource provided by TelefonSeelsorge. This alignment with the NGO's branding helps build trust and recognition.
Visual Hierarchy: The unified color scheme also allowed me to establish a clear visual hierarchy. Important elements and calls to action stand out more effectively against the consistent background, guiding users to critical features and information with ease.

Simplified Design Elements:

Minimalist Approach: I adopted a minimalist design approach, reducing clutter and focusing on essential elements. This simplification helps users find the support they need quickly, without being overwhelmed by unnecessary details.
Clear Typography: I selected clean, legible fonts and ensured consistent text styles across the app. This enhances readability and ensures that important messages are easily understood, even in moments of crisis.
User-Centered Layout: The new layout prioritizes user needs, with frequently accessed features prominently displayed. This reduces the cognitive load on users, enabling them to navigate the app more intuitively.

Enhanced Usability:

Accessibility Improvements: The redesign incorporated best practices in accessibility, ensuring that the app is usable by individuals with various disabilities. This includes considerations for color contrast, text size adjustments, and screen reader compatibility.
User Feedback Integration: I continuously gathered and analyzed user feedback throughout the redesign process. This iterative approach allowed me to make data-driven decisions, refining the app based on real user experiences and needs.

The result of these redesign efforts is a more user-friendly, cohesive, and accessible app that better serves the needs of individuals in crisis, aligns with the TelefonSeelsorge brand, and enhances the overall user experience.

4. Next steps

Moving forward, the plan includes several key initiatives:

Continuous User Feedback: Implement a system for ongoing user feedback to ensure the app continues to meet the evolving needs of its users.
Feature Enhancements: Explore additional features, such as AI-driven crisis detection and personalized support recommendations.
Accessibility Improvements: Ensure the app meets the highest standards of accessibility, making it usable for individuals with various disabilities. A crisis app should be accessible to all!
Broader Outreach: Partner with more mental health organizations to expand the app's reach and provide support to a wider audience.

The Krisenkompass app redesign has been a deeply meaningful project, combining thorough user research, thoughtful design, and a strong commitment to supporting individuals in crisis. If you have any questions or would like more detailed information about this project, please feel free to contact me.