Hi, my name is Ella Russell. I am a multidisciplinary designer who embraces contemporary design thinking. With a skill set acquired from Melbourne School of Design, I possess a diverse range of expertise that enables me to deliver authentic work across various disciplines.
Gutsy
Brief
Stage 01: The group will identify a new opportunity for interactive technology design, with an associated context of potential users. A design concept will be developed, and a prototype will be designe and built to reflect some part of the design concept.
Stage 02: The group will plan and conduct a usability evaluation of their digital prototype, using chosen evaluation techniques.
An app that makes managing IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) an easy and personalised process from both a medical and social perspective, with an emphasis placed on making eating with IBS easier.
Brief
Stage 01: The group will identify a new opportunity for interactive technology design, with an associated context of potential users. A design concept will be developed, and a prototype will be designe and built to reflect some part of the design concept.
Stage 02: The group will plan and conduct a usability evaluation of their digital prototype, using chosen evaluation techniques.
An app that makes managing IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) an easy and personalised process from both a medical and social perspective, with an emphasis placed on making eating with IBS easier.
Main Design Concept
Situation-of-use
IBS is the chosen situation-of-use and is characterised by abdominal discomfort, bloating, and changes in bowel habits that can be triggered by factors like stress and diet (Better Health Channel, 2021).
IBS is characterised by abdominal discomfort, bloating, and changes in bowel habits that can be triggered by factors like stress and diet (Better Health Channel, 2021). Our priority stakeholder was:
IBS patients
Surveyees with IBS expressed it can be difficult and time-consuming to understand and keep track of FODMAP (Gibson and Shepherd, 2005) and personal triggers. They desired “something that lists some common risk food and will allow me to log what I ate that caused issues so I can be reminded not to eat that next time. [sic]” (Participant 6, 2022)
Additionally, Participant 9 (2022) stated, “even though I’ve had IBS for couple of years I still don’t know heaps of information on it.” This lack of understanding can lead to a sense of isolation: Participant 6 (2022) wishes “people understood it’s more than just ‘sensitive to tummy aches’, it’s really painful and embarrassing to have to explain to people.”
Core paradox
IBS is “different for everyone” (Participant 9). Its triggers vary across the physical and mental, making IBS difficult to understand even for those interested and a definitive list of triggers impossible to develop. Hence, IBS can be difficult to cook for.
Current approaches to this core paradox (Dorst, 2013) include:
None of these apps personalise triggers, identify IBS-friendly recipes, or have an in-built social component.
How Gutsy (our app) helps
Gutsy simplifies the process of identifying IBS triggers, particularly food triggers. It helps with:
Cooking and shopping
Users can scan recipes and ingredients to determine their suitability—and potential ingredient replacements—with a few taps rather than having to cross-check ingredients then search for replacements one by one. This feature, influenced by the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines’ philosophy of simplified, actionable, and measurable steps, saves time and negates the need to have triggers memorised.
Additionally, the app retains a list of previously used safe recipes which can be used for meal inspiration.
Identifying personal triggers
By tracking symptoms and food, the app will automatically detect new triggers for patients. This data can be shared with doctors.
This design was influenced by that of period trackers.
Building understanding and community
For those unsure of where to start learning about IBS, Gutsy suggests tips for managing symptoms in response to symptoms logged. It also provides easy-to-understand information about the syndrome, such as a FODMAP guide and list of IBS communities to join.
Additionally, almost every page of the app is shareable, allowing friends and family to understand and easily cook for IBS, with the hope that this will reduce isolation for IBS patients.
These features were inspired by the style of information sharing that occurs in support groups and Reddit.
REFERENCES
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) - Better Health Channel
Gibson, P. R., and S. J. Shepherd. 2005. “Personal View: Food for Thought - Western Lifestyle and Susceptibility to Crohn’s Disease. The FODMAP Hypothesis.” ALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY AND THERAPEUTICS, January 1. https://discovery.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=c7062647-b3d5-3b50-bccd-b4f5bdcebe42.
Low FODMAP Diet App | Monash FODMAP - Monash Fodmap
https://bowelle.com/
https://try.nervaibs.com/
Kees Dorst (2013) Frame innovation: create new thinking by design. Cambridge, Massachusettes: The MIT Press. Chapter 4.
