Arbie
An Art therapy service for undergraduate students in Canada
Date:
Sep 2022
Skills:
Product Design
UX UI
User Research
Branding
Tool:
Adobe XD
This project develop a mobile application for undergraduate students aged 18 to 24 which helps raise awareness and improve physical and psychological well-being using art therapy. The goal of the application is to improve their present lifestyle by engaging them in interesting and interactive physical and art activities. Other application features include rewarding programming and community involvement.
Introduction (The Problem)
Recently, the World Health Organization article reported a massive rise in anxiety and depression worldwide, triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. (FORBES, 2021) This data can also be reflected upon the 2019 report revealing that one out of three people worldwide are feeling stressed, worried, or angry and this negative intention continues in 2020 listed as the highest daily stress accorded.
No. 1 👑
Report Highest
daily stress in 2020
(FORBES, 2021)
1/3 🌎
Reported feeling stressed, worried, and/or angry in 2019 globally
(GALLUP, 2021)
Although stress in and of itself is not a mental health issue, it is frequently the beginning for many and can have a negative impact both mentally and physically. (THERECOVERYVILLAGE, 2022)
77%❤️🩹
Reported Stress affects their physical health
(THERECOVERYVILLAGE, 2022)
73% 🧠
Reported Stress affects their mental health (THERECOVERYVILLAGE, 2022)
4.4%🤲🏻
World's population Affected by depression (SINGLECARE, 2022)
1in4 👥
Will experience mental health conditions in their lifetime (SINGLECARE, 2022)
In2020 globally,
49%
younger generations felt more stressed and anxious than older generations . In Canada, similar severe data can be found that this age group. They are identified to have the most loneliness and anxiety/depressive disorder symptoms among other adult age groups.
Young adult (18-24)
Growing 📈
trend since 2005
Suicide 💀
is second leading case of death among 15-24 in Canada
In another research done by the University of British Columbia, undergraduate students, especially international students, felt the most hopeless, overwhelmed and depressed compared to domestic undergraduate students and master students. This data match with the National College Health Assessment 2019 data set, with nearly 70% stating lonely & overwhelming anxiety
Key Barrier in Health Care,CA
🇨🇦In 2019–2020,
50%
wait time around 1 month
for community-based continuous counseling services (Cihi.Ca, 2021)
1in 10
waited more than
4 months.
(Gill, 2021 )The B.C. NDP has allocated $500 million in medical and mental health treatment for the next three years, however, the Canadian public health care system and university mental health services are unable to facilitate such a high number of young adults in need of support.
"Her doctor told her there were simply no psychiatrists taking new patients."
-Tera Hawes suffer from hypomanic episode in Vancouver
Key Barrier in University🇨🇦
A similar situation can be seen in Universities' mental care services in Canada. The increase in demand for mental health care support is startling university resources and they have acknowledged that they are not equipped to solve the mental health issues arising within their student populations. (Treleaven, 2020)
-
Affordability (limited choice)
-
Accessibility (wait time)
-
Adaptation (online/physcial)
4. Affordability (limited choice)
5. Accessibility (wait time)
6. Adaptation (online/physcial)
❌
These barriers lead more than 62% of students who have mental health issues to refuse to seek support due to the stigma around this topic.
Other ways to deal with stress
during Pandemic
(CBC.ca,2020) Other than seeking help from public health care and university mental health services, there is significant evidence reported by the news that the arts can be utilized to promote mental health in non-therapy settings for all age groups, such as performing arts to learn about fundamental topics areas in schools or making visual art with adults who are psychologically healthy and wish to maintain that feeling. Jack Veitch with the Canadian Mental Health Association in Peterborough also indicates the “Research from the University of Alberta that shows when you engage in creative art you lower cortisol levels in your body,”
Art therapy
Art therapy is “facilitated by a professional art therapist, effectively supports personal and relational treatment goals, as well as community concerns. Art therapy is used to improve cognitive and sensorimotor functions, foster self-esteem and self-awareness, cultivate emotional resilience, promote insight, enhance social skills, reduce and resolve conflicts and distress, and advance societal and ecological change.” (American Art Therapy Association, 2018).
✅
Benefit
-
Brain circuits
-
Neuroendocrine markers
-
Cortisol levels (stress markers)
→
⬆️ health, wellness and stress adaptation.
