ROLE
UX / UI Designer & Product Manager
COMPANY
Aptamer Therapeutics
(Pre-seed startup)
TEAM
Lead Solution Architect / Full Stack Developer / Lead QA + Cyber Security Specialist
Problem
PROBLEM STATEMENT
In healthcare, medication errors are a serious issue. Serious risks can happen when dosages are not calculated accurately. The right dosage depends on many factors like a person’s weight, age, metabolism, and health conditions. When these aren’t considered properly, it can lead to underdosing, overdosing, or other health complications.
Our goal was to build a functional MVP that calculates personalized medication dosages using key physiological inputs like weight, age, sleep, and last meal time.
BUSINESS GOAL
The startup’s goal was to validate its idea and attract early investor interest through a working MVP. This version of the product needed to demonstrate the potential for AI-driven dosage recommendations while providing a smooth, user-friendly experience for both patients and clinicians.
Overview
COMPANY BRIEF
Aptamer Therapeutics is a pre-seed biotech startup developing an AI-powered platform for personalized drug delivery using microneedle patches and biosensor technology.
MY ROLE IN THIS FEATURE
I worked as both the Product Manager and UX/UI Designer. My role was to lead the design and development of an AI-powered medication dosage app. I defined the product vision, designed the user interface, and worked closely with developers in an agile setup to bring the MVP to life.
Solution Preview
New Patient Onboarding Experience
Dosage Recommendation Result Display
Daily Dosage Input Form
Results
SUCCESS METRICS
Our success metrics focused on delivering a functional, developer-ready MVP that demonstrated the potential of AI driven dosage personalization. These metrics highlight how we balanced usability, technical feasibility, and delivery efficiency within a tight 6-week timeline:
Functional MVP Delivered
Completed a working prototype and developer handoff within the 6-week timeline.
User Clarity
Simplified complex dosage entry through clean UI and guided forms, reducing potential user confusion in early tests.
Developer - Ready Assets
All design screens, states, and documentation were optimized for smooth front-end development.
REFLECTION
Working on Aptamer taught me how to balance UX design with product strategy. Since this was an early-stage startup, I learned to prioritize core features that aligned with the product vision while staying realistic about scope and timelines.
Collaborating with developers also helped me think more about feasibility and how design decisions translate into technical requirements.
If I were to continue this project, I’d focus on adding accessibility features and user testing with real patients to make the experience more inclusive and data-driven.
Process
Research
PRODUCT DESIGN PROCESS
COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS
I analyzed existing health and medication apps to understand how users currently calculate or track dosages.
Most tools relied on complex medical terms or made users input too many details manually, creating confusion and friction.
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UX BENCHMARKING
To identify what works, I studied UX patterns in digital health products focused on simplicity, accessibility, and data transparency. This helped set a standard for how our app could feel intuitive, trustworthy, and medically appropriate. Because the startup was in its early phase, we used secondary sources and team discussions to identify which user inputs (like age, weight, and conditions) were essential for safe dosage recommendations.
KEY INSIGHTS
From my research, I found that trust and clarity are very important when designing for healthcare. People feel more confident when information is clear, instructions are short, and visuals feel calm and reliable.
Another thing I discovered was that accessibility is often overlooked in medical apps. Some users, especially older adults, find small text and crowded layouts hard to read. This showed me the importance of including features like larger text options and voice input. Lastly, I realized how valuable it is to collaborate closely with developers early in the process. Keeping the design system organized and consistent made the development handoff much smoother.
Define
PRODUCT DESIGN PROCESS
Personas
BUSINESS GOAL & EPIC'S
Build a functional MVP that personalizes medication dosage recommendations and supports future clinical workflows.
Epic 1: AI-Driven Calculator
Build logic to generate personalized dosage suggestions
Epic 2: Patient App UI
Mobile-first UI, onboarding, daily flow, history & profile
SCOPE & CONSTRAINTS
INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE
Ideation
PRODUCT DESIGN PROCESS
USER FLOW
I mapped the core user journeys to remove friction and ensure clarity. Flows designed:
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New user onboarding → account creation → setup complete
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Daily dosage form → AI-powered dosage result
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View dosage history
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Edit profile + health info
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Future flow placeholders:
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Patch connection
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Accessibility settings
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Marketplace (future medication ordering)
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These flows helped guide the UI structure and made development handoff easier.
EARLY WIREFRAMES
I sketched screens to quickly test layout ideas and see how users would move through the app. Focused on screens to have; large buttons + simple language, familiar input patterns (radio buttons, dropdowns, toggles), One question per screen to reduce cognitive load, Placeholder states for future features so the product felt expandable
Uh oh!
In Week 2, I shared my initial concept for the product. A simple one-time dosage calculator that uses basic inputs like age, weight, height, and sex to generate a personalized recommendation. However, after sharing my designs with developers, they flagged an important mismatch: based on stakeholder conversations on their side, they believed the MVP should function like a proper app and have an interactive expereince.
Instead of pushing ahead, I paused and brought this conversation to our weekly stakeholder meeting.
To avoid assumptions, I asked stakeholders directly:
“Is the MVP meant to be a one-time dosage tool or a recurring app experience?”
They confirmed they envisioned an app-like experience, not just a one-off calculator. They also asked if this meant redesigning everything and I reassured them:
I will build from what I already created and expand it into a scalable app experience.
Redesign
FINALIZE FEATURES
In the following week, I expanded flows into a true product experience, added onboarding, login, history, dashboard, and profile screens, Introduced a daily dosage form flow, and Maintained consistency with brand and medical UX standards. I then shared updated UI screens internally, aligned with dev constraints, and handed off final design files. The developers began implementing the design, and I supported them through feedback and adjustments.
The final UI is clean, medically-aligned, and scalable and reflects Aptamer’s product vision for personalized medication delivery.
Design Breakdown
New Patient Onboarding Experience
This flow helps new users set up their profile and enter key health information. I designed the onboarding to feel calm, friendly, and simple. Each screen collects one piece of information at a time so it never feels overwhelming.
I used clear language, large buttons, and a progress bar to guide users step-by-step. I also added small “Why we ask” tooltips to build trust and explain medical questions. This keeps users comfortable and helps them understand how their data is being used. The goal was to create a smooth and supportive start so users feel confident continuing.
Dosage Recommendation Result Display
This screen shows the user their personalized dosage. I kept the layout clean and focused to avoid confusion. The dose appears clearly at the top, with a short explanation below it.
I used calm colors, simple text, and clear spacing to make the result easy to understand. The user can save the result, recalculate, or start over. I also included a safety reminder so users know the dose is based on real inputs and should be used responsibly. The goal here was clarity, trust, and confidence in the result.
Daily Dosage Input Form
This flow is for returning users who want a new dosage based on how they feel that day. The questions are short, conversational, and easy to answer.
I used simple choices like buttons and sliders to make the form quick to complete. Questions cover things like sleep, meals, and symptoms, because these can affect dosage. If the user selects “yes” to something important, extra questions appear so the experience stays simple.
This design helps users build a daily routine and feel supported, not overwhelmed. The goal was to make daily health input fast, friendly, and consistent.