NeedyMeds: Mobile App
NeedyMeds: Mobile App
NeedyMeds: Mobile App
Expanding healthcare accessibility for over 1.3 million customers
Expanding healthcare accessibility for over 1.3 million customers
Expanding healthcare accessibility for over 1.3 million customers
Context
Context
NeedyMeds is a non-profit organization improving access to affordable healthcare by centralizing resources and prescription discounts. Twelve students were selected through Hack4Impact to translate their website into a mobile app. The team consisted of 2 project managers, 2 tech leads, 2 designers, and 6 engineers.
NeedyMeds is a non-profit organization improving access to affordable healthcare by centralizing resources and prescription discounts. Twelve students were selected through Hack4Impact to translate their website into a mobile app. The team consisted of 2 project managers, 2 tech leads, 2 designers, and 6 engineers.
Problem
Problem
NeedyMeds has long served as a trusted web-based directory connecting customers with cost-saving options. However, low-income patients, the elderly, and the uninsured are increasingly mobile-first users. Customers at the pharmacy counter had no mobile way to access discounts when they needed them most.
NeedyMeds has long served as a trusted web-based directory connecting customers with cost-saving options. However, low-income patients, the elderly, and the uninsured are increasingly mobile-first users. Customers at the pharmacy counter had no mobile way to access discounts when they needed them most.
Solution
Solution
We shipped a mobile app in English and Spanish that primarily features drug and pharmacy locators, providing drug discount cards that can be added to Apple or Google wallets for scanning.
Won best UI/UX Design at Hack4Impact's Spring '26 Final Showcase
We shipped a mobile app in English and Spanish that primarily features drug and pharmacy locators, providing drug discount cards that can be added to Apple or Google wallets for scanning.
Won best UI/UX Design at Hack4Impact's Spring '26 Final Showcase
Scope
Scope
UI/UX
Design
System
Mobile
Design
Prototyping
UI/UX
Mobile
Design
Design
System
Prototyping
Tools
Tools
Figma
Notion
Impact
Impact
$340+ million saved …
$340+ million saved …
$340+ million saved …
using the NeedyMeds Drug Discount Card since its inception in April 2009
using the NeedyMeds Drug Discount Card since its inception in April 2009
1.3+ million customers …
1.3+ million customers …
1.3+ million customers …
are registered for NeedyMeds services
are registered for NeedyMeds services
65,000+ pharmacies …
65,000+ pharmacies …
65,000+ pharmacies …
accept the NeedyMeds Drug Discount Card, including most major chains
accept the NeedyMeds Drug Discount Card, including most major chains
*Sources:
(May, 2025),
Research
Research
Target Audience
Target Audience
Uninsured: lack coverage from private health insurance, government programs, or military plans
Uninsured: lack coverage from private health insurance, government programs, or military plans
Underinsured: insurance plan with high deductibles, co-pays, or coverage caps
Underinsured: insurance plan with high deductibles, co-pays, or coverage caps
Pain Points
Pain Points
1
1
Web-based services: customers increasingly mobile-first
Web-based services: customers increasingly mobile-first
2
2
Information overload: massive database for multiple services (patient assistance programs, government aid, clinics)
Information overload: massive database for multiple services (patient assistance programs, government aid, clinics)
3
3
Download/Print emphasis: additional step, customers in need may have limited access to printers
Download/Print emphasis: additional step, customers in need may have limited access to printers
User Personas
User Personas
1st Issue Encountered
1st Issue Encountered
Medicare Part D: customers pay $2100 out-of-pocket before insurance covers entirety of prescription drug costs for the rest of the year
Medicare Part D: customers pay $2100 out-of-pocket before insurance covers entirety of prescription drug costs for the rest of the year
"Donut hole" trap: payments made using drug discount card don't count towards Medicare Part D coverage; may inadvertently raise yearly cost
"Donut hole" trap: payments made using drug discount card don't count towards Medicare Part D coverage; may inadvertently raise yearly cost
