Insights
Meet the team: Hind Laabad

Dylan McGartland

Social Media Executive

May 11, 2023
6 minute read

Meet Hind Laabad, a UX/UI Designer at Phlo Connect who creates user-centric designs that solve real-world problems in the healthcare industry. Hind’s career journey has not been linear, but each experience has been valuable in shaping her skills and interests. Read on to learn more about Hind and her journey.

Can you tell us about your background?

Originally from Italy, I studied psychology in high school before moving to Scotland on a scholarship and falling in love with bonnie Edinburgh.

Despite not coming from a design background, my interest in problem-solving using psychology and visual communications led me to pursue my studies in User Experience design. This decision not only gave me a valuable set of skills but also exposed me to diverse cultures and ways of thinking, making me a more empathetic and adaptable designer.

My career journey has not been linear, but each experience has been valuable in shaping my skills and interests. I started working at Moment One, a digital health startup, where I honed my skills in healthtech and gained a deeper understanding of the healthcare industry. Interestingly, my experience at Moment One gave me a solid foundation in healthtech design and research, which has been immensely helpful in my current UX/UI designer role at Phlo.

What does your role entail at Phlo Connect and what does a typical day look like for you?

As a UX designer at Phlo, my role involves creating user-centric designs that solve real-world problems in the healthcare industry. A typical day for me starts with reviewing my to-do list and prioritising tasks that need my attention. I spend a valuable amount of time researching to better understand our user needs, pain points, and behaviours.

This helps me develop insights that inform the design decisions that I make. Once I have a clear understanding of our user’s needs, I move on to designing wireframes and prototypes that bring our UX solutions to life.

I work closely with the development team to ensure that the designs are technically feasible, and that the final product meets our standards for usability and experience. I often also collaborate with other teams, such as Marketing and Product, to ensure that our designs align with our overall brand guidelines. My role is to bridge the gap between our users’ needs and our product, creating a seamless user experience that improves patient outcomes.

Examples of our patient-facing screens

What (in your opinion) is the most important aspect of your job?

The most important aspect of my job as a UX/UI designer for Phlo Connect is to create a user-centric design that puts the patient's needs and experience at the forefront. Our platform aims to revolutionise the way private healthcare prescribers work and the way their patients receive medication, and our design plays a significant role in achieving this goal.

Also, collaboration is fundamental to my role to design a product that truly meets the needs of our users, I need to work closely with a range of stakeholders, including developers, product owners, and sometimes healthcare professionals to define our user’s needs and goals. We collaborate to understand the business requirements, technical constraints, and regulatory considerations that need to be considered when designing our platform.

I strongly rely on their expertise and feedback to iterate on our designs and ensure that they are both feasible and effective. By working closely with people across the business, I can design a product that truly meets the needs of our users and is not only visually appealing but also intuitive and easy to use.

What excites you about the future of the digital healthcare space?

Breaking free from old processes is one of the most exciting aspects of my role as a UX/UI designer at Phlo Connect. As the healthcare industry continues to undergo a digital transformation, we can revolutionise the way healthcare is delivered to patients, not just in the UK, but worldwide.

The digital prescribing and automated medication supply chain that we offer at Phlo Connect has the potential to transform the way patients receive their medication, making it more convenient, efficient, and accessible. This transformation has become even more crucial after the Covid-19 pandemic, where social distancing and lockdown measures have made traditional healthcare delivery models more difficult to operate.

With digital prescribing and an automated medication supply chain, patients can receive their medication directly to their doorstep, without ever having to leave their homes. It’s exciting to be part of a team that is leading the way in healthcare innovation and digital transformation, and the potential impact of our work is immense.

Clinician view our our Prescribing Portal.

What is the importance of user-centred design when providing a digital healthcare service?

User-centred design is a key aspect of creating effective and engaging digital healthcare services. By putting the needs and preferences of healthcare professionals and patients at the centre of the design process, we can ensure that digital healthcare services are tailored to the unique needs of their users, providing an experience that is both seamless and user-friendly.

This approach allows us to identify pain points in the healthcare journey and work to address them through careful design and research, leading to improved patient outcomes and satisfaction. By designing with the user in mind, we can create solutions that not only meet the needs of our users but also positively impact the healthcare industry.

What do you enjoy about working with our varied range of healthcare partners?

Working with a varied range of healthcare partners at Phlo Connect is rewarding as it allows me to expand my knowledge base and collaborate with diverse professionals.

Through our partnerships with healthcare professionals in different medical focus areas, such as pain management or dermatology treatment management, I gain valuable insights into unique challenges and requirements for medication delivery and patient care.

This knowledge informs my design decisions and improves my understanding of the impact of our platform on patient outcomes and the wider healthcare landscape. Overall, working with our varied range of healthcare partners is an educational experience that enables me to continuously grow and develop as an experience designer.

Example of our Advanced Digital Signing feature.

What has been one of your highlights of Phlo Connect to date?

One of my personal highlights of working on Phlo Connect has been the opportunity to be part of building a cutting-edge digital prescribing portal that is pioneering in the healthtech industry. The experience has been incredibly rewarding, knowing that we are making a significant impact on the healthcare industry by providing a more efficient, convenient, and accessible way for patients to access their medications.

Working alongside a talented and dedicated team at Phlo, I have been able to contribute my skills and expertise to create a product that truly serves the needs of our users. Seeing the positive feedback and outcomes from patients and healthcare professionals has been a source of pride and motivation for me.

Do you have any advice for people looking to progress their career into UX design?

  1. Get experience: Look for opportunities to gain practical experience in UX design, whether through internships, freelance work, or personal projects. This can help you build your skills, expand your portfolio, and make valuable connections in the industry.
  1. Stay curious: The field of UX design is constantly evolving, with new tools, techniques, and trends emerging all the time. To be successful in this field, it's important to stay up to date with the latest developments and advancements. Follow industry blogs and news sources, attend conferences and webinars, and network with other professionals in the field.  
  1. Develop communication skills: UX design involves crafting messaging and communications that resonate with users. Developing your UX copywriting skills can help you create effective messaging that meets the needs of your target audience.  
  1. Gain knowledge on basic coding skills: While you don't need to be an expert in coding having a basic understanding of coding can help you better understand technical limitations and possibilities when designing interfaces. It can also help you collaborate more effectively with developers.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

As a proud Italian, one of my biggest passions is cooking. I love to experiment with new recipes and ingredients to create delicious and authentic meals from all around the world.

However, when I am not in the kitchen, I love to jump on a plane and travel to new destinations. I enjoy experiencing different lifestyles, trying new foods, and getting to know unfamiliar cultures and traditions. Travelling has not only allowed me to broaden my horizons, but it has also taught me about the importance of adaptability and empathy, which are essential skills for any designer.

I am also an enthusiastic fan of any kind of art, and you will often find me strolling around in art galleries, experimenting with street photography, or fully immersed in a good book. These activities help me stay inspired and fuel my ideas while keeping me curious, creative, both in my personal life and in my work as a UX designer.

Hind making Argan oil in Morocco

Contact us to discover more about Phlo Connect and how we can work together to create integrated digital pathways for your clinicians and patients.

Written by

Dylan McGartland

Social Media Executive

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