Role
Lead UX Designer
Products
Mobile app, Web app, Admin panel, Landing pages
What I Did
User Research, User Journey, UX/UI Design, User Testing, Branding Identity
Location
London, United Kingdom
01
Overview
During the 2020 pandemic, healthcare changed overnight. With new challenges, processes became more complicated, but the surge in demand also created new opportunities.
HireCreed, an online locum platform based in the UK, designed to bridge the gap between healthcare professionals and businesses. This platform addresses the challenges faced by locums within the current market, offering a more flexible and efficient alternative to traditional systems.
02
To tackle the challenges effectively, I searched into how the locum market operates in the UK, understanding day-to-day processes, including old-school paperwork methods.
This initial exploration lays the groundwork for addressing specific needs and improving inefficiencies in the London locum market.
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Why would the existing locum market choose a new platform?
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Can a new product succeed amidst current competition?
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What sets a new product apart from the rest?
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What problems do locums and businesses face? (Need a deep user research)
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How do locum payments work? (General Q)
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What safety precautions are in place? (General Q)
Shifts and Unfilled Shifts in 2019-2021 UK:
Unfilled Shifts
On average, 11.3% of requested shifts were not filled during the period.
Increase in Weekly Shifts
The mean number of weekly shifts per healthcare trust rose by 19%, going from 175.2 to 208.6.
Rise in Unfilled Shifts
The mean number of weekly unfilled shifts per trust increased by 54%, going from 32.7 to 50.4.
"Surveys have revealed that waiting times do matter to the public. A long wait for treatment is one of the most common reasons people express dissatisfaction with the NHS."
NHS hospitals, mental health services and community healthcare providers are suffering a shortage of almost 84,000 staff.
There are approximately 40,000 to 60,000 locum GPs in the UK alone.
NHS relies on agency workers, including doctors and nurses from Europe, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, to meet staffing needs.
Growing annual leave requests from exhausted NHS staff, coupled with pandemic-induced bans on travel and holidays, are fueling a rise in locum job demand.
In addition to GP positions, there will be a surge in job opportunities for locum roles in radiography, sonography, and radiology.
Conclusion:
Surface research indicates a rapid growth in the locum market. Consequently, developing a product to address current market challenges could lead to substantial success.
03
Competitive
Analysis
HireCreed wasn’t a brand new idea, it was a reimagined solution to existing problems.
Since digital locum platforms are rare, I kicked off competitive analysis early. However, I hit a roadblock: most competitor platforms required verification, which I couldn’t bypass. These platforms cater to healthcare professionals, and while some had weak security, others had barriers that limited direct testing.
HireCreed wasn’t a brand new idea, it was a reimagined solution to existing problems.
Since digital locum platforms are rare, I kicked off competitive analysis early. However, I hit a roadblock: most competitor platforms required verification, which I couldn’t bypass. These platforms cater to healthcare professionals, and while some had weak security, others had barriers that limited direct testing.
Few Common Weakness
Limited communication with locums and vendors.
Safety risks due to inadequate locum auditing by some vendors.
Ineffective locum marketplace.
Insufficient filtering options
Accessibility and responsiveness issues.
Outdated and complex UI.
Lack of established rules or precautions to build mutual trust.
Bad customer support
Any of these could be strong Unique Selling Propositions (USPs), but I still needed to conduct in-depth research to find the real challenges locums and businesses face in their daily operations.
Finding shifts is difficult due to location, availability, and personal preferences.
Digital platforms lack enough shifts, key features, and proper security.
Agencies relying on traditional paperwork make the hiring process slow and frustrating.
Payments often get delayed, even on digital platforms.
Finding skilled and reliable locums online is a real struggle.
Paper-based processes are outdated and slow things down.
Manually handling shifts leads to errors and extra work.
Difficulties in keeping track of shifts and essential analytics.
Challenges associated with auditing and verifying locums.
Finding last-minute replacements for urgent shifts is a real challenge.
04
Ideation
Based on user research findings, I identified key features to solve most user problems effectively.
Connect directly with locums or businesses for quick and easy communication.
Use a smart filtering system to find the best matches for both locums and agencies.
Guide new users with helpful tooltips and important notifications.
Easily discover available shifts based on location and schedule.
Pick from flexible shift options, single or multiple days, day or night shifts.
Get a clear, user-friendly view of earnings and shift details.
Navigate a modern, simple platform that’s easy to use.
Keep track of daily shifts with clear status updates.
Schedule shifts effortlessly on consecutive or separate days.
Browse a marketplace to find the best locums for your business.
Speed up locum verification with the Hirecreed admin panel.
Set up rules and penalties to manage shift cancellations fairly.
Offer a mix of free and paid subscription plans with different benefits.
Send personalized offers to locums based on their preferences.
And many more...
I've categorized several features such as easy registration, comprehensive KYC verifications, support for multiple-day shifts, shift negotiation and flexibility, and personalized offers as unique selling points.
These considerations go beyond UX, focusing on optimizing business operations as well. I've also collaborated with stakeholders to gather insights that balance both user experience and operational efficiency.
HireCreed is designed to be a central hub that easily connects locums and businesses via an automated platform. It will also integrate with the HireCreed Admin panel, allowing HC agents to quickly access and manage the needs of both locums and businesses.
Locum Mobile App
Locum users will connect with the market through a portable and user-friendly mobile app. (The web app will be introduced later.)
Business Web App
Specifically designed for business use, it is planned to be used on larger devices and iPads/Tablets.
