Work

About

Resume

Work

About

Resume

Work

About

Resume

CLIENT WORK FOR SPLAGen

Building a centralized hub to improve patient care access

0-1 portal for genetic counselors to streamline communication, promoting education and access to patient care in Latin America

SPLAGen’s

Internal Portal

ROLE

Product Designer

TIMELINE

6 months

Dec 2024 - May 2025

TEAM

Kathy Chen (Product Manager)

Helen Lin (Engineering Manager)

Nicole Zhi (Design Lead)

Vivian Liu (Designer)

8 Developers

SKILL

0-1 Product Design

Design Systems

Components

Documentation

UI/UX Design

TOOL

Figma

Overview

Research

Design

Testing

Next Steps

Learnings

Overview

Research

Design

Testing

Next Steps

Learnings

CONTEXT

What is SPLAGen?

SPLAGen is a grassroots effort founded by Latin American genetic counselors in 2021 whose goal is to promote knowledge and access to genetic counseling services in Latin America through education, professional support, research and public policy.

CONTEXT

What is SPLAGen?

CONTEXT

What is SPLAGen?

Fig: SPLAGen website homepage

ABOUT SPLAGen

What is genetic counseling?

ABOUT SPLAGen

What is genetic counseling?

ABOUT SPLAGen

What is genetic counseling?

What are genetic counselors?

Genetic counselors are health professionals who guide patients in the decisions they make regarding obtaining and using their genetic information.

Why is it important?

With the advancement of genomics and the availability of low-cost tests, there is an increased demand for genetic testing services.

Current Status

Currently, there are very few formally trained genetic counselors in Latin America due to limited access to training programs. SPLAGen works to contribute to the advancement of genetic counseling in Latin America.

THE CHALLENGE

SPLAGen lacks a centralized platform for administrators to manage their membership database, making it difficult to maintain accurate membership records, scale its network, and provide visibility of counseling services.

OUR SOLUTION

A 0-to-1 integrated and multilingual membership system that enhances genetic counseling access

With this new internal portal, admin can seamlessly manage member data and counselors can build strong networks with one another.

OUR SOLUTION

A 0-to-1 integrated and multilingual membership system that enhances genetic counseling access

With this new internal portal, admin can seamlessly manage member data and counselors can build strong networks with one another.

OUR SOLUTION

A 0-to-1 integrated and multilingual membership system that enhances genetic counseling access

With this new internal portal, admin can seamlessly manage member data and counselors can build strong networks with one another.

KEY FEATURES

New Member Journey

Members can register, edit profile, and manage content updates.

KEY FEATURES

New Member Journey

Members can register, edit profile, and manage content updates.

KEY FEATURES

New Member Journey

Members can register, edit profile, and manage content updates.

KEY FEATURES

Admin Dashboard

Admins gain quick insights into their member count. Members easily access resources.

KEY FEATURES

Admin Dashboard

Admins gain quick insights into their member count. Members easily access resources.

KEY FEATURES

Admin Dashboard

Admins gain quick insights into their member count. Members easily access resources.

KEY FEATURES

Manage Members

Admins are able to see all counselor information and approve pending members into SPLAGen’s front facing directory.

KEY FEATURES

Manage Members

Admins are able to see all counselor information and approve pending members into SPLAGen’s front facing directory.

KEY FEATURES

Manage Members

Admins are able to see all counselor information and approve pending members into SPLAGen’s front facing directory.

KEY FEATURES

Discussion Threads

Counselors are able to create new discussion threads or reply to existing ones posted by their peers.

KEY FEATURES

Discussion Threads

Counselors are able to create new discussion threads or reply to existing ones posted by their peers.

KEY FEATURES

Discussion Threads

Counselors are able to create new discussion threads or reply to existing ones posted by their peers.

KEY FEATURES

Announcements

Admins can create, post, and edit time-sensitive information. Members can view important updates.

KEY FEATURES

Announcements

Admins can create, post, and edit time-sensitive information. Members can view important updates.

KEY FEATURES

Announcements

Admins can create, post, and edit time-sensitive information. Members can view important updates.

Scroll to learn more about the process

PRIMARY RESEARCH

We spoke to our key stakeholders, Daniela and Laurie, to better understand how SPLAGen supports the tracking of and building community among genetic counselors

Our questions were organized into 5 categories: general, surveys + manual genetic counselor sign-up, discussion board, announcements, and newsletter.

PRIMARY RESEARCH

We spoke to our key stakeholders, Daniela and Laurie, to better understand how SPLAGen supports the tracking of and building community among genetic counselors

Our questions were organized into 5 categories: general, surveys + manual genetic counselor sign-up, discussion board, announcements, and newsletter.

PRIMARY RESEARCH

We spoke to our key stakeholders, Daniela and Laurie, to better understand how SPLAGen supports the tracking of and building community among genetic counselors

Our questions were organized into 5 categories: general, surveys + manual genetic counselor sign-up, discussion board, announcements, and newsletter.

Daniela Diaz Caro

🏢

SPLAGen

🛠

Founder and Chair of Research Committee

Laurie Simone

🏢

SPLAGen

🛠

Founder and Chair of the Interim President

TYPES OF USERS

Understanding the different needs between members, administrators, and super administrators

Each of these three user groups had distinct needs that required us to deeply understand each of their roles within SPLAGen to design separate views that accounted for their varying permissions.

TYPES OF USERS

Understanding the different needs between members, administrators, and super administrators

Each of these three user groups had distinct needs that required us to deeply understand each of their roles within SPLAGen to design separate views that accounted for their varying permissions.

TYPES OF USERS

Understanding the different needs between members, administrators, and super administrators

Each of these three user groups had distinct needs that required us to deeply understand each of their roles within SPLAGen to design separate views that accounted for their varying permissions.

OPPORTUNITIES

Given the project’s unique challenges, we established three design opportunities:

OPPORTUNITIES

Given the project’s unique challenges, we established three design opportunities:

OPPORTUNITIES

Given the project’s unique challenges, we established three design opportunities:

Admins lack a centralized system to manage member data

Admin dashboard: A tool that gives visibility to admin and member activity

Members face barriers to connection & community

Communication tools: Announcements and discussion boards facilitate collaboration

Manual profile editing → inaccurate data

User-managed profile editing: Self-guided onboarding and profile management

PROBLEM STATEMENT

How might we centralize communication between SPLAGen admin and genetic counselors to streamline efficiency, promote community, and increase access to patient care?

COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS

Feature comparison of competitor tools to optimize the usability of SPLAGen’s internal portal

We analyzed relevant features, such as a directory, collaborative discussion boards, and announcements, in Canvas, Slack, Airtable, Jira, Notion, and Discord to understand how each competitor stacks up against the core needs of SPLAGen’s internal portal.

COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS

Feature comparison of competitor tools to optimize the usability of SPLAGen’s internal portal

COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS

Feature comparison of competitor tools to optimize the usability of SPLAGen’s internal portal

PROJECT TIMELINE

We divided the timeline into three quarters—fall, winter, and spring—and outlined the goals we aimed to accomplish in each

PROJECT TIMELINE

We divided the timeline into three quarters—fall, winter, and spring—and outlined the goals we aimed to accomplish in each

PROJECT TIMELINE

We divided the timeline into three quarters—fall, winter, and spring—and outlined the goals we aimed to accomplish in each

V1 & V2 SCOPING

To inform our feature design plan, we conducted an Impact vs Feasibility analysis to map out what to implement first based on value and effort

V1 & V2 SCOPING

To inform our feature design plan, we conducted an Impact vs Feasibility analysis to map out what to implement first based on value and effort

V1 & V2 SCOPING

To inform our feature design plan, we conducted an Impact vs Feasibility analysis to map out what to implement first based on value and effort

Design Stages

fall: MVP

winter: V2

spring: V3

Design Stages

fall: MVP

fall: MVP

winter: V2

winter: V2

spring: V3

spring: V3

INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE

Organizing features based on different user types

We collaborated with Kathy (PM) and Helen (EM) in the early stages to define different user groups. Our goal was to organize the content in order to provide a clear layout that helps users easily discover what they need and navigate through the platform.

INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE

Organizing features based on different user types

INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE

Organizing features based on different user types

DESIGN EXPLORATIONS

Translating surveys into a seamless onboarding experience

SPLAGen currently uses two different Google surveys to onboard their members, making it difficult to update and manage. Our solution was to streamline this process by creating an initial onboarding and enabling them to self-update their information.

DESIGN EXPLORATIONS

Translating surveys into a seamless onboarding experience

DESIGN EXPLORATIONS

Translating surveys into a seamless onboarding experience

Before

After

DESIGN EXPLORATIONS

Simplifying the tedious approval process of joining SPLAGen’s directory*

SPLAGen admin currently manually input member information from the surveys into a DreamHost database. Obstacles and inefficiencies can arise if they input incorrect information, leading to a slow process of back-and-forth communication. Our solution was to embed the directory database into the portal where the admin can instantly approve/deny counselors without using a third-party.

*The directory is only limited to genetic counselors who are licensed medical providers and can see patients. Students and associate members are unable to join.

DESIGN EXPLORATIONS

Simplifying the tedious approval process of joining SPLAGen’s directory*

*The directory is only limited to genetic counselors who are licensed medical providers and can see patients. Students and associate members are unable to join.

DESIGN EXPLORATIONS

Simplifying the tedious approval process of joining SPLAGen’s directory*

*The directory is only limited to genetic counselors who are licensed medical providers and can see patients. Students and associate members are unable to join.

Before

After

DESIGN EXPLORATIONS

Streamlining counselor-to-counselor communication

SPLAGen currently utilizes one WhatsApp group chat for counselors to communicate with one another, but it is often very disorganized and overwhelming, causing information to be scattered and lost. We envisioned a discussion page that was sorted by date and allowed for threaded conversations, resulting in messages being easier to find and promoting networking among members.

DESIGN EXPLORATIONS

Streamlining counselor-to-counselor communication

DESIGN EXPLORATIONS

Streamlining counselor-to-counselor communication

Before

After

DESIGN EXPLORATIONS

Centralizing important updates in one place

SPLAGen admin currently sends out emails to their members to communicate important messages, but they typically get lost in their inboxes. Our solution was an announcements page dedicated to these updates, so it’s easy for members to locate and revisit.

DESIGN EXPLORATIONS

Centralizing important updates in one place

DESIGN EXPLORATIONS

Centralizing important updates in one place

Before

After

USER TESTING

I introduced a member popup that provided a comprehensive view of a user’s responses so admin can easily determine whether they meet the requirements for the directory

During user testing with 25+ designers from Triton Software Engineering, it was revealed that the table was visually cluttered and hard to digest. This translated into challenges when trying to approve a counselor into the directory, since they were unable to identify if the members met all the criteria.

USER TESTING

I introduced a member popup that provided a comprehensive view of a user’s responses so admin can easily determine whether they meet the requirements for the directory

USER TESTING

I introduced a member popup that provided a comprehensive view of a user’s responses so admin can easily determine whether they meet the requirements for the directory

USER TESTING

I reduced the multiple member confirmation popups into a single popup to align with the user’s mental model when they click the “Select all” function

Initially, I designed multiple confirmation popups to avoid admin falsely approving members into the directory, but 100% of the designers commented that it was counterintuitive to manually approve each member after clicking “Select all”. Therefore, I decided to adapt it to a single confirmation popup, which was well received by our stakeholders.

USER TESTING

I reduced the multiple member confirmation popups into a single popup to align with the user’s mental model when they click the “Select all” function

USER TESTING

I reduced the multiple member confirmation popups into a single popup to align with the user’s mental model when they click the “Select all” function

OUR WORK FLOW

A user-centered and iterative process

From onboarding to handoff, we followed a feedback-driven workflow where we held weekly meetings with our stakeholders to ensure alignment with user needs and technical feasibility. Additionally, we had quarterly user testing sessions with designers from Triton Software Engineering where we used those insights to refine our designs.

OUR WORK FLOW

A user-centered and iterative process

OUR WORK FLOW

A user-centered and iterative process

NEXT STEPS

After the development team implements the project, we aim to measure…

Reduced time for SPLAGen admin to update Counselor Information compared to their previous method

Increased access to patient care/number of new patients

Product adoption rate of the number of counselors onboarded to our product

KEY TAKEAWAYS

What did I learn?

The importance of actively communicating with not just the designers, but with the PM, EM, and developers to ensure everyone’s one the same page.

Clear documentation and an organized Figma file is crucial to smoothly handing off designs to developers.

Being transparent with the team and stakeholders about the feasibility of certain features helped align expectations.

GIVING FLOWERS

The people that made this possible

I want to give a shoutout to my amazing team! This was my first time working on a 0-1 product and I am so thankful to have been surrounded by curious, creative, and ambitious individuals who all shared the value of using our strengths to give back to the community. Also, thank you to Laurie and Daniela, the founders of SPLAGen, for taking the time to meet with us weekly to discuss the progress of the project and providing us with insightful feedback each time. Y’all are awesome! Finally, thank you Triton Software Engineering (TSE) for giving me the opportunity to be a part of such an inspiring initiative!