Connected Apnea Care

UX & Service Design
Case challenge
Patients of Positional Obstructive Sleep Apnea (POSA) struggle to stay adherent to the therapy provided by NightBalance’s device, regardless of the benefits they experiment.
Project overview
This project started as my graduation project — a six month research and design project, graded 9.5 — and continued when NightBalance hired me to implement the resulted strategy.

Through exploratory research with patients and healthcare professionals, I mapped where patients were dropping off in their therapy and why. That identified a core opportunity: rather than a single long therapy, what if the experience was broken multiple shorter phases, each with specific goals, adapting to where the patient actually was in their journey?

The solution connected NightBalance's Sleep Position Trainer device with a digital environment that learn from patients and keep them engaged over time. Beyond the strategy, I also designed the patient app and contributed to research and documentation required for medical certification.

Shortly after, NightBalance was acquired by Philips. Their device is now marketed as Philips NightBalance.
My contributions
UX and strategic designer
Jul. 2017 — Jun. 2018
Graduate Intern
Oct. 2016 — May 2017
During my time at NightBalance, I was the lead designer for this project. The role involved:
—    Planning and executing explorative research with patients and health care professionals
—    Identification of opportunities in the therapy journey
—    Definition of new requirements based on research
—    UX/UI design of the patient-facing app and other therapy touchpoints

The role built up on my graduation project and aimed to implement the company's connected care strategy with their Sleep Position Trainer* device.

*Nowadays called Philips NightBalance, after successful acquisition by Philips in May 2018.