ReGain | Devpost

Inspiration

Our inspiration for creating this product stemmed from the growing need for accessible and effective stroke recovery tools. Through extensive research and testimonials, we discovered that while stroke recovery is a critical and often challenging journey, many digital therapy apps lack both comprehensive support and accessible options. Most applications either don’t offer free plans or fail to address all aspects of recovery. In response, we developed ReGain, a desktop application that seamlessly integrates physical, cognitive, and occupational therapy, providing a holistic approach to recovery that is both accessible and effective.

What it does

ReGain is a comprehensive stroke recovery app that combines occupational, cognitive, and physical therapy to offer a holistic approach to healing. In the occupational therapy section, users can practice comprehension skills through interactive fill-in-the-blank stories. The cognitive therapy section features a matching game designed to improve cognitive perception. For physical therapy, ReGain provides follow-along videos with targeted exercises that strengthen mobility in specific body parts. With an intuitive, visually appealing interface, ReGain empowers users to regain independence and improve daily functioning while staying motivated and on track throughout their recovery journey.

How we built it

We began by conducting empirical research, performing competitive analysis, and gathering online testimonials to better understand our target audience of stroke recoverers. From there, we used our research to inform our design decisions, beginning with low-fidelity sketches. Here, we experimented with layout, brainstormed core features, and explored various branding ideas. From there, we iterated further into mid-fidelity wireframes in Figma to solidify our layouts and understand how our screens flowed into one another. Finally, we entered our prototype stage with high-fidelity frames where we incorporated our design system and polished the fine details across our designs for better cohesion.

For development, we started off by creating the frontend using HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and templated with EJS. With EJS, we were able to dynamically render pages with information stored in the backend. The backend includes routing to multiple pages through rendering, and it was done using Node.js with the Express framework. It also consists of a local database to store information.

Challenges we ran into

From a design perspective, one challenge we encountered was during our research phase. Our project is specifically tailored for individuals recovering from strokes, a group that proved difficult to gather data from. This initial obstacle made it impractical to rely on surveys or user interviews, prompting us to focus more on in-depth empirical research, competitive analysis, and gathering key testimonials. These efforts ultimately provided valuable insights to guide the direction of our product.

In the development perspective, a challenge we faced was taking up too many features that were more advanced than we had initially thought. HTML semantics.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

The design team is proud of the UI and layout, as we feel it offers a visually pleasing, user-friendly experience that’s easy on the eyes. But, we are particularly proud of the graphics, which we believe significantly enriched the overall UI. We’re also proud of the extensive research we conducted, especially given that we didn’t have access to user surveys.

The development team took pride in several key accomplishments throughout the project. One of the significant achievements was learning how to effectively use Git for version control, which streamlined collaboration and ensured smooth project management. Additionally, the team gained valuable experience working in a cross-functional environment, collaborating closely with designers to bring the project to life. Another notable achievement was learning how to combine HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to create an interactive, user-friendly experience. This hands-on experience in both coding and teamwork played a crucial role in the team's growth and success throughout the development process.

What we learned

We learned the crucial role of empathy in design, particularly through user research and testimonials, especially when we couldn’t conduct primary research with our target audience. Additionally, we gained valuable insights into the power of cross-functional collaboration. By working closely as a team—combining design expertise with technical skills—we learned from each other, with developers naturally picking up design knowledge and designers assisting with coding. This exchange of expertise helped us understand the entire process of transforming our project from an idea into a product. Ultimately, this collaboration highlighted how diverse perspectives and backgrounds enrich the design process, driving growth and innovation.

What's next for ReGain

To advance this project, we aim to enhance the daily progress tracker, allowing users to access a weekly summary of their activities that can be shared with caregivers or healthcare providers. We view this as a key step in integrating professional support into our approach to everyday stroke recovery. Additionally, to further motivate users to engage consistently, we propose introducing a "Daily Missions" feature. This would reward users for practicing their skills every day, encouraging regular participation and sustained progress. Lastly, we would like to continue working on the current features we have implemented to create a more seamless and enjoyable experience.