BBC Pandemic Application Design

The Challenge

Early in discovery, scientists from Cambridge and London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine outlined their data requirements: precise hourly location logs, self-reported contacts, and demographic information. Our objective was recruiting as many participants as possible while maintaining scientific rigour.

Critical challenges included:

• User Trust & Privacy: Convincing diverse communities to share sensitive location data
• Wide Demographic Range: Designing for all adult age groups and technical proficiency levels
• Scientific Rigour vs. UX Optimisation: Meeting academic standards within tight timelines
• Technical Constraints: Ensuring continuous data collection without excessive battery drain

Defining the User Experience

I designed two distinct pathways: the National Study requiring 24-hour tracking plus contact logging, and the focused Haslemere Study involving extended tracking within a single town.

Privacy-First Design Strategy

Privacy was our biggest stakeholder concern and potential user blocker. Rather than treating it as an afterthought, I made transparency central to the entire experience:

• Clear Data Promises: Communicated upfront that we would not save any personal data permanently
• Continuous Reassurance: Embedded privacy reminders throughout the user journey, not just during onboarding
• Granular Control: Translated complex data usage policies into plain language with clear, granular opt-in choices

Guided User Journeys

Instead of overwhelming users with complexity, I introduced contextual prompts connecting each data collection step to meaningful research outcomes, helping participants understand their contribution’s value while reinforcing data security at every touchpoint.

Wireframing & Prototyping

I developed comprehensive Figma wireframes mapping the essential user flow: registration, consent management, location tracking permissions, and results delivery. Each screen balanced scientific data requirements with user comprehension.

Testing Under Pressure

Tight time constraints meant we didn’t get that immediate “aha moment” in initial testing that you’d typically want. However, when we ran the localised Haslemere study and received the data back, it was a breakthrough moment. We knew the approach would work for the wider national study. This pilot became our validation strategy, compensating for limited early-stage user testing.

UI Design & Technical Solutions

Working within BBC’s brand framework, I created an experience that felt both authoritative and approachable across diverse user groups with varying technical comfort levels.

Age-Inclusive Design

For older age groups, I prioritised comprehension over visual sophistication:

• Clear Typography: Legible fonts and high-contrast form fields reduced barriers
• Simple Inputs: Streamlined interaction patterns, even when forms were necessarily extensive
• Plain Language: Made text easy to understand across all technical proficiency levels

Platform Optimisation with Constraints

The app needed to run continuously to collect data effectively, creating significant technical constraints:

• Battery Optimisation: Designed and developed specifically to prevent battery drain during background tracking
• Native Patterns: Used platform-specific navigation to reduce cognitive load during data entry

Key Constraints & Strategic Trade-offs

Scientific Requirements vs. UX Best Practices

One of the most challenging aspects was the tension between scientific rigor and optimal user experience. The research team had specific data requirements that couldn’t be compromised, and with tight timelines, some forms weren’t as optimized as I would have preferred. This created a strategic design challenge: how do you balance academic standards with usability when you can’t fully optimize every interaction?

My approach was to focus optimisation efforts on the most critical user paths while ensuring that even lengthy, scientifically-required forms remained accessible through clear typography and simple interaction patterns.

Data Collection & Trust Building

Detailed hourly location logs were often a sticking point. I addressed this by clearly explaining how GPS data would be anonymised and aggregated, optimising background tracking to minimise battery impact, and using timely push notifications for contact list completion and daily check-ins without intrusion.

Managing Public Reception

Media impact didn’t create significant operational challenges. While we received some negative feedback in app stores, this was expected given the sensitive nature of location tracking. The ultimate goal of gathering enough quality data for epidemiological modelling was successfully achieved, demonstrating that clear communication about research value can overcome initial scepticism.

Development & Quality Assurance

Working with an external development team shipping nightly builds, I took on QA responsibilities including user flows, data integrity testing, and edge case management, tracked through spreadsheets and Jira to maintain rapid iteration cycles.