Project: Lifestyle Application, end to end app development

Roles: Product Designer, UX Researcher, Brand Identity Developer, UX/UI Graphic Designer

Tools: Figma, Figjam

01. Discover

PROBLEM - RESEARCH -INTERVIEWS

Problem

Because everyone reacts differently to cannabis, it can be difficult to find products which are right for you.

There are thousands of products, hundreds of strains, and many varying consumption methods and dosages, creating countless combinations and effects.

Research Goals

To understand user attitudes, pain points, and needs regarding cannabis-related technology, and identify the most essential functions of digital tools that support their cannabis use.

Research Methods

Competitor analysis
User interviews
Affinity mapping

Competitive Analysis

Insights gained from researching and analyzing cannabis-related websites (WeedMaps & Leafy) and apps (Strainprint & ReLeaf):

full analysis

Strain descriptions and their estimated effects on users
Tracking and the ability to log how strains affect them

Mismatch between online listings and in-store availability
Estimated effects often don’t reflect individual experiences
Limited app databases hinder effective session tracking

User Interviews

Five people within the age range of 26-70 who use cannabis for medicinal, spiritual, or recreational purposes were interviewed.

Affinity Map

A person on a zoom call wearing a headset

Insights Gained

Cannabis Use

Beneficial effects:

Management of pain, anxiety, & sleep
Enhancing experiences.

Complaints:

Discomfort from too high a dosage
Inconsistent effects due to variables
Unwanted drowsiness

Digital Tools

A computer and phone with cannabis leaves on their screens

Current Use:

Look up strain info & deals
None currently using a tracking app.

Desires:

Ability to add a product if it is not in the database
Discretion in app design
Data security & privacy

Essential Functions

Cards representing app functions like "discreet mode," "Journal entry," and "cannabis deals"

Tracking:

Reason for use, strain information, method of consumption, dosage, & effects

Desires:

Ability to edit a session at a later time with further insights

02. Define

PERSONAS

Build Empathy

After analyzing the data & insights collected from the competitive analysis and user interviews, I created two distinct personas representing different types of user desires for CannTrack.

Olivia

Uses cannabis daily in order to alleviate symptoms from a chronic medical condition who hopes to use data to find the best strain, dosage, and consumption method for her needs.

OLIVIA pdf

Mary

Is new to cannabis use and finds all the options overwhelming. She needs help figuring out what she likes and what she doesn’t like when it comes to different types of cannabis products.

Mary PDF

03. Ideate

HMW - FEATURE CONCEPT - MAP - FLOW

How Might We…

How might we help cannabis consumers avoid overwhelm when choosing products?
How might we help users better predict their individual cannabis effects?

Constraints

Time limitations (MVP in 5 weeks)
UX team of one

Feature Concept

After creating a feature matrix it became evident that the most important functions of CannTrack are:

The ability to log and track a cannabis session and its effects
The ability to access and interpret this data.

Feature Matrix

Key Screens

Track a Session

Record data about the product

And the effects felt after use

History

A clock with a counter clockwise arrow surrounding it

View past sessions

And edit them (add a note, etc.)

Data

View data in different ways:
Statistics
Filters

Visualize

I created a site map and user flow to clarify the structure of the product and ensure a smooth, intuitive user experience. These tools helped visualize key interactions, identify potential friction points, and guide design decisions around navigation and task completion.

A person drawing flow charts on a whiteboard

Site Map

User Flow

A possible user journey for tracking a session

04. Design

LO FI WIREFRAMES - FEEDBACK - BRANDING

Lo Fidelity Wireframes

The wireframes include notes on ideas I had during planning as well as suggestions from peers in group critiques.

Initial Feedback

Some positive feedback and suggestions for growth from peer critiques and my mentor:

Useful, original app concept
Detailed but manageable data logging
Sessions can be edited or expanded later
Step-by-step tracking form

Start with the symptom being treated
Add a progress bar to the tracking form
Enable typeahead search in databases
Use dropdowns instead of radio buttons for long lists

Before I began creating my high fidelity wireframes I knew that I needed to create a unique style and brand identity for CannTrack.

Style & Branding

Inspiration

I wanted to take design notes from a high-end dispensary, using whites and shades of muted greens.

User interviews indicated that discretion and privacy was important when considering the app’s design.

I leaned more into the medicinal aspect of cannabis for the logo, which is a green cross (commonly used to indicate a dispensary).

Pdf version

UI Kit

I designed menus, buttons, form elements, and components for CannTrack

See in Figma

05. Prototype

HI FI WIREFRAMES

High Fidelity Wireframes

The screens featured in the most important feature of the app- tracking a session.

See in figma

Product Information

The user has already selected the required product name and is able to add optional additional information like the product type and genetic dominance.

Symptom Database

The user can either scroll through or search the database of common symptoms treated with cannabis and add one or more to be tracked in the session.

Effects Intensity

The user can select between three levels of intensity for effects logged in the session.

They can select additional effects from the database or manually add a unique effect in the text entry field.

An image of a phone showing a screen from the CannTrack app. It has a symptom listed with a bar underneath where the user can select low, moderate, or high intensity for the effect felt during their session.

Session Summary

The user can view a summary of the information they tracked in their session and go back to the session to edit and make changes.

06. Test

USABILITY TESTING

User Testing

I conducted comprehensive usability testing with a group of users familiar with cannabis use. By observing their interactions and gathering feedback, I was able to identify pain points and areas for improvement.

Flow 1 - Tracking a session

“In this scenario you want to track a session. How would you go about doing that starting from the home screen?”

User Feedback

The ability to add a custom product in case it wasn’t in the database
Different types of consumption methods as part of the tracking
The tracking form had optional aspects in case you’re in a hurry

The medical/recreational screen was redundant since the reason for session requirement will tell the user that info
Search prompt wording offering a suggestion was confusing, it should just have the instructions (E.g. “Search Symptoms”)

Flow 2 - Edit a previous session

“In this scenario you want to edit a previous session and add that you felt drowsiness as an effect from the cannabis.”

User Feedback

The ability to edit and add to sessions at a later time was appreciated

The layout was straightforward and easy to learn
The notes feature was good for adding things which weren’t in the form

Having to click through the entire session to edit a certain part was irritating
Condensing popup screens into embedded scrolls would streamline the process

Flow 3 - Filter your data

“In this scenario you want to filter your data to see which strains you’ve used for treating the symptom of anxiety.”

User Feedback

The ability to filter data instead of having to manually browse through past sessions was appreciated

Too many shades of green made the app look visually cluttered
The dropdown menus should be more visually similar

07. Iterate

TARGETED ITERATIONS

A person making changes to a design and crafting a new version