Study in 2018
81.1 % ⬇️
creative therapy reduced stress levels
PROCESS
Introduction
Research
Insight
Segmentation
Casestudy
Design Concept
Test and improvement
Solution
Mangement
Cases Takeaways
Future exploration ?
1.Current University student well-being and interest in art therapy
2.Understanding Art therapist perception and process in creating a workshop
3.Workflow of an art therapy / art distress section
Primary Research
Part 1
Questionnaire
Quantitative analysis
University student who is studying a undergraduate degree in British Columbia,
Canada
Purpose:
To understand their stress point and their viewpoint on art therapy
📄
⇣
Part 2
Phone interview
Qualitative analysis
Art therapy who uses art therapy technique work
with their client
Purpose:
To know more about the viewpoint of an art therapist/ owner
📱
⇣
Part 3
Observation
Qualitative analysis
Current existing website/ classes that provide art services
Purpose:
To understand the workflow of art therapy /distress art workshop
👁
⇣
Finding summary
📄
-
Students have high level of stress, but a low level in using university services Interested in mixed or outdoor setting services
-
Digital art & drawing as the main favourable art therapy technique
-
Services should include entertainment and communication
📱
-
Requested-based workshop/ or self-practice workshop Importance of ethics and safety (physical and online workshop)
-
Repeated sessions (2 to 3 hours per session) and sketchbook journaling are suggested
👁
-
Interaction and communication
-
Consent form for each user's piracy
Insight💡
-
There is a need and interest to provide alternative distressing
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Prefer digital art and drawing as most favourable art therapy technique
-
-
High effectiveness of art therapy in all age
-
Entertainment, Communication and piracy are keys to providing quality art therapy services
-
Repeated sessions and sketchbook
-
-
Journaling are suggested
-
therapy services for young adults (age 18-24), BC Canada
-
Interested in online or outdoor setting event
-
Segmentation
Segmentation is the process of defining market groups based on shared traits. Knowing the specific requirements and product design of the target group fosters the development of the 10 product. Using the primary research of questionnaire results can reveal some psychological traits.
According to Strategic Business Insights (2022) and MBAskool (2020), Makers are groups of users who have a limited budget and are willing to become a better individuals. They value the connection with family and friends. Makers are also interested in the outdoor event which is associated with results from primary research.
Target Audience
Using the insight and analysis above, it is unable us to set the market segment for this project. This project will be focusing on people who are aged 18 to 24, the riskiest well-being age group among adult age groups.
Persona
After defining the target group, a personal profile is constructed to better develop a design solution for their pain points. These frustration and goals are important considerations for building solutions, as this persona will guide this project design's primary target market, and they will be early adopters of the goods or services.
Four action framework & Map of needs
Based on the insight and the segmentation analysis above, The Four Actions Framework (Kim and Mauborgne, 2014:31-32) help to create guides for a new art therapy service platform for the users.
Using listed values and requirements concluded above, The Four Actions Framework helps map out three main user groups that are required to create a new art therapy platform.These values will be served as guidance when developing the innovative design feature for the Art Therapy platform in the following parts.
Case study on well-being planform
To have a better understanding of the development of a wellbeing planform, case study researches have done to 3 current popular wellbeing mobile Apps in Canada including Finch, Bloom, Betterhelp. All these Apps paid subscription to have the full experience for the users. Framework, layout and design function which are the 3 mains approaches to examine. The analyzation will be refences upon on for the later development.
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The Innovation Framework
Using the insights above, The innovation framework can produce an appropriate solution that facilitate long-term success. Through the framework, it displays that this project is a sustainable innovation which helps to development enhances performance of current social development.
Design Concept
Design function
The art therapy platform consist of 4 mains feature which based upon the insight and framework outcome. All these function are foundation of development Art therapy mobile platform.
User-flow chart & Wireframe
Before developing the interface of the platform, User-flow chart is outlining the users tasks when using the platform. The users-flow chart incorporated all design feature and also inspired by current market case study research sitemap.
The structure of the user-flow chart allow us to develops a wireframe for the platform. Wireframe is a display of images that show the functioning and layout of a site. By developing the wireframe, it creates clarity to my platform and have a visual understanding of targeting users’ goals.