Admin Panel
Intended for HC agents to monitor the platform, conduct verifications, handle customer support, and more.
Information Architecture
and User Flows.
As the project progressed, I developed the information architecture for better accessibility and focused on designed user flows for both everyday tasks and key USP scenarios.
05
Design and
Prototyping
In the next phase, I created wireframes and early prototypes to test both general and USP flows. Once they were finalized, I shifted focus to branding, as it was crucial to establish the guidelines before moving on to the design system.
Branding
For HireCreed's branding identity, I worked on concepts that reflected our modern approach as a next-gen locum platform. The goal was to convey a contemporary vibe that resonated with today's era. It was about using visuals, colors, and messaging that captured HireCreed's innovative and forward-thinking nature.
With the branding guidelines set, I began creating the design system from scratch, starting with the basic components and styles. This evolved alongside the product's progress.
Now, for the grand finale! 😉
06
Locum
Mobile App
01
Effortless Registration
Simple and easy registration, providing only the most important information initially. New users receive guidance to complete the remaining steps for applying to jobs and more.
02
Home Screen Customization
03
Automated Reminders
Sends notifications to users based on their job preferences so they can act quickly and won't miss the most recent opportunities.
For example, "3 new jobs found in your area."
04
Subscription Reminders
Includes an option to upgrade the app features once the limitations of the free service exceed. Instead of locking the full app, features are locked, and a reminder is added to upgrade to the pro level.
05
Find Jobs and My Jobs:
In "Find Jobs," users can explore and find jobs easily, with the option to save favorite shifts and find any personal offers sent to them. In "My Jobs," users can view all applied and booked jobs. Color status is added to easily filter the status of the shift.
06
Cancellation Policies
Includes an option to upgrade the app features once the limitations of the free service exceed. Instead of locking the full app, features are locked, and a reminder is added to upgrade to the pro level.
07
Business App
01
Shift Management
Efficiently managed all shifts, including open or booked shifts, sent offers, and completed or canceled shifts, all in one place.
Prioritize daily shifts with expendable cards and color states for easy understanding of shift status. A rich filter option is added to find exact shift matches easily.
02
Calendar View
The calendar view provides an easy way to view and manage all shifts. It includes Monthly and Weekly views, each with a separate UI focused on providing more details within the given space. Business admins can easily view or create shifts via the calendar view.
03
Duplicate/recreate Shifts & offer
If a personalized offer gets canceled, users can convert it into a regular shift with just one click, releasing it to the locum market. Additionally, there's an option to duplicate any shift, retaining the same information, and users can edit the data before releasing it to the market.
These simple features save a lot of time and make it much easier for admins to handle their tasks.
04
Storing Locum Applications
Applied locums are saved under shifts unless they withdraw or cancel their application. If the booked locum cancels the shift, businesses can rebook a new locum if their application is still available and interested in the shift.
05
User Roles in Business
Introducing three user role options for businesses; Owner, Admin, and Staff, with different access levels for smoother and safer business account management.
06
Subscription Reminders
Similar to the locum app, a pricing model is introduced for business applications. When the current free model limits are exceeded, some features will be locked or limited.
For example, the number of shifts that can be created per month and access to saved locum applications under booked shifts for urgent cases.
07
Analytics (Beta)
A simple analytics system is introduced to keep track of business and locum performances, including earnings, expenses, and the best locums.
08
Admin Panel
01
Locum Verification & Ticket System
All information and documentation provided by locums are saved and organized in the New Locum section, enabling the HireCreed Medical Staffing Teams to complete the verification process faster and smoother.
A simple yet smart ticketing system is designed for customer support. Both the locum mobile app and business application have the option to submit tickets. Then HireCreed customer service team can easily view and offer assistance through this efficient ticketing system.
09
Prototypes
Here’s how a personalized offer is created through the business app and how locums can view and accept it on their mobile app.
Here’s the entire process when a locum cancels a shift and how it’s managed within the business application.
Prototype for negotiating or re-negotiating shift rates between locums and businesses through the HireCreed application.
Locums can adjust shift dates by reaching out to the business through the app, while businesses can easily send offers via chat.
10
01
Overall Theme
The HireCreed website reflects a modern, vibrant brand with a professional touch. Its clean, light theme aligns with our branding strategy, highlighting the mobile app’s features to attract locums and generate leads.
Beyond that, it sets the stage for future growth, making HireCreed adaptable and ready to expand into other job sectors while staying relevant in an evolving job market.
02
Benefits for Vendors
This page was designed for businesses, showcasing how HireCreed simplifies locum hiring and the benefits it offers. To make things clear, I put together a concise summary of key features in our business application.
I also included a list of healthcare-related businesses to help companies quickly see if HireCreed is the right fit, reducing guesswork and improving clarity.
03
Business App Features
I created a dedicated page to showcase the power of our web app, highlighting how it helps businesses increase earnings, manage shifts efficiently, connect with more locums, and easily track schedules with a built-in calendar.
Instead of generic images, I used real app screenshots, giving a clear, authentic preview of what users can expect. This approach builds trust and confidence by showing exactly what HireCreed offers.
Implementation and Testing
The entire process is iterative, incorporating new features and user feedback. As time progresses, design and development run in parallel, with new features tested and integrated into upcoming sprints.
To ensure the final user interface aligns 1:1 with the Figma design, I dedicate the final sprint to working closely with the front-end development team. This collaboration ensures the MVP accurately reflects the intended UI/UX.
11
More Work
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