Medmate is a smart medication adherence system, designed to accurately dispense prescribed medication based on the schedule established by a healthcare provider.
Duration
10 weeks
Role
Design Co-Lead
Responsibilities
Research
UX Design
Prototyping
Usability Testing
Tools
Figma
Notion
Photoshop
Google Forms
Team
2 Interactive Designers
| Overview
Adherence to prescribed medication regimens is critical for managing chronic illnesses and maintaining overall health. However, many patients, particularly those with complex medication schedules, struggle to adhere consistently to their prescribed treatments. Traditional methods of medication management, such as pillboxes and reminders, often prove to be inconvenient, forgettable, or insufficiently tailored to individual needs.
To tackle this problem, we took it upon ourselves to design an entire system of medicine management and adherence to make it more user friendly, smart and reliable.
| Discover
The Problem
About 50% of patients, especially those with chronic illnesses, struggle to adhere to complex medication schedules. Traditional pillboxes and reminders can be inconvenient and forgettable.
Adults (18+) who currently manage complex medication schedules
User Group
Why?
Busy lifestyles and medication side effects can lead to missed doses for many people
Reliance on family members or roommates for reminders
Identical pill bottle colors and confusing names make it challenging to differentiate medications
Goal
We aim to develop user-centered solutions that empower patients to better manage their medications, improve adherence rates, and ultimately, enhance their health outcomes.
Outcome
- Clear visuals and intuitive interface reduced training needs and cognitive overload.
- Features offered secure monitoring.
- Interface tiles were clearly labeled for easy identification.
Non-adherence can lead to up to 50% of treatment failures, 125,000 deaths, and 25% of hospitalisations yearly
National Library of Medicine
| Define
Literature Review Findings
We began by turning our attention to one of the most common yet overlooked pieces of self-medication technology: the traditional pill box. It's simple, familiar, and widely used, but we wondered—does it truly support users in managing complex medication schedules, or has it become just another item on the shelf? By examining how people interact with this everyday object, we hoped to uncover not just its limitations, but also opportunities for reimagining how self-medication tools could better support adherence, especially for those with chronic conditions.
According to Cadel L, Cimino SR, Rolf von den Baumen T, James KA, McCarthy L, Guilcher SJT. Medication Management Frameworks in the Context of Self-Management: A Scoping Review. Patient Prefer Adherence. 2021 Jun 16;15:1311-1329. Smartphone apps and wearable devices can provide reminders, track adherence, and facilitate communication with healthcare providers.
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Generative Research Findings (Interview + Survey)
To truly understand how people manage their health outside of clinical settings, we began by crafting a screener—a simple set of questions meant to quietly filter out those whose experiences aligned with our focus. We were looking for individuals who currently take prescribed medication, especially those living with chronic illnesses. As responses trickled in, patterns began to emerge—stories of routines built around pills, reminders set on phones, and quiet acts of self-care often overlooked.
From this pool, we selected 15 participants whose experiences stood out, each carrying a unique relationship with their medication. These weren’t just interviewees; they were storytellers helping us uncover the deeper motivations, challenges, and choices behind self-medication practices in everyday life.
We wanted to go beyond statistics and understand the lived experiences of individuals managing prescribed medicines on their own. What drives someone to stick to their routine? What causes them to skip a dose or adjust it without consultation?
Uncovering Insights
“The doctor had written a plan, but now I have understood that too.”
“All my medicine bottles look the same, orange, which makes it very confusing for me to understand which medicine needs to be taken”
“I buy exact number of pills that I would need for a month and that’s how I track them. In case 2 are left by the end of the month then I know that I skipped my medication twice that month.”
“Pain meds made me very sleepy, so I was always completely dizzy and I was sleepy all the time which made me skip my medicines”
“But recently I have just made a reminder and kept a reminder in the mobile for taking medications daily without skipping it.I tend to even snooze that”
“I keep post it notes and copies of my prescription in every bag and also in my commonly used spaces so that I can read what medicine to take”
“If you don't remember, then don't take it. Taking 2 pills will drop my sugar level.”
“Being too busy and involved in the day to day course and other things generally make us forget to take medications.Even with reminders,I just forget or I am very tired of remembering to take it.”
“I just kind of have side effects, and then I realize that I didn't take my medication. So then I go back to taking them again.”
“Most of the times my mom calls me from India and reminds me to take my thyroid medication”
“Firstly, the number of medications I have to consume can be overwhelming. Additionally, since my wife and I share a medicine cabinet, there's a risk of our medications getting mixed up, which further complicates everything.”
Target Archetypes
These insights led us to define two key archetypes that represent the spectrum of self-medication practices. By grounding our design decisions in the lived experiences of these users, we aimed to create a system that is not only functional, but also empathetic, adaptable, and empowering.
