Oral Immunotherapy Support App

For my UX certificate program, I decided to design an application to support families undergoing oral immunotherapy (OIT) for food allergies. During the research phase, I interviewed hospital researchers, who then invited me to present the project at the end of the program. Following the presentation, they said they were interested in seeking funding to make the application available to families undergoing treatment.

Role

UX/UI Designer

Team

Solo

Timeline

8 weeks

Tools

Figma, Photoshop

Type

Project as part of a UX certificate program

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The problem

Managing OIT treatments requires carefully tracking dosing schedules, attending appointments, recording any allergic reactions, and noting factors like illness or dose increases. Currently, there is no simple, centralized tool to handle these tasks, share updates with healthcare providers, or access essential safety tips. Without such support, doses may be missed, reactions left unrecorded, and treatment progress disrupted—particularly during travel, illness, or busy times.

Design challenge

How might we support patients and caregivers in managing the complex requirements of OIT treatment, ensuring they feel prepared, informed, and organized throughout the process?

Solution highlights

  • Designed a centralized app for families to track symptoms, doses, and reactions during OIT treatment

  • Included educational resources and progress tracking to reduce stress and confusion for parents

  • Created a direct communication feature for families to contact allergy teams when needed

  • Received strong interest from hospital researchers exploring funding to develop the app further

prototype

Interviews

To gain a deeper understanding of the challenges faced in OIT treatment, I conducted five interviews with three parents, one patient, and one OIT researcher. 


Primary goals

  1. Identify the most common challenges in managing OIT at home.
  2. Understand the emotional and practical needs of parents and patients.
  3. Explore how tracking and sharing data could enhance care during appointments.

Patient persona

Information architecture

Task flows

Track reactions

Task 1 – track reactions

Style guide

Teal, a colour closely associated with food allergies, is used throughout the app to promote trust, calm, and clarity, helping users feel more at ease during their treatment journey.

Potential impact

  • Over 600,000 Canadian children have food allergies, and many undergo OIT treatment.
  • My research found only one app specifically designed to support OIT treatment.
  • This app could fill a critical gap by helping families stay organized, reducing stress, and improving treatment adherence.
  • By addressing these needs, it has the potential to support many families managing OIT.
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