⚡ Case Study at a Glance
Ahead, Truepill’s B2C virtual mental health platform, needed an engaging, user-friendly blog to house valuable mental health content. As Lead Designer, I created a mobile-optimized, visually cohesive experience that increased engagement, improved content discoverability, and aligned with the brand’s mission.
Goals:
Build an intuitive, visually engaging blog experience.
Provide a "stickier" experience to encourage deeper content engagement.
Optimize for mobile and content scalability.
#InformationDesign
#InteractionDesign
#MobileFirstDesign
#VisualStorytelling
#ScalableDesignSystems
#UserEngagement
#CrossFunctionalCollaboration
The problem
Ahead’s blog served as a key content hub for mental health resources, but the existing experience lacked user engagement and discoverability. The design challenges included:
Low Content Retention – Users weren’t staying on the site or navigating to additional articles.
Poor Content Categorization – A lack of filtering and organization made it difficult to explore relevant topics.
Over-Reliance on Stock Photography – Due to budget constraints, the site needed a more custom, scalable visual solution.
Mobile Optimization Issues – The existing layout wasn’t fully responsive, limiting accessibility across devices.
Before & After: A side-by-side comparison of the Ahead Blog homepage. The redesigned version on the right features improved content hierarchy, enhanced readability, and a more engaging, mobile-optimized layout.
As Lead Designer, I owned the end-to-end design strategy and execution for the blog, ensuring it was visually compelling, functional, and aligned with Ahead’s brand identity. I worked closely with marketing and development teams to:
Define content priorities through competitor research and internal discussions.
Develop a scalable, mobile-friendly layout that enhanced readability and engagement
Introduce content categorization using tags to help users filter and discover relevant topics.
Explore custom illustration solutions to reduce reliance on stock imagery while maintaining a cohesive look.
Introducing categorized sections for improved discoverability, allowing users to easily explore relevant topics. Custom illustrations replaced stock photography in hero sections, creating a more cohesive and visually engaging experience while maintaining brand consistency.
During the design process, we navigated several UX and branding challenges:
Creating a More Engaging User Journey – What keeps users on a blog? Through competitor analysis, we identified structural elements that improve content retention and built them into the design.
Balancing Aesthetics with Scalability – We needed a design system that could support new content over time while maintaining a consistent brand identity.
Collaborating with Development on Fluid Design Elements – Some visual elements, such as organic shapes and animations, required close collaboration to ensure smooth implementation.
solutions & outcomes
We addressed these challenges with the following design solutions:
Improved Content Discoverability – Implemented #tags for categorization, allowing users to explore related topics more easily.
Increased Engagement Through Smart UX Decisions – Designed a "stickier" experience by suggesting related articles, reducing bounce rates.
Custom Visual System – Developed illustration guidelines and layouts that reduced reliance on stock photography, ensuring brand consistency.
Mobile-First Optimization – Refined typography, spacing, and layouts to ensure a seamless reading experience across all devices.
key takeaways & impact
Shortly after launch, Truepill decided to sunset Ahead, but leadership initially requested that the blog remain live as a vital mental health resource. This decision reinforced the importance of scalable, user-centered design, even for content-driven platforms.
While the blog has since been taken down, the redesign demonstrated how strategic UX and design choices can drive engagement and accessibility, leaving a lasting impact on how content is structured and presented.
Final Thoughts
This project highlighted my ability to blend UX strategy, branding, and content-focused design to create a seamless and engaging experience. The Ahead Blog remains a testament to the power of thoughtful design in digital healthcare.
The Final Blog Experience: A cohesive, user-friendly design featuring improved content organization, mobile-optimized layouts, and custom illustrations. Thoughtful UX and visual design choices create an engaging platform that enhances readability and keeps users exploring relevant content.
contact
chrystal k. ulanday