Lead Product Designer
Lead Developer
1 Year
Desktop Web
Mobile Web
Product Design
Full-stack Development
User Research
Visual Design
Prototyping
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of people around the world have had to get tested. After a possible exposure in my family, I struggled to find a testing center near me. I realized that if a technological 20-year-old was having trouble, others would too.
Find My COVID Test is a real website that I created that improves the accessibility of finding a COVID-19 testing center in California by allowing patients to filter testing locations based on their preferences for distance, insurance coverage, testing method, fee, and doctor's referral.
To learn more about other people’s experience registering for a COVID-19 testing center, I conducted an online research study surveying 39 past COVID-19 testing patients. From this survey, I found that on average it took users approximately 15 minutes to find a testing center and register for an appointment.
Additionally, the most difficult parts of the process were:
While creating my target audience, I needed to keep in mind the average internet user's age. Additionally, using the information on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website, I found that adults of any age with pre-existing health conditions such as asthma, COPD, obesity, liver disease, or smoke have a higher risk of contracting COVID-19. For these reasons, my target audience was:
Through my first prototype, I had acknowledged all of the user’s highest requests, allowing them to schedule and register for a COVID-19 testing appointment within seconds.
I created a simple and easy-to-use user interface that would satisfy my target audience because of its simplicity, multi-step process, and large signifying buttons/symbols.
Loading the application, users would be presented with a map of testing locations. Clicking each map pin would then open a slide up modal with information about the testing location such as distance, cost, and if insurance was required.
To confirm that users understand the necessary criteria to register for an appointment, an alert screen appears to confirm with users about the necessary criteria to meet in order to qualify for this COVID testing site.
Once users press the continue button from the warnings page, users are able to see a calendar with available appointment times to take their COVID test.
After choosing a time, users are presented with a registration form that asks for their personal information to sign up for their appointment.
Finally, a success screen is shown to the user, as well as an email confirmation that their appointment is set!
However, I realized that if this remained a prototype, it would have no tangible effect in making a difference for people around the world.
Using my knowledge in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, I knew that I needed to turn this into a real life responsive website that would be able to meet the needs of all potential users.
Using my pre-existing mobile prototype for reference, I went on my iPad and drew some quick sketches of what the desktop website might look like.
Given more screen real estate, I came up with the idea to have a filtering menu on the left side of the page to allow users to quickly and easily find a COVID testing center that met their personal needs.
After creating wireframes of the website, I transformed them into high-fidelity mock-ups to create a Figma prototype.
Additionally, after compiling a list of testing centers in California, I omitted the filtering option of Appointment because every testing center required an appointment. Additionally, I added a search bar feature that allows users to find testing centers in a desired city.
Using my original prototype and new desktop designs, I created a design for the mobile view of Find My COVID Test. It was extremely important to me that I was able to adapt the same ease of use as the desktop view into the mobile design.
After finalizing the design for the website, I spent 6 weeks developing the Find My COVID Test website using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
To manage the testing location data, I learned how to use Google Firebase Database. This data is then plotted onto the map using the Google Maps API.
Below is a basic level flow-diagram that explains how the user interface components and development functions interact as the website is being used.
To ensure that the product was usable for all ages and demographics I conducted a user test on a working MVP prototype with 10 people between the ages 20-55.
Based on the user testing results and feedback, I made the following revisions to my design:
After implementing these changes to code and countless all-nighters, I had successfully developed Find My COVID Test and launched it publicly on September 8, 2020!
Prior to creating this website, past test recipients reported that the average time test was 15 minutes. Find My COVID Test has been able to reduce the time it takes to find a COVID Test by 2647.06%!
Overall, my website has greatly reduced the search time for finding the most suitable COVID-19 test. With the improved accessibility, I hope to be able to increase the amount of California residents receiving tests, creating a healthier and aware community that can flatten the curve.
As I continue to add testing locations to the map, I am proactively reaching out to the California government and testing organizations such as Verily- Project Baseline, CVS Health, and Walgreens to work together and improve the website's map coverage across the United States.
If you would like to partner, please email me at: findmycovidtest@gmail.com
If you would like to use Find My COVID Test for yourself, please visit: http://findmycovidtest.com
I have never been more proud of a project and I’m glad that I’ve been able to positively impact the community. Being able to see first hand what I was making and being involved in 100% of the process has been a surreal experience.
The biggest challenge by far was being the only designer and developer of this project. However, I truly learned more about human centered design and development through this project than I have in the past 4 years.
From January - March 2021, I continued working on Find My COVID Test to work on outreach and expanding the test location database.
At the end of my independent study, I was able to partner with 2 of the largest testing organizations in California, Verily- Project Baseline and Curative. With their help, Find My COVID Test now has over 1,100 testing locations to choose from!
Additionally, I was featured in an article by the University of California, Davis Letters and Sciences and the California Aggie newspaper!
Thank you, Blake Brown, Jeremy Chang-Yoo, Joli Chien, Kit Nga Chou, Thomas Hernandez, Linda Huang, Francis Kong, Hannah McKelson, Sam Louderback, Thomas Pham, Marcela San Juan, Aileen Yang, and many more for their feedback and support along the way.