Gknow
Strengthening the connection between therapist and patient with a secure and simplified digital diagram-making platform.
Meet the Gknow Crew!
TEAM
Ashera Ly UX/UI Lead
Eiligh Herring Project Manager
Curt Leonard Developer
Gabby Fiveash Marketing Lead
Georgia Riccobene Marketing & Visual Content
TIMELINE
Jan. 2025 - April 2025
TOOLS
Figma
Google Forms
Swift/SwiftUI
RESULT
Hi-Fi Prototype and Functioning iPad app available on Testflight!
SUMMARY
In the Capstone class for the New Media Certificate program at UGA, we were placed into groups to work on client projects with partners of the Certificate Program. This semester, I was fortunate to work with four other certificate students and Candace Couch, Founder of Gknow and Athens-based Family Therapist.
Over the last several months, we were able to design and build an iPad App for therapists to digitally create and securely store patients’ family diagrams, and for patients to learn more about their lineage.
INTRODUCTION
This project is a continuation of a capstone project of the previous semester, who had also worked with the client to make a version of the app. However, we still decided to conduct our own research, referencing the previous iteration to further develop the app and refine the design.
What is a Genogram? (better known as Family Diagram)
Family Diagrams are visual representations of one’s family relationships, showing not just the connections, but also the emotional dynamics and patterns within the family system. They are commonly used in therapeutic contexts, where a mental health professional may use a family diagram to help a patient spot generational patterns and how they my impact current relationships.
Image by Samantha Eibling
It’s like a family tree with emotional connections!
What is Gknow?
GKnow was developed as a digital alternative to a common analog diagram making process. It features a workspace for the therapist to create and quickly modify their patients’ diagrams. Diagrams can also be stored digitally and shared through password-protected transfers.
DISCOVERY
To dive deeper into the world of Family diagrams, we started our investigation of how they are created and used in therapy sessions--if at all, and how they are perceived.
We interviewed 2 therapists, our client and a colleague
We also utilized results of 2 surveys, one from our clients’ fellow colleagues, and one that was sent to our peers.
2 Interviews
2 Surveys
92% or 12 out of 13 of therapist respondents state that they use Family diagrams in their work with clients.
When we conducted our interviews, we intended to observe their workflows and identify opportunities for improvement in the diagram making process.
One of the team members had their family diagram made!
We found that...
While many therapists use family diagrams in patient sessions, they are usually done with pen and paper-- which is a process we (and our client) found to have several tradeoffs in modern practice:
1.
In instances of simultaneous writing and conversation, therapists find themselves spending more time on making their diagrams legible during or after the session rather than focusing on conversational connection with the client.
2.
Our interviewee keeps her paper documents in a locked file cabinet, which she does not find to be the safest method of storing personal health information. Patients are also unable to take them home, especially with the lack of guidance from therapists on how to understand diagrams.
3.
Paper and pen is quick and intuitive, but therapists may find themselves switching back and forth between analog workspace and digital programs, causing friction in the work flow.
4.
Therapists approach family diagrams in different ways, some emphasize more on writing, others more on drawing symbols.
Therapists Value...
..using diagrams to understand clients on a deeper level, in a smooth and timely manner.
..sharing insights they have made with their patients, in and out of sessions.
..helping patients understand what symbolizes the patterns in their family relationships.
Personas
In addition, we used generated personas from the interview and survey input to better define the goals of our solution.
What has been done?
We also looked at pre-existing digital options for family diagram making, each with different strengths and weaknesses.
In terms of design goals, we asked ourselves..
How can we streamline the different processes of making, editing, and sharing family diagrams into an intuitive platform without interfering with the therapist-client experience?
How can we educate potential users on the insights given by family diagrams?
Design
I used observation from the client’s diagram making process with a volunteer as well as her input on the usability of the previous semester’s iteration to inform the design of the current app.
We intended to include features that reflected aspects of the traditional therapists workflow- file management, patient record information (EHR) , and drawing / note taking.
The previous app consisted too many pages for simpler tasks, which the client felt was interfering with the user’s flow.
Wireframes
Previous
Current
Therapist View: Dashboard
Added in as a users previously had to go through multiple selections to see their patient files. I took inspiration from document management systems such as Google Docs and OneDrive.
Therapist View: Workspace
I took inspiration from note-taking apps such as Goodnotes, which is highly optimized for Apple Pencil use. I also intended to reference EHR (Electronic Health Record) applications for inputting Patient Info.
Patient View: Dashboard
The Learning Library is available for both patients and therapists to reference when learning about their diagram. Patients have the option to receive a diagram they made with their therapists, or explore through making their own.
Visual Design
In terms of visuals, the client suggested keeping the original color scheme, a palette of green and white to promote a sense of simplicity and tranquility.
I redesigned the logo and type options to better align with the new look of the app's interface, having a more organic and professional approach.
Early sketches of Gknow logo
Previous Logo
Current Logo
Style Guide
Previous Guide
Current Guide
Components
Final Designs
Family Diagrams made simple.
Therapist Dashboard and Preview
Patients listed upon log-in
Available sorting and filtering
Quick action buttons
Folders for organization.
Therapist Workspace
Labeled Symbols
Dropdown selections
Additional Notes on family members
Learning Library
Patient Dashboard
Viewing Workspace
Code sharing for patient private viewing
Gknow is now live on TestFlight and available for beta testing!
Reflection:
I learned that...
Feedback is important! For this project, we had consistent meetings with our client and regular check-ins with our faculty mentor. I’m grateful to see creative perspectives of the people guiding our project, and I felt I was able to learn about translating observations and personal input into practical features.
Designing healthcare-adjacent applications can present a unique set of challenges, particularly due to the regulations surrounding HIPAA compliance and the protection of personal health information (PHI). While we were not directly handling medical data, even the proximity to sensitive health contexts required a higher sense of legal and privacy considerations. Moving forward, our client intends to seek legal advising for HIPAA Compliance with the app, so features may come and go in the future.
THANKS FOR READING!