Bridging research, funding, and care
Bridging research, funding, and care
Building a Scalable Digital Ecosystem for Global Hepatitis B Reserach
Building a Scalable Digital Ecosystem for Global Hepatitis B Reserach
Team
1 UX Researcher
1 Full-stack UX Designer
Timeline
Feb 2025 - May 2025
(12 weeks)
Methodology
Content audit, tree testing, task-based interviews, usability testing
Role
UX Designer & Researcher
Led all visual design and UI development, created modular component system for scalability, established design direction. Co-designed survey, facilitated card sorting and co-design sessions, conducted stakeholder interviews, led usability testing.
Team
1 UX Researcher
1 UX Designer
Timeline
Feb '25 - May '25
(12 weeks)
Methodology
Content audit, tree testing, interviews
Role
UX Designer & Researcher
Led all visual design and UI development, created modular component system for scalability, established design direction. Co-designed survey, facilitated card sorting and co-design sessions, conducted stakeholder interviews, led usability testing.
The Challenge
The Challenge
A research initiative without a digital home
A research initiative without a digital home
COR-HepB is a newly launched initiative under the Task Force for Global Health, focused on advancing operational research in Hepatitis B care, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
At the time of engagement, COR-Hep B lacked a dedicated platform for publishing ongoing operational research or allowing donors and funders to understand impact or engagement opportunities. As a result, critical research was difficult to find, hard to contextualize, and disconnected from pathways to action.
COR-HepB is a newly launched initiative under the Task Force for Global Health, focused on advancing operational research in Hepatitis B care, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
At the time of engagement, COR-Hep B lacked a dedicated platform for publishing ongoing operational research or allowing donors and funders to understand impact or engagement opportunities. As a result, critical research was difficult to find, hard to contextualize, and disconnected from pathways to action.
How might we
How might we design a platform that improves visibility of operational research and funding opportunities for global healthcare stakeholders?
How might we
How might we design a platform that improves visibility of operational research and funding opportunities for global healthcare stakeholders?
The Solution
The Solution
COR-HepB as a credible, accessible hub for researchers, policymakers and donors worldwide
COR-HepB as a credible, accessible hub for researchers, policymakers and donors worldwide
We designed a high-fidelity website prototype with clear information architecture, dedicated research and funding sections, and a scalable brand system.
We designed a high-fidelity website prototype with clear information architecture, dedicated research and funding sections, and a scalable brand system.
Discover
Discover
Understanding a Global, Niche Audience
Understanding a Global, Niche Audience
With stakeholders across 28+ countries and a dual-audience challenge, we needed to capture both breadth (content priorities) and depth (mental models). Rather than treating research as isolated phases, we designed them to converge toward shared design priorities.
With stakeholders across 28+ countries and a dual-audience challenge, we needed to capture both breadth (content priorities) and depth (mental models). Rather than treating research as isolated phases, we designed them to converge toward shared design priorities.
15
Content Audits
Benchmarked public-health sites to find gaps and best practices for donors and researchers
Key Finding
Research content was often buried within advocacy pages, reducing discoverability and perceived credibility.
15
Content Audits
Benchmarked public-health sites to find gaps and best practices for donors and researchers
Key Finding
Research content was often buried within advocacy pages, reducing discoverability and perceived credibility.
65
Stakeholder Survey
Captured large-scale signals on information needs, trust markers & research behavior across regions and roles
Key Finding
80% of respondents prioritized access to research databases and funding opportunities over general awareness content
65
Stakeholder Survey
Captured large-scale signals on information needs, trust markers & research behavior across regions and roles
Key Finding
80% of respondents prioritized access to research databases and funding opportunities over general awareness content
8
Task-based Interviews
Integrated interviews and co-design to reveal how stakeholders interpret, prioritize, and organize info
Key Finding
Participants consistently organized content by action (learn, apply, fund) rather than by organizational structure
8
Task-based Interviews
Integrated interviews and co-design to reveal how stakeholders interpret, prioritize, and organize info
Key Finding
Participants consistently organized content by action (learn, apply, fund) rather than by organizational structure
Research Insights
Research Insights
Findings and Content Priorities
Findings and Content Priorities
A consistent picture emerged around how global stakeholders seek, interpret, and act on operational health research
A consistent picture emerged around how global stakeholders seek, interpret, and act on operational health research
01
01
Research Content Must Be Front and Center
Research Content Must Be Front and Center
Competitive analysis showed that many peer organizations buried research within advocacy sections, relying on text-heavy pages or static downloadable reports. 80% participants instead signaled a strong need for an interactive research portal that supports exploration, synthesis, and collaboration.
Competitive analysis showed that many peer organizations buried research within advocacy sections, relying on text-heavy pages or static downloadable reports. 80% participants instead signaled a strong need for an interactive research portal that supports exploration, synthesis, and collaboration.
