Introduction & Rationale

Ntem which is an akan word for hurry or speed isthe name of the project I worked on with a group of interns at Centre for Entrepreneurship, Philanthropy and Ethics (CEPE) is a non-profit centre within Heritage Christian University (HCU) in Ghana. Ntem was originally intended to be called Zip Pharma.

As the sole UI designer intern for the Ntem app, I applied the Design Thinking methodology empathizing, defining, ideating, prototyping and testing to develop a user-centric, visually appealing interface. Ntem aimed to simplify the connection between patients and pharmacies, enabling easy consultations, medication purchases and delivery tracking within Ghana. While the app ultimately did not launch, the experience deeply enhanced my skills in empathetic, iterative design practices.

Empathize

To understand user needs deeply, I collaborated closely with the UX research team, reviewing user interviews and behavioural insights. This step provided critical understanding of patient pain points, such as difficulty in accessing timely medical consultations, purchasing medicine online, and efficiently tracking deliveries

Define

I identified key stakeholders as patients, pharmacists, healthcare providers, and developers. Based on user research, I clearly defined goals for the UI:

• Creating an accessible, clear user interface.

• Ensuring intuitive navigation and user interactions.

• Establishing a strong, trustworthy visual identity

Prototype and Testing

I began by sketching comprehensive wireframes, detailing key user journeys such as consultation booking and medication ordering. My aim was to simplify processes, minimizing user effort and cognitive load. Subsequently, I developed interactive, high-fidelity prototypes using Figma, allowing stakeholders to interact with potential solutions and give immediate feedback.

Testing

Prototype testing was conducted collaboratively with the UX research team, gathering feedback directly from users and stakeholders. These insights informed iterative improvements in layout clarity, interface intuitiveness, and navigation efficiency. This iterative testing loop proved crucial in refining the app's UI design.

VS

VS

TOOLS

• Canva

• Figma

By applying the full Design Thinking process empathizing with users, defining clear goals, ideating solutions, prototyping in Figma and validating through iterative testing I crafted a user‑centred, accessible UI for Ntem that met WCAG standards and streamlined critical pharmacy workflows. Although the app itself didn’t launch, the project deepened my skills in empathetic research, rapid prototyping and accessibility‑first design. These insights will directly inform and elevate my future UI work.

CONCLUSION

Ideate

Using insights gathered, we brainstormed various design solutions to meet user expectations. Key ideas included an easily recognizable logo, streamlined navigation, and intuitive visual cues to facilitate ease-of-use, particularly in urgent medical scenarios.

Check out the evolution of wireframes: on the left, the “what was I thinking?” first draft, vs on the right, the shiny, polished final version...no roasting, please, it was my very first hi‑fi prototype!

LOGO ITERATIONS