Coronafocus - Designing an Essential Mobile App for 40,000 Daily Users

The Challenge: Simplifying a Critical Process During a Full-Blown Emergency

During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Oncologica UK faced unprecedented demand for rapid tests. To manage this volume and offer an accessible service to the public, a digital solution was needed, allowing citizens to handle the entire process autonomously from their smartphones.

The challenge was immense, not just due to the anticipated volumes, but because of the very nature of the service:

1. User Urgency and Stress: The people needing the app were often anxious, concerned about their health or that of loved ones. The experience had to be as simple, clear, and reassuring as possible. Any complication would amplify stress.
2. Massive Scalability: The app needed to handle enormous traffic peaks, up to 40,000 users per day, without slowdowns or malfunctions. Reliability was non-negotiable.
3. Universal Accessibility: The application had to be usable by everyone, regardless of age or tech-savviness. Simplicity wasn't an option; it was a requirement.
4. Integration with Physical Processes: The app needed to integrate seamlessly with the physical test kit, guiding the user through activation and result reading unequivocally.

The goal was to design Coronafocus, a cross-platform mobile app for both iOS and Android, covering the entire rapid test lifecycle: purchasing, activation via scanning, and result reading, all within a fluid, reliable, and error-proof experience.

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The Process: Research-Driven Product Design Under Extreme Time Pressure

I led the entire Product Design process, applying a rigorous approach based on User Research, even though timelines were incredibly tight.

1. Phase 1 - Rapid Research & Critical Use Case Definition: There was no time for extensive research, but understanding primary needs was crucial. We conducted brief remote interviews with potential users (diverse in age and tech background) and analyzed existing procedures (often paper-based or web-based) to identify major friction points. We defined the three main "job stories": "When I need a test, I want to purchase it easily," "When I receive the test, I want to activate it without errors," "After taking the test, I want to understand the result immediately and know what to do."
2. Phase 2 - User Flow Mapping & Wireframing: I mapped the entire end-to-end user flow, from account creation to result viewing. I then translated this flow into low-fidelity wireframes, focusing on maximum simplicity and linearity. Every non-essential step was eliminated. The challenge was minimizing cognitive load.
3. Phase 3 - Iterative Prototyping & UI Design: I developed a high-fidelity interactive prototype, paying meticulous attention to text clarity, button sizes (for accessibility), and visual communication of results (using universally recognizable colors and icons). We conducted quick remote usability tests on the prototype, iterating on the design until we were certain that even less experienced users could complete the process without hesitation. This prototype became the blueprint for the hybrid development team (using React Native).

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The Final Solution: Coronafocus, Simplicity and Reliability at Scale

The result was Coronafocus, a mobile app that successfully managed a huge volume of users during a critical time, demonstrating the impact of human-centered design.

• Mass Adoption and Scalability: Reaching peaks of 40,000 active daily users, the app proved robust and scalable. The intuitive design contributed to rapid and frictionless adoption by a vast and diverse audience across both iOS and Android platforms.
• Clear and Reassuring User Experience: The guided flow for test activation (involving QR code) and result display (with clear messages and next steps) reduced user anxiety and minimized errors. Feedback received was extremely positive regarding ease of use.

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