Situation-of-use
IBS is the chosen situation-of-use and is characterised by abdominal discomfort, bloating, and changes in bowel habits that can be triggered by factors like stress and diet (Better Health Channel, 2021).
IBS is characterised by abdominal discomfort, bloating, and changes in bowel habits that can be triggered by factors like stress and diet (Better Health Channel, 2021). Our priority stakeholder was:
IBS patients
Surveyees with IBS expressed it can be difficult and time-consuming to understand and keep track of FODMAP (Gibson and Shepherd, 2005) and personal triggers. They desired “something that lists some common risk food and will allow me to log what I ate that caused issues so I can be reminded not to eat that next time. [sic]” (Participant 6, 2022)
Additionally, Participant 9 (2022) stated, “even though I’ve had IBS for couple of years I still don’t know heaps of information on it.” This lack of understanding can lead to a sense of isolation: Participant 6 (2022) wishes “people understood it’s more than just ‘sensitive to tummy aches’, it’s really painful and embarrassing to have to explain to people.”
Core paradox
IBS is “different for everyone” (Participant 9). Its triggers vary across the physical and mental, making IBS difficult to understand even for those interested and a definitive list of triggers impossible to develop. Hence, IBS can be difficult to cook for.
Current approaches to this core paradox (Dorst, 2013) include:
- Monash’s Low FODMAP Diet App (2019), which provides general information on IBS and food triggers only. Checking a recipe requires checking ingredients one by one.
- Bowelle (2019) is an IBS symptoms tracker. Users must identify trends in data themselves and there is no guide for foods to avoid.
- Nerva (2020) addresses only the mental side of IBS, using hypnotherapy.
None of these apps personalise triggers, identify IBS-friendly recipes, or have an in-built social component.
How Gutsy (our app) helps
Gutsy simplifies the process of identifying IBS triggers, particularly food triggers. It helps with:
Cooking and shopping
Users can scan recipes and ingredients to determine their suitability—and potential ingredient replacements—with a few taps rather than having to cross-check ingredients then search for replacements one by one. This feature, influenced by the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines’ philosophy of simplified, actionable, and measurable steps, saves time and negates the need to have triggers memorised.
Additionally, the app retains a list of previously used safe recipes which can be used for meal inspiration.
Identifying personal triggers
By tracking symptoms and food, the app will automatically detect new triggers for patients. This data can be shared with doctors.
This design was influenced by that of period trackers.
Building understanding and community
For those unsure of where to start learning about IBS, Gutsy suggests tips for managing symptoms in response to symptoms logged. It also provides easy-to-understand information about the syndrome, such as a FODMAP guide and list of IBS communities to join.
Additionally, almost every page of the app is shareable, allowing friends and family to understand and easily cook for IBS, with the hope that this will reduce isolation for IBS patients.
These features were inspired by the style of information sharing that occurs in support groups and Reddit.
REFERENCES
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) - Better Health Channel
Gibson, P. R., and S. J. Shepherd. 2005. “Personal View: Food for Thought - Western Lifestyle and Susceptibility to Crohn’s Disease. The FODMAP Hypothesis.” ALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY AND THERAPEUTICS, January 1. https://discovery.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=c7062647-b3d5-3b50-bccd-b4f5bdcebe42.
Low FODMAP Diet App | Monash FODMAP - Monash Fodmap
https://bowelle.com/
https://try.nervaibs.com/
Kees Dorst (2013) Frame innovation: create new thinking by design. Cambridge, Massachusettes: The MIT Press. Chapter 4.
Hi, my name is Ella Russell. I am a multidisciplinary designer who embraces contemporary design thinking. With a skill set acquired from Melbourne School of Design, I possess a diverse range of expertise that enables me to deliver authentic work across various disciplines.
My fascination lies in the intersection of technology and visual art, and I have developed a keen passion for designing digital interfaces and artifacts that inspire others. My work centers around creating captivating digital experiences that engage users and leave a lasting impression. I value a cyclical process of initiatives that support growth and innovation.