Ribbon

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Ribbon //

Ribbon is a specialized UX/UI solution designed to empower elderly patients with hearing impairments to manage their life-saving medications with complete independence. Recognizing that traditional auditory alarms are ineffective for the deaf community, Ribbon bridges the communication gap by synchronizing a medicine-tracking app with smart home devices and wearables. By complementing sound with haptic and visual cues, the platform ensures that users never miss a dose due to forgetfulness or inaccessible technology. This project explores the intersection of accessibility and IoT, transforming a potential barrier into a seamless, multi-sensory experience that preserves the dignity and autonomy of aging users.

Time: 2 months

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Team: Solo

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Google UX Design Certificate

UX Research

UX Design

Prototyping

FIgma

My Role:

The Challenge

Living with a hearing impairment presents significant hurdles for elderly individuals managing life-saving medications. While maintaining independence is a priority, human forgetfulness remains a risk that traditional digital alarms relying on inaccessible auditory cues fail to mitigate. Furthermore, analog pill organizers are passive, providing no proactive "nudge" to prevent missed doses. This creates a critical accessibility gap where neither standard notifications nor physical tools offer adequate security, leading to increased anxiety and a reliance on external help. Consequently, there is an urgent need for a solution that bridges digital tracking and physical reality through intuitive, multi-sensory interactions that empower the user within their own home.

Which is why it was asked:

How might we design an app that allows people with hearing disabilities to schedule alarms and keep track of the medications they might need to take on a constant basis, while synchronizing with other smart devices in order to raise the probability of the user, or a member of their community to notice said alarms?

The Solution

Multiple smartphones displaying health and calendar apps, with various screens showing device management, alarm settings, and scheduling features in a digital interface.

Ribbon is an app that tracks a user’s medicines and connects with other smart devices to let patients with hearing impairments remember when to take their medicines without the need of a secondary actor.

Research

After a series of user interviews, it was discovered that users with hearing loss struggle when remembering when they need to take their medicines unless they really pay attention due to not being able to use traditional alarms. The problem resolves itself when having the help of a dedicated nurse or a loved one, but some users value their independence and don’t want to feel like a burden to the people around them. 

Person holding a smartphone with a financial app displaying stock or trading information.

Regular alarms use sound as a way to alert users, however, people with hearing impairments can’t use these alarms due to their conditions

Patients might need great amounts of medicines and keeping track can be confusing and difficult, especially when at old age, the mind isn’t as sharp as it used to be

Patients value their independence, however, existing conditions can make simple tasks require the help of a loved one or a nurse, making users feel like a burden 

User Persona

Profile of an elderly woman with white hair and a friendly expression, next to a health care profile of a retired grandma named Carroll who lives alone in a small town in the USA, with goals and frustrations related to managing her health and independence.

Storyboards

A storyboard illustrating a UX design scenario where a user sets up and receives a med alarm. The storyboard includes illustrations of a person with a hearing impairment holding a medic alert device, the user opening a smartphone app that syncs with smart devices, setting a new alarm for medication with written instructions, and a visual alarm system displayed on a screen, with labels indicating smart lights, TV, and home hub, all in black-and-white line drawings.

Paper Prototypes

The home screen was designed with usability and information gathering in mind, displaying the different information that a user might need when checking the different alarms previously set up. Both a skeuomorphic approach and modern design were considered.

Hand-drawn series of mockup screens for a medication alarm app, illustrating settings, scheduling, and confirmation pages.

Wireframes

After choosing one of the paper wireframes as a main body, elements from the other paper wireframes were adapted and adjusted as needed while keeping in mind the need for useful and readable information.

As for the ALARM SETUP screen, when designing the paper and digital wireframes, great care was taken in order to not only decide what elements and information should be included, but also what approach should be used. More technical information should be presented without feeling like overwhelming the user.

A medical alert interface showing medication schedule with dose times and remaining doses, along with options to change or confirm medication administration. The app includes settings and devices icons at the bottom.
Mobile app screen with an 'Edit Alarm' interface, showing time set to 1:00 a.m., days of the week, fields for medical and patient names, and dosage information, with a 'Save' button at the bottom.
Mobile app screen displaying a medication reminder for Benzadril, instructing to take 3 pills every 36 hours. The dose details and a confirmation button are visible, with a keyboard at the bottom.
Mobile app settings screen showing patient list, alarm setup toggle, and alarm intensity levels from low to very high.
Mobile app screen for editing an alarm, showing options for setting the time interval and input fields for medication name, patient name, doses per serving, dose amount, total amount, and a save button.
Mobile app screen showing 'Devices' section with synchronized devices listed under 'Devices Available' and placeholders for device names, with a 'Back' button at the top and an 'Alarm test' button at the bottom.

Final Designs

Based on the insights from the usability study, adjustments to the main flow were implemented in order to let users navigate more seamlessly. A Calendar page was added to the main menu so users could obtain a different perspective on how the different alarms and medications are spread throughout the month. Proportions were also adjusted for improved readability and better UX overall.

The app allows for different devices to synch simultaneously, creating a seamless ecosystem where the user takes all possible measures to remind itself and others around them when a medicine is due, regardless of any hearing condition, busy-work and without sacrificing the user’s independence.

Want to know more about this project?

Feel free to check any of the following links:

Case Study document
Phone prototype