Proposed solution: additional screens for information and links to additional resources
Proposed solution: additional screens for information and links to additional resources
2nd Issue Encountered
2nd Issue Encountered
Disproportionate coverage: Hispanics/Latinos account for ~20% of US population and have the highest uninsured rate
Disproportionate coverage: Hispanics/Latinos account for ~20% of US population and have the highest uninsured rate
Proposed solution: create a Spanish version within the app
Proposed solution: create a Spanish version within the app
Design
Design
Style Guide
Style Guide
Website
Website
Logos
Logos
Components
Components
Google's Material Design 3
Google's Material Design 3
Layout
Layout
M3/Compact (0-599dp)
M3/Compact (0-599dp)
Typography
Typography
Headlines - Nunito Sans Bold 700
Headlines - Nunito Sans Bold 700
H1 Main Heading
H2 Sub-Heading
Body - Nunito Sans Regular
Body - Nunito Sans Regular
Body Text
Buttons
Captions
Color Palette
Color Palette
Primary
$nm-primary
HEX: #6E9FC0
RGB: 110, 159, 192
CMYK: 43%, 17%, 0%, 25%
Primary
$nm-primary
HEX: #6E9FC0
RGB: 110, 159, 192
CMYK: 43%, 17%, 0%, 25%
Secondary
$nm-secondary
HEX: #3A6270
RGB: 58, 98, 112
CMYK: 48%, 13%, 0%, 56%
Secondary
$nm-secondary
HEX: #3A6270
RGB: 58, 98, 112
CMYK: 48%, 13%, 0%, 56%
Neutral
$nm-neutral-dk
HEX: #000000
RGB: 0, 0, 0
CMYK: 0%, 0%, 0%, 100%
Neutral
$nm-neutral-dk
HEX: #000000
RGB: 0, 0, 0
CMYK: 0%, 0%, 0%, 100%
Neutral
$nm-neutral-lt
HEX: #FFFFFF
RGB: 255, 255, 255
CMYK: 0%, 0%, 0%, 0%
Neutral
$nm-neutral-lt
HEX: #FFFFFF
RGB: 255, 255, 255
CMYK: 0%, 0%, 0%, 0%
Contrast Ratios
Contrast Ratios
Primary on Neutral-Dark
7.38
Primary on Neutral-Dark
7.38
Neutral-Light on Neutral-Dark
21
Neutral-Light on Neutral-Dark
21
Neutral-Light on Secondary
6.64
Neutral-Light on Secondary
6.64
Neutral-Dark on Primary
7.38
Neutral-Dark on Primary
7.38
Neutral-Dark on Neutral-Light
21
Neutral-Dark on Neutral-Light
21
Secondary on Neutral-Light
6.64
Secondary on Neutral-Light
6.64
Wireframes
Wireframes
Features
Features
Medication Lookup & Checkout
Medication Lookup & Checkout
I primarily worked on the userflow of locating the user's selected medication in nearby pharmacies and checking out the provided Drug Discount Card.
I primarily worked on the userflow of locating the user's selected medication in nearby pharmacies and checking out the provided Drug Discount Card.
Usability Testing
Usability Testing
Identified areas of improvement, including Get Card button iterations, quantity tooltips, and supplementary links to additional resources.
Identified areas of improvement, including Get Card button iterations, quantity tooltips, and supplementary links to additional resources.
Customer Feedback
Customer Feedback
Following the customer's retrieval of a Drug Discount Card, they are also requested to fill out a survey providing feedback for the app.
Following the customer's retrieval of a Drug Discount Card, they are also requested to fill out a survey providing feedback for the app.
Spanish Translations
Spanish Translations
We worked with a Spanish translator at NeedyMeds, Yury Martinez, to provide a Spanish version in the app with the correct tone and context. Through a shared Google spreadsheet, she was able to correct errors and make comments.
We worked with a Spanish translator at NeedyMeds, Yury Martinez, to provide a Spanish version in the app with the correct tone and context. Through a shared Google spreadsheet, she was able to correct errors and make comments.
Reflection
Reflection
Thoughts
Thoughts
Of the projects I've worked on so far, I learned the most from NeedyMeds because of my proximity with master's students focused on human-computer interaction, as well as the structure and mentorship I received from Hack4Impact.
Of the projects I've worked on so far, I learned the most from NeedyMeds because of my proximity with master's students focused on human-computer interaction, as well as the structure and mentorship I received from Hack4Impact.
Developments
Developments
While the primary function of the app is to provide drug discount cards, its abilities can be expanded to other resources the organization provides. Currently, most additional resources listed link to the website.
While the primary function of the app is to provide drug discount cards, its abilities can be expanded to other resources the organization provides. Currently, most additional resources listed link to the website.