Black Americans are 2.3 times more likely to die from diabetes than non-Hispanic whites. The Wisconsin Institute for Healthy Aging and the University of Wisconsin Master’s of Design + Innovation program partnered to target this issue and apply the design thinking process to develop solutions aimed at increasing participation in and reducing barriers to Diabetes Self-Management  Education programs in Wisconsin communities of color. 

The African American Community represents the population with the highest rate of diabetes. Despite this situation that community represents the lowest rate of users that have access to self-management programs that could help them to cope with this disease.      

To address this challenge, we applied Design Thinking, a creative problem-solving process with a human-centered approach.  This methodology allowed us to analyze complex problems an to develop innovative solutions. 

We identified three opportunity areas that could help WIHA to reach out to the African American community:

1. An empowered facilitator

2. An engaged and informed diabetes educator 

3. HLWD+ (Healthy Living with Diabetes Plus) 

As a team we evaluated the opportunity areas with the professor of the Collaborative Capstone I. Then we selected the option to be developed based on the potential and impact that option would have. 

Based on the documentation review done, we found out that the diabetes educator had an important role when referring patients diagnosed with diabetes, especially for the African American community. That community is 80% more likely to attend a self-management program such as HLWD if it was recommended by the health educator.  This was a relevant issue because the current way of working for WIHA doesn't provide resources to the health educator, a key stakeholder that could make a big difference.  

With this new scope of work, the team performed different brainstorming sessions that helped us to identify many different solutions that could address this issue.

As a team, we decided to continue developing the inclusive website idea, which required us to perform more interviews with the Program Director and with Health Educators.

I performed a systemic analysis that helped the team to identified the main pain points through the user experience. This allowed us to identify different elements that were incorporated into the solution designed.

We drafted some sketches of the different pages and content for the redesigned website. Using the skills from some of the members the sketches were digitized using Figma and Adobe Creative Cloud.

We made two iterations of the prototypes through online presentations made to Healthcare Educators and the Program Director from WIHA. 

After each iteration, the team analyzed the feedback and incorporated the changes required for the final design. 

Designing for the needs, frustrations, and goals of our target audience (which is health educators), we created a system and organization design to reshape the resources they need and the processes of referring and enrolling their participants. 

For a more holistic solution, we not only designed a page for the Health Educator but also redesigned the following pages:

1. Home page

2. Programs 

3. Health Educators

4. Facilitators

5. Participants  

Note: Click on each image for more detailed information

The re-designed online presence clearly segments and engages WIHA and HLWD’s primary users.

Building a WIHA program storefront, with an easy way to quickly access the different programs offered and their content.

Where they will find vital information about the programs and resources available for their patients.

Where they will find information about training schedule, workshop resources, and information about how to become a facilitator. 

Where they can find testimonials and other resources that could help them to self-manage diabetes.

To implement the solutions proposed, we suggested a series of foundational steps that could help identify gaps and involve the rest of the WIHA team to improve organizational symbiosis.

We also ranked the features to be incorporated into the new design, based on the complexity and impact of those features.