These archetypes became the heartbeat of our design process, guiding us to build a solution that fits not just schedules, but real, everyday lives.
How Might We...
design a user-centric medication adherence system that effectively supports patients with chronic illnesses in following complex medication schedules, making it easy to manage and remember without relying on traditional pillboxes and reminders?
Competitor Analysis
We explored existing products, learned from their strengths and shortcomings, and listened to user feedback. This journey helped us uncover gaps and opportunities—guiding us to design a solution that stands out by truly addressing user needs and offering a more intuitive, effective experience.
| Ideate
In the "Ideate" phase of our Smart Pill Dispenser project, we focused on solving real-life challenges faced by users struggling with medication management. Through brainstorming and sketching, we explored ideas that would make taking medicine seamless and reassuring.
Each concept aimed to balance functionality with simplicity, ensuring the dispenser would not only meet practical needs but also offer peace of mind. It was a journey of empathy, pushing us closer to a solution that would transform how people manage their health, one pill at a time.
Sketches
Before jumping into digital design, we explored form, function, and user flow with quick hand-drawn sketches. These raw visuals allowed us to experiment freely, iterate fast, and visualize the core concept of the Smart Pill Dispenser. Each stroke helped us refine our thinking and lay the foundation for the digital screens that followed.
Based on our research, we started brainstorming solutions and features for Medmate. We did a round of Crazy 8 and used a lot of sticky notes. Since we were short on time and resources, we decided to make a 2x2 Prioritization Matrix to pick the most promising features for Medmate.
Main features of Medmate
Automated dispensing
The pill box dispenses the prescribed medications accurately according to the schedule set by the healthcare provider.
Comprehensive logging
Users receive real-time updates on the status of their medication orders, including approval from the doctor processing, and delivery.
User management
The smart pill box allows the primary user to add authorized individuals who can assist in managing the medication regime.
Eco system
The smart pill box keeps a detailed log of medication history, intake, including timestamps, dosage amounts, and adherence patterns.
The Tech
From moisture and humidity sensors to monitor storage conditions and keep medications safe to fingerprint for added security, and even IoT connectivity for remote monitoring, we looked at the latest innovations to make the product smarter, safer, and more responsive. This tech-driven approach ensures our dispenser doesn't just function—it anticipates, adapts, and elevates the entire medication experience.
Protecting patient health information (PHI)
Encryption
Using strong encryption algorithms to protect PHI stored on the device or server. This prevents unauthorized access if the device is lost, stolen, or hacked. Encryption keys would be securely managed to prevent unauthorized decryption.
Authentication
Use of secure authentication mechanisms, like multi-factor authentication (MFA), ID verification to verify the identity of users accessing PHI.
Authorization
Having authorization controls to ensure users can only access the information they need for their roles.
Data storage and transmission
Avoiding transmitting PHI using MMS, which are not encrypted. Don't store PHI in backups and log files, which can be vulnerable on Android devices.
| Testing
We put our Smart Pill Dispenser into the hands of real users to see how it performed in everyday scenarios. Through task-based usability testing, we observed how users interacted with the product—from setting up their profile to dispensing medication. This phase was crucial in uncovering friction points, validating design decisions, and gathering insights to improve the overall user experience. Each test brought us one step closer to creating a solution that’s not only smart but truly user-friendly.
We broke down our testing feedback under 4 core values: Utility, Reliability, Understandability and Usability.
SUS score of 81.2
| Deliver
We bring together everything we’ve learned—from user research and feedback to testing and iteration—to present the final solution: a smart, intuitive, and secure medication adherence system. Shaped by real user needs and validated through usability testing, the final design of MedMate reflects thoughtful refinements in both form and function. This is where ideas meet execution, and the concept transforms into a product ready to make a meaningful impact on daily medication management.
Smart Pill Bottle
Medmate App
| Learnings and Takeaways
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Learnt about the role and integration of various sensors. Explored implementing a few within a pill bottle to enhance user-centricity and usability.
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Explored working with interfaces which relied majorly on the ease of use and accessibility. We also understood the role of privacy and security in the entire interface.
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Gained insights into the critical role of research, which identified a gap and guided the design of an effective solution.
Click through the prototype!
| Future Scope
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There might be a way to accommodate more types of pills by exploring different bottle sizes.
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However, larger sizes might impact portability, so this aspect needs more exploration.
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Due to limited participation, only basic usability testing was carried out. Performing thorough and prolonged usability testing could offer a more comprehensive understanding of the product's viability.
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The effectiveness of the product can only truly be gauged over an extended period of use.