Master Thesis Project

Trust by Design: UX/UI as a Mediator in Healthcare

Trust is fundamental to how people engage with digital systems. Whether interacting with medical records, AI-generated insights, or other tools, unclear design often leads to confusion and scepticism. This thesis explores how visual and interaction design shape trust through clarity, usability, and transparency. Based on research, a practical framework was developed and then applied in a healthcare app redesign with Universitätsspital Basel to create more transparent, reliable, and humane tools.

Written Thesis
Project Presentation
man walking in front of textured wall
crowd of people on a town square
people playing basketball outside

I grew up with doctors in my family. From an early age, I saw how much energy and attention their work demanded, and how communication with patients often suffered under the pressure of time and complex systems. Instead of helping, many digital tools introduced in hospitals became just another burden — something people did not understand, did not want to use, or did not see the value of.

 

This made me wonder: why would someone actually trust a system and choose to use it? That question shifted my focus from mere functionality to how design makes people feel. More specifically, I began exploring the role of UX/UI in building trust within digital healthcare environments.

man taking a photo on a wharf
two people sitting on a ledge talking
people dancing on square

The opportunity to put these reflections into practice came through an association with Universitätsspital Basel. The hospital is undergoing a digital transformation, and PROMs (Patient-Reported Outcome Measures) became the starting point to test my approach. I worked on redesigning the PROMs app — facing real-world constraints such as medical regulations and institutional branding. Along the way, I tested prototypes with patients and learned how nuanced trust can be – shaped by small, thoughtful design decisions. In parallel, I developed alternative design concepts free from these limitations to explore what might be possible in a less restricted environment. One of the core challenges was creating an interface that could work for everyone: patients of all ages, clinicians, and administrative staff across departments. The system had to look and feel human and alive, yet remain structured and reliable enough to serve diverse audiences. Ultimately, this project is an inquiry into whether trust is truly abstract – or whether it can be consciously designed. In healthcare, designing for trust means designing for care, for communication, and for dignity.

Master Thesis Project

Trust by Design: UX/UI as a Mediator in Healthcare

Trust is fundamental to how people engage with digital systems. Whether interacting with medical records, AI-generated insights, or other tools, unclear design often leads to confusion and scepticism. This thesis explores how visual and interaction design shape trust through clarity, usability, and transparency. Based on research, a practical framework was developed and then applied in a healthcare app redesign with Universitätsspital Basel to create more transparent, reliable, and humane tools.

Written Thesis
Project Presentation
man walking in front of textured wall
crowd of people on a town square
people playing basketball outside

I grew up with doctors in my family. From an early age, I saw how much energy and attention their work demanded, and how communication with patients often suffered under the pressure of time and complex systems. Instead of helping, many digital tools introduced in hospitals became just another burden — something people did not understand, did not want to use, or did not see the value of.

 

This made me wonder: why would someone actually trust a system and choose to use it? That question shifted my focus from mere functionality to how design makes people feel. More specifically, I began exploring the role of UX/UI in building trust within digital healthcare environments.

man taking a photo on a wharf
two people sitting on a ledge talking
people dancing on square

The opportunity to put these reflections into practice came through an association with Universitätsspital Basel. The hospital is undergoing a digital transformation, and PROMs (Patient-Reported Outcome Measures) became the starting point to test my approach. I worked on redesigning the PROMs app — facing real-world constraints such as medical regulations and institutional branding. Along the way, I tested prototypes with patients and learned how nuanced trust can be – shaped by small, thoughtful design decisions. In parallel, I developed alternative design concepts free from these limitations to explore what might be possible in a less restricted environment. One of the core challenges was creating an interface that could work for everyone: patients of all ages, clinicians, and administrative staff across departments. The system had to look and feel human and alive, yet remain structured and reliable enough to serve diverse audiences. Ultimately, this project is an inquiry into whether trust is truly abstract – or whether it can be consciously designed. In healthcare, designing for trust means designing for care, for communication, and for dignity.

Master Thesis Project

Trust by Design: UX/UI as a Mediator in Healthcare

Trust is fundamental to how people engage with digital systems. Whether interacting with medical records, AI-generated insights, or other tools, unclear design often leads to confusion and scepticism. This thesis explores how visual and interaction design shape trust through