Gale -- Healthcare Scheduling App

Overview

A one-week UX case study focused on simplifying healthcare shift scheduling.
Gale was designed to help nurses manage their work schedules efficiently through a clean, intuitive mobile app.

Timeline: 1 Week (Sep 24 – Oct 1, 2024)
Role: Product Designer
Tools: Figma, Canva
Designer: Denise Padernilla

The Challenge

Healthcare workers, especially nurses, struggle with confusing and time-consuming scheduling systems.
Our goal was to understand their frustrations and design a solution that reduces their workload through simplicity and ease of use.

Research

To empathize with our users, we conducted survey interviews with 4–6 registered and practical nurses working in healthcare facilities.
We used a mix of multiple-choice and short-answer questions via Google Forms to identify their biggest scheduling pain points.

Key Insights:

• Nurses need a simple, easy-to-use interface to manage shifts.

• They prefer real-time updates on availability and shift changes.

• They want an app that syncs seamlessly with their personal devices.

Persona

Maria, a hardworking and goal-driven nurse, needs a reliable task management app because her current scheduling tool is complicated and inefficient.

User Journey

Using templates from the Google UX Design course, I mapped Maria’s journey to identify frustrations and opportunities.
The map highlighted key moments of friction — unclear shift details and lack of real-time updates — which became priorities in the design phase.

Ideation

I began sketching several versions of each screen, referencing Maria’s goals and the survey insights.
My objective: design a smooth scheduling flow where nurses can view, edit, and confirm their shifts with minimal effort.

Wireframes & Prototype

Three design objectives guided the prototype:

1. Enable nurses to manage tasks with clarity.

2. Make shift information easily accessible.

3. Simplify scheduling interactions for faster start-of-shift routines.

When users tap a date, a calendar opens with shift-related actions—allowing for quick edits and updates.

Learnings

• 40% of users emphasized the importance of a straightforward, user-friendly interface.

• All users wanted the ability to update availability in real time and sync schedules with personal devices.

This validated the need for a mobile-first scheduling app that simplifies task management for busy healthcare professionals.

Next Steps

• Add security and verification features for safer access.

• Include accessibility settings for inclusive design.

• Continue improving high-fidelity UI and prototyping skills.

Reflection

Designing Gale deepened my understanding of the healthcare industry I currently work in.
It taught me that empathy, simplicity, and usability are key to building digital tools that truly support people in demanding professions.

Let’s Connect

Interested in collaborating or learning more about my design process?
📧 denisepbusiness@gmail.com
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