The platform needed to function as a utility-first research hub for a specialized global audience
The platform needed to function as a utility-first research hub for a specialized global audience
02
02
Users think in actions, not org structures
Users think in actions, not org structures
Pressure-testing our initial site structure during interviews showed a clear mismatch with user mental models. Through tree testing and content outlining, participants consistently organized content by intent (learn, explore, fund) and expected funding information under task-oriented labels like “Get Involved.”
Pressure-testing our initial site structure during interviews showed a clear mismatch with user mental models. Through tree testing and content outlining, participants consistently organized content by intent (learn, explore, fund) and expected funding information under task-oriented labels like “Get Involved.”
Structure navigation around user intents with action-oriented labels that match stakeholder mental models
Structure navigation around user intents with action-oriented labels that match stakeholder mental models
Preliminary Menu Structure (based on secondary research and content audit) used to validate site structure during Stakeholder interviews
Preliminary Menu Structure (based on secondary research and content audit) used to validate site structure during Stakeholder interviews
Initial tree testing showed a 50% success rate
Initial tree testing showed a 50% success rate
03
03
Trust Markers Are Essential for Niche Scientific Audiences
Trust Markers Are Essential for Niche Scientific Audiences
Researchers and policymakers, particularly from low- and middle-income countries, needed clear credibility signals such as affiliations, transparent methods, and visible study details. Confusion around COR-HepB’s relationship with its parent organizations undermined trust.
Researchers and policymakers, particularly from low- and middle-income countries, needed clear credibility signals such as affiliations, transparent methods, and visible study details. Confusion around COR-HepB’s relationship with its parent organizations undermined trust.
Clarify organizational context with visual diagrams, show metadata (location, methodology, status) on study cards, and reinforce institutional affiliations
Clarify organizational context with visual diagrams, show metadata (location, methodology, status) on study cards, and reinforce institutional affiliations
04
04
Speed and Scannability Trump Visual Sophistication
Speed and Scannability Trump Visual Sophistication
Participants seemed to prioritized quick links, clear headings, and minimal scrolling, valuing scannable content structure. Dense text, deep navigation hierarchies, and slow content discovery led to friction.
Participants seemed to prioritized quick links, clear headings, and minimal scrolling, valuing scannable content structure. Dense text, deep navigation hierarchies, and slow content discovery led to friction.
Implement modular content blocks, prominent CTAs, and consistent visual hierarchy across all pages.
Implement modular content blocks, prominent CTAs, and consistent visual hierarchy across all pages.
Co-design
Co-design
Information Architecture & Sitemap
Information Architecture & Sitemap
Based on research insights and early validation through tree testing, we designed the site's information architecture to support primary user intents while remaining flexible for future growth.
Based on research insights and early validation through tree testing, we designed the site's information architecture to support primary user intents while remaining flexible for future growth.
The structure organizes around three core user journeys: Explore Research (for researchers seeking evidence), Get Involved (for donors and partners), and About (for context). This action-oriented architecture tested 22% better in Round 2 tree testing.
The structure organizes around three core user journeys: Explore Research (for researchers seeking evidence), Get Involved (for donors and partners), and About (for context). This action-oriented architecture tested 22% better in Round 2 tree testing.
Visual Design
Visual Design
Visual System & Components
Visual System & Components
Working within the Task Force’s brand constraints, I extended the existing palette and typography into a flexible design system:
Working within the Task Force’s brand constraints, I extended the existing palette and typography into a flexible design system:
Custom cards for research studies, outcomes, and metrics
Reusable sections for impact stats, methodologies, and calls‑to‑action
Consistent patterns across homepage, research, and funding flows
Custom cards for research studies, outcomes, and metrics
Reusable sections for impact stats, methodologies, and calls‑to‑action
Consistent patterns across homepage, research, and funding flows
This system was designed to support future pages and content types as COR‑HEPB expands.
This system was designed to support future pages and content types as COR‑HEPB expands.
Reflection and Learnings
Reflection and Learnings
What this project taught me
What this project taught me
01
01
Research requires flexibility, not just translation
Research requires flexibility, not just translation
When focus groups failed due to time zones, we pivoted to 1-on-1 interviews. When participants couldn't access Lyssna, we screen-shared tree tests. Success meant meeting participants where they were.
When focus groups failed due to time zones, we pivoted to 1-on-1 interviews. When participants couldn't access Lyssna, we screen-shared tree tests. Success meant meeting participants where they were.
02
02
Design systems are as much about constraint as freedom
Design systems are as much about constraint as freedom
Creating a system TFGH could maintain meant limiting options. I wanted more visual flair, but non-designers would struggle to use those tools correctly. The best design system is the one that prevents bad decisions, not the one that enables infinite possibilities.
Creating a system TFGH could maintain meant limiting options. I wanted more visual flair, but non-designers would struggle to use those tools correctly. The best design system is the one that prevents bad decisions, not the one that enables infinite possibilities.
Project completed as part of HCI Applications Studio at Georgia Tech
in collaboration with Task Force for Global Health
Project completed as part of HCI Applications Studio at Georgia Tech in collaboration with Task Force for Global Health