Web app helping hospital staff manage patient images and videos more efficiently
In 2013, I helped the medtech company KIBI design a web app that hospital staff in Swedish county councils use to handle, compare, and edit patient images and videos.
Summary
KIBI Media is a web app used by hospital staff to efficiently organize, edit, and compare photos and videos documenting a patient’s medical condition and its progress over time.
I worked with Brand Designer Rickard Linder. We benchmarked photo-editing apps, met with hospital staff, and supported KIBI’s developers. I did prototyping and usability testing, and Rickard graphic design.
Four years later, I checked in with KIBI and learned the web app was still in use across county councils in Sweden. It had been a success!
“KIBI Media is the best app out there and is incredibly easy to use.”
– Chief physician on KIBI Media
About KIBI
KIBI was a Swedish software development company specializing in medical documentation and diagnostic solutions for healthcare providers.
Their e-health solutions were used at over 100 hospitals and care centers across northern Europe. In 2019, KIBI was acquired by Omda.
Goals
KIBI aimed to merge two existing web apps and achieve these goals:
- Add new sought-after features
- Improve usability of existing features
- Elevate the visual design to the next level
Bechmarking photo editing apps
Immediately, Rickard and I started analyzing current popular photo editing software on the market. After benchmarking, we made educated guesses on must-have features with input from KIBI.
We then sketched ideas on whiteboards and discussed early concepts for the app’s graphic design.
Spending a day with a hospital photographer
To better understand our users, Rickard and I traveled to a hospital in northern Sweden and spent a full day with their photographer. We interviewed him and observed his daily workflow.
We were surprised by how many different software tools he used throughout the day.
It became clear that the new web app could save significant time by merging the essential features of his current tech stack.
Paper sketching the app in detail
With benchmarking complete and insights from our day with the photographer summarized, we got to work. I began paper sketching the new web app, including even the smallest features.
Rickard later turned these into high-fidelity sketches. My sketches illustrated how users could perform tasks like:
- Importing photos from a computer
- Comparing different versions of photos
- Adjusting color and contrast
- Drawing overlays on photos
Usability testing with beginners and experienced photographers
For usability testing, I recruited five colleagues interested in photo editing. They ranged from beginners to experienced photographers. They performed tasks using a detailed low-fidelity paper prototype.
After summarizing the sessions, it was clear that most of the design worked well.
Only minor adjustments were needed – our benchmarking and time with the hospital photographer had paid off.
Wrapping up graphic design and supporting developers
Once I refined the wireframes based on feedback, Rickard worked on the graphic design. He kept me involved, welcomed feedback, and incorporated several of my ideas.
When we were satisfied with the high-fidelity sketches, we presented them to the developers and continued meeting regularly throughout implementation.
KIBI’s developers appreciated working with designers who had some programming knowledge.
Getting rid of precious pixels
Since KIBI Media ran in a web browser and many users still had small monitors, we carefully trimmed padding, margins, and UX copy without compromising usability. It was just as fun as frustrating
Result and impact
Four years after the project, I checked in with KIBI and learned that the web app had been a great success and was still in use across county councils throughout Sweden.
Our contact also shared a lovely quote from one happy user.
“KIBI Media is the best app out there and is incredibly easy to use.”
– Chief physician on KIBI Media
How it made me feel
Hospital staff face enormous stress daily – and poorly designed software only adds to it. Well-designed tools will save them valuable time.
I take great pride in this type of work, and in this project, we clearly made a positive difference. That was truly rewarding.
/Alexander