Building an app to help women learn about, manage and overcome heart disease with MyAdesso
People assume that the primary causes of death for women in America are car accidents, violence, smoking, or other commonplace health issues.
Unfortunately, the leading cause of death for women in America is a health issue typically associated with men: heart disease.
In 2022, heart disease accounted for 1 in 5 deaths among women.
Data source: Go Red for Women
The saddest part is that nearly 80% of these cases are preventable!
Research, knowledge, and access to information about heart disease and its prevention have posed significant challenges in helping women in America overcome this deadly disease.
But beyond that, improving your heart health requires introspection, learning, change, and a sustained commitment to a better life.
In 2021, Adesso, a startup based in New York and founded by renowned women's heart health physician Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum, took on the task of addressing this issue. Recognizing the importance of learning in their platform to improve women's heart health, they sought support from Creature Learning.
We had the privilege of partnering with Adesso to create a new app specifically designed for women on their journey towards a healthy heart. This innovative technology combines learning with daily action and data tracking to help women adopt mindsets and behaviors that promote long-term heart health.
After guiding Adesso through a high-level strategy process, our involvement didn't stop there. We worked closely with Adesso to ensure that the principles of learning and discovery were integrated into every stage of the product's development. This included prioritizing features, designing, and continuously improving the product based on user feedback.
Our process and collaboration approach blends learning design with app development— Here’s an overview 👇
1. Getting to the “Heart” of Adesso’s Mission
Learning Strategy
We started by understanding Adesso's business goals and vision. We explored how the organization could evolve and adapt to meet the ever-changing needs of women's heart health.
The result: We gained a deep understanding of how the solution should serve health networks, patient providers, physicians, and patients who would use the app. We established a clear goal for our work, along with a strategy for how learning can support that mission.
2. Putting our finger on the pulse of women’s health tech
Landscape analysis
Next, we conducted an extensive analysis of the current state of women's heart health, the solutions that served the market, and identified areas where Adesso could provide relevance and value.
The result: With the deeper understanding we gained from our analysis of the current state of women's heart health, the solutions available in the market, and the areas where Adesso could provide relevance and value, we were able to shape Adesso's product strategy as well as its value proposition in a way that deeply resonated with both customers and users. We addressed the unique challenges and needs of women concerning heart disease, ultimately positioning Adesso as a valuable and trusted resource in the field of women's heart health tech.
3. Having some "Heart to Hearts"
User Research with Self Advocates.
To ensure that the platform catered to the specific needs of various segments of women, we conducted thorough user research. Through rapid prototyping, interviews, and usability testing, we gained a deep understanding of their challenges, preferences, and desires. Based on these insights, our approach to the app continues to evolve. We developed user personas to represent the different segments of Adesso's target audience.
The result: Above all, we gained a profound understanding of the individual journeys that women experience while using MyAdesso, as well as our crucial role in supporting them. By identifying shared characteristics among users and recognizing their distinct needs, we customized the platform to deliver personalized and meaningful content that deeply resonated with each user. As a result, every woman can now envision herself at the center of this journey.
4. Designing a Diagnosis
Prototyping and Product Design
Our focus was not only on delivering new technology, but also on creating a visually appealing and engaging user interface and user experience (UI/UX), visual design system, and compelling content. We worked with our designers to prototype our concepts for rapid feedback and then to build out a beautiful visual design system.
The result: This platform enhances the process of discovery and empowers users through a user-centric design approach. We have created an interface that is visually appealing, intuitive, and maintains users' attention through a combination of compelling narration and a sophisticated incentivization system. These tactics are guaranteed to increase user engagement and adoption.
5. The Rx
Feature Prioritization and Product Roadmapping
We collaborated with the Adesso team to determine the essential features that would empower users in their journey towards heart health. We prioritized the "jobs to be done" as it related to the product roadmap. We were also able to create strategies for onboarding and ongoing education within the app.
The result: Firstly, we ensured that Adesso dedicated their resources towards the most essential technology areas for their community. We prioritized features while balancing various needs that would preserve a seamless learning experience for MyAdesso users. We also helped them create a vision for their minimum viable product while keeping site on a long-term product vision that could be executed through future releases.
6. Checking Up
Product Management
During the entire process of developing the product, several new decisions arose that required careful consideration of tradeoffs between technical specifications, user requirements, and different possibilities for implementation. These decisions played a crucial role in shaping the final outcome of the product, as they had a direct impact on its functionality, usability, and overall success in the market. These decisions could also affect the core learning experience.
The result: By carefully weighing the pros and cons of each option, the product management team was able to make informed choices that aligned with the company's strategic goals and the needs of its target learners. This iterative decision-making process ensured that the product not only met the desired technical standards but also delivered a seamless and intuitive user experience. By staying involved in this process and key decisions, Creature was able to hold a place at the table for user learning and engagement. Attention was given to consistent tone, visuals, UI/UX, and other aspects to create a compelling learning environment.
7. Empowered engagement
User Success and Learning
In order to enhance the learning experiences and promote a deeper understanding, we thoroughly examined various avenues to provide users with a wide range of supplemental learning resources directly within the platform.
The result: By expanding the available resources, users will have access to a diverse array of materials, such as interactive tutorials, comprehensive guides, and in-depth case studies, which will empower them to delve deeper into the subject matter and enhance their overall learning outcomes. We ensured that in every opportunity where a new approach to learning and action could taken, it was. By broadening the users' view and inspiring them to think about various aspects of life, we encouraged to join a largely growing community that embraces a holistic approach to women's heart health.
Through our partnership with Adesso, we were able to create a learning platform and community that empowered women to take charge of their heart health. Our work continues with Adesso as we continue to explore and build new strategies that incorporate new possibilities The comprehensive approach we took, from understanding business goals to user success, resulted in a meaningful and impactful solution.
Stay tuned for more updates on our work with Adesso and the positive impact it is making in the world of women's heart health!