Test & improvement
After developing the mockup of the platform based on the wireframe, testing has been done in 4 main factors including understanding the aim of the app, navigate users actions, the overall experience and user motive and behaviors.
There are 3 testers are randomly picked out from the questionnaire in Appendix A as this is the target group for the whole application. The testers includes two female international students studying in year 1 and 2 while one male domestic student is studying in year 4.
💡Two main improvement:
Solution
The project solution is to develop a new art therapy platform which is a mobile app device that is funded and partnered with university.
App icon, Colour & Typography
The icon of the application is called ‘Arbie’. it's originated by combination the word Art and Buddy. These two words symbolize the uses art exploration and buddy system to improve and maintain users’ well-being. Overall, appears of the icon in line with emotional innovation element be non-intimidating and friendly outlook. The mobile app icon is positioned circular motions matching with the visual of app and symbolize self and cycle of life.
Main primary color set is 3 shades of color yellow which match with icon and provide a friendly outlook. The secondary color black, pink and yellow are complementary colors that assist to the overall and gender-neutral outlook.
The typography font for the platform is Roboto which is designed by Christian Robertson. This font is not rigid and gender-neutral outlook.
Interface design
Integrating the wireframe, other visual languages and improvement from testing, interface design is developed.
Hybrid Group Professional Art therapy session/ Event
-
Online and physical options
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Online payment with funding
Taking care of your personalise buddy
-
Playing mission game with your buddy
-
shopping for your buddy
-
drawing own personalise buddy
Point rewarding system
(For Buddy or Events)
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Shop & adventure for your buddy
-
Free Art therapy workshop
Hybrid Daily Mission
(art journaling & self caring)
-
AR game funding your buddy
-
GPS map finding mission by walk
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Different levels through playing
-
Drawing & written reflection
Story Board
Story board able to visualizes and investigates a user's interaction with the product. It display how consumers will use the product through scenes of actions.
User Journey Map
Matching with Storyboard and the experiences with testers, the user journey map concentrated on the target audiences presented by the persona, Jennifer Tong.
Throughout the user journey map, most of the touchpoint show a positive impact when interacting with the application. Two main drop touchpoint are the decision to download the application and the decision to joining an art therapy platform. In long term, as there is more users and review from the internet, the new potential users will be less anxious to download this application and join workshop
Value Proposition Canvas
Arbie services focuses on self-care art wellbeing service, connection with art therapist and trustable platform with benefit. This key element match with the development of design feature and innovation framework. The services of Arbie can match with people who are willing to seek help. It is also match with the services Pain relievers, as the services allow student reduce stress and anxiety and stigma in seek help which it's the main goals for the users. The gain of services creates enhancement wellbeing and connect with more clients for art therapist. This services gain help users release the pain element including the disappoint in waiting time, adaption and print of the current mental health serves. Through the visual diagram, platform matches with target users’ needs and desire.
Assessment & Evaluation (Long term)
There are 3 main measurement method to evaluate the success rate of this application. These measurement can be done after one to two year.
Mangement
As the application is designed to partnered and funded by the university in Canada, this application is able to meet the requirements for the Innovation Discovery Partnership specifically on life science and health solution which assist in bridging this gap by establishing connections between UBC researchers and business partners, nonprofit organizations, or community organizations.
Other valid grants that meet the requirement includes Research development grant and Knowledge Sharing and Mobilization (KSM) Grant. Both Grant are host by BC NEIHR and listed into grant list in UBC. Both grant eligibility including a listed organization or collective in British Columbia and a person over the age of 19. These two grants are a one-year duration grant with a 10,000 and 5,000 CAD non- renewable funding.
Finding & insight:
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There is a high need and interest to provide more alternative therapy for target audiences - young adults (age 18-24)
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High effectiveness and interest in art therapy, especially digital art and drawing as the art therapy technique
-
Prefer entertainment, and communication and piracy are keys to providing quality art therapist services for young adults (age 18-24)
Solution:
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Develop a sustainable innovative art therapy platform, named 'Artbie' for well-being and privacy. This mobile platform partners with the university and certified art therapist
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Benefit: undergraduate students aged 18-24 to maintain and enhance well-being through art therapy and art technique
Discussion:
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Partner with a team of professional therapists to provide
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more daily mission and art therapy activities options for user's experiences according to their goal