The human body is complex and every individual is unique, therefore it can be challenging for people to find answers about why they feel unwell or discover treatments that work for them. That is why I created the Medical Media Mission. Medical Media Mission is a digital space where anyone can discuss all things related to medicine in a safe and private environment.

Discussion topics can include: 

• Symptoms someone is experiencing 
• Medical treatments and medications people have tried 
• Recommending tests and scans
• Suggestions for specialists and practitioners 
• Sharing advice and support 
• Asking other general questions

Sometimes the longest part of the project development process is trial and error, and this project did exactly that. Initially, I thought a website would be the best format for this project, but I was concerned that it might seem too formal or intimidating for some users. So I started designing an app, thinking it would feel more casual and accessible, like opening Instagram on your phone. However, the cost to publish the app turned out to be too high, so I returned to the website idea. My first website draft felt too sterile and clinical—like something you’d expect from a medical practitioner’s site. That led me to create a more vibrant, user-friendly design with a less formal feel.

Project Pitch Review with Fletcher and Charlee:

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Contextual Report

What is Medical Media Mission? 

The human body is complex and every individual is unique, therefore it can be challenging for people to find answers about why they feel unwell or discover treatments that work for them. That is why I created Medical Media Mission – a safe, private, digital space where people can talk openly about anything related to medicine. 

Discussion topics can include: 

• Symptoms someone is experiencing 
• Medical treatments and medications people have tried 
• Recommending tests and scans
• Suggestions for specialists and practitioners 
• Sharing advice and support 
• Asking other general questions

I came up with this idea because growing up I spent a lot of time in practitioners’ offices and the surgical ward. Having had a lot of random ailments and injuries that weren’t common, I found the hardest part was finding answers as to what was wrong with me. The other aspect of my journey that was difficult is that no one around you understands what you are going through. Although someone can google search their symptoms, the results are often unhelpful, either telling you everything’s fine or suggesting something as extreme as cancer, which leaves you more frustrated than informed.

This is why I started Medical Media Mission. I wanted to build a space where people who feel unheard by medical professionals can share their stories, ask questions, and find answers. Unfortunately, there are too many stories of people losing their lives due to medical neglect.

@eefybeefy1

Replying to @Emma Parkinson the best ones always die first ❤️ #grief #fyp #foryou #cancer #storytime

♬ original sound – Ethan

It’s also expensive to undergo multiple tests only to be left without answers. Medical Media Mission aims to reduce the time and money spent on endless doctor visits, helping people get better faster.

Another important aspect is that sometimes the only people who truly understand what you’re going through are those who’ve been through it too. This platform provides a space for people to give advice, share experiences, and offer support.

Medical Media Mission is for anyone seeking to improve their health or that of their loved ones. This online hub is beneficial for people who want to live their life to the fullest – whether that means pursuing their dream job, playing their favourite sports, spending time with family and friends or simply enjoying the foods they love. Additionally, this project offers a space for medical professionals to share their journal articles and promote their treatments. This project is incredibly important to me as I would love to see people get the help, validation, and information that I often find lacking in my health journey. 

Key learning moments – The beginning

Developing this project was not as easy as I originally thought and came with a series of trial and error. 

I began with a Mind Map to help me plan out the affordance and social utility I wanted my platform to have.

With my idea now clearly laid out in front of me, it was time to try to bring it to life. My first project pitch was making Medical Media Mission a website. However, I was concerned that it might seem too formal or intimidating for some users. So I started designing an app, thinking it would feel more casual and accessible, like opening Instagram on your phone. However, the cost to publish the app turned out to be too high, so even though I liked my app design I had to scrap that version.

So I returned to my website idea. My first website draft felt too sterile and clinical—like something you’d expect from a medical practitioner’s site, which is not how I wanted the platform to feel. This led me to create a more vibrant, user-friendly design with a less formal feel. My main goal became answering the question: How can medical conversations be made casual?

I drew inspiration from Reddit but wanted to create a more focused, medical-only platform. I also aimed to make it visually clean and appealing, similar to health apps like Flo and Clue, which are period trackers.

To build trust I want to clarify the app will be actively monitored by myself. Further, every post will be completely anonymous, including to me. The website is set up like a blog to represent a less formal tone. Each medical specialisation has its own page with a brief summary of the topic and a chat forum where people can anonymously ask questions or offer support.

To bring this idea to life, I used Padlet to create the discussion boards which cost me $7.99 a month. Additionally, I used ChatGPT to generate logo images for each of the 12 medical specialisations and write short summaries explaining when someone should seek professional help. Separating the specialisations into separate pages was a tedious process but was definitely worth it. Finally, I designed the logo myself using Canva.