TIMELINE
Nov 2023 – Oct 2024
TEAM
Product managers, Designers, Developpers, Health professionnals
ROLE
Lead Product Designer
Concept
Myrtil is an innovative mental health app designed to empower people to understand, manage, and monitor their emotional and psychological well-being autonomously. By combining secure artificial intelligence with medical expertise, it provides a comprehensive and accessible solution to address the critical issue of mental health
Context
Motivated by the pressing global mental health crisis and the widespread challenges in accessing regular professional care, Myrtil was designed to provide a digital solution that empowers individuals to manage their mental health autonomously. The app aims to address the gap for millions who struggle to access professional care regularly.
Design process
Here, we will outline the process of creating the app, focusing on the design phase which ran in parallel with developping the business strategy, financial planning, and technical development.
To create the optimal solution, we employed the Double Diamond method—a visual framework introduced by the British Design Council that divides the design process into four phases. This approach promotes both creativity and clarity throughout the project.
Discover
Market study
01.
1 in 8, live with a mental health disorder, yet most lack adequate support due to a shortage of professionals, logistical obstacles, and persistent stigma
There are fewer than 20 mental health professionals per 100,000 people globally, leading to long waiting times and irregular follow-ups for those seeking help. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated these issues, with a 25% increase in anxiety and depression reported worldwide during 2020 alone.
OMS (2022) Fact sheet on mental disorders
The product launch, initially targeted at the French market, stands to benefit from the supportive environment fostered by the grand challenge « Digital Medical Devices in Mental Health. » Funded through the France 2030 plan, this initiative is designed to promote innovation in digital technologies for mental health and psychiatry.
Le Grand Défi « Dispositifs médicaux numériques en santé mentale »
In response to this shortage of healthcare professionals, we decided to take action on our scale by asking ourselves :
How might we facilitates the management of mental health issues ?
We conducted a thorough competitive analysis to study how our competitors approach the problem and identify potential opportunities and threats.
Table outlining the results of SWOTs and Value Proposition Canvas conducted on our competitors, aimed at identifying their strengths and weaknesses.
Thanks to this analysis, we positioned ourselves in the market by focusing on areas less addressed by competitors: effortless, effective, and tailored self-management and symptom monitoring.
Discovery
User research
02.
We started by conducting a survey to validate the need for an effective tool to assist individuals in managing their mental health challenges.
Key Insights from our survey of 98 respondents across 15 questions
85%
of respondents are seeking a reliable way to manage their symptoms independently.
76%
of individuals under care are dissatisfied with their self-monitoring
80%
of self-monitoring app users were dissatisfied by them
Therfore, we conducted 10 interviews to better understand their needs regarding self-management of symptoms .
Key insights from our 10 interviews (45min to 1h) aimed at validating 8 hypothesis on symptom self-management
The interviewees need to monitor the progression of their symptoms.
Journaling is crucial for tracking and understanding one’s issues.
It can be difficult to stay consistent with monitoring.
Apps on the market are either too tedious to use or not comprehensive and professional enough.
The interviewees need symptom management exercises that meet their specific needs.
It is essential that self-monitoring methods be scientifically reliable.
Finally, to mitigate the potential biases that surveys and interviews can introduce (such as sampling and self-reporting biases) and ensure reliable data on user behavior, we conducted workshops aimed at helping gather tangible insights.
Some of the workshops conducted and the purposes for which we used them.
Define
data Synthesis
01.
We created a persona that reflects the trends and challenges identified in our research, allowing us to better empathize with the user’s perspective.
Define
Problem definition
02.
After analyzing our collected data, we were able to clearly articulate the core problem—the specific issue we aim to resolve
Myrtil’s Problem statement
Despite affecting 1 billion people globally, mental disorders often go unsupported due to systemic barriers. Infrequent appointments hinder continuous monitoring, worsening well-being and straining healthcare systems. Existing digital tools are often generic, hard to use, or poorly integrated with traditional care. Bridging this gap with accessible, user-friendly solutions for symptom tracking and personalized guidance can improve outcomes and ease pressure on healthcare services.
Problem refining
How might we improve the quality of psychological care between appointments ?
Develop
Ideation
01.
Having identified the main needs of our target audience, we explored the best ways to address them through multiple workshops and brainstorming sessions.
Some of the workshops conducted and the purposes for which we used them.
At that point, to create a reliable, effective, and scientifically viable product, we reached out to doctors we had met during our research phase and formed a scientific committee with a team at Canne’s Hospital to co-create the app.
25+
Doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses, and social workers.
A scientific committee
After prioritizing our potential features with them using the MoSCoW method, we have identified the key features for our MVP
Needs
Tracking the progression of their symptoms consistently and effortlesly
Identifying and understanding triggers.
Accessing tailored exercises to manage symptoms effectively.
Having an easy way to update health status to healthcare professionals.
Having a scientifically reliable tool for independently managing symptoms.
Solution
[Symptom Tracking] A dedicated journaling space to freely express emotions, a gamified tracking experience through an intuitive interface
[Symptom Management] automated analysis of the traking that recommends personalized exercises developed by healthcare professionals, intelligent advice, and daily guidance to encourage the adoption of healthy habits.
[Symptom Understanding] In-depth statistics to monitor symptom progression, identify triggers, and seamlessly share data with healthcare professionals for improved care.
Co-create the product with mental health professionals.
Develop
Co-design
02.
We validated our problem-solution fit with our target audience by presenting a landing page showcasing these features to them, and gathered insights on how to implement them effectively.
Then ran user tests on low fidelity wireframes to ensure the foundational structure aligned with user expectations.
By focusing on functionality and flow without the distraction of detailed visuals, we maintain a user-centered design process that prioritizes usability and efficiency.
Deliver
Iterative prototyping
01.
Once the main features of the app were outlined and validated we began prototyping through repeated cycles of designing, testing, and refinement. This process allows us to gather user feedback often, enabling continuous improvements.
We went through 4 cycles in total to reach our goal: a Net Promoter Score of 50+
While prototyping, we develop our design system with every validated feature, to ensure the consistency and scalability of our product.
With that, our final MVP prototype was completed and ready, standing on solid ground!
If you want a closer look :
Deliver
Launch planning
02.
Once this was done it was time to establish our launch timeline. With a strategic rollout planned for January 2025, our focus is on delivering a seamless, secure, and impactful experience to users. The launch phase encompasses final testing, marketing activation, and early user engagement, ensuring a strong foundation for adoption and long-term success.
That’s all for now, thank you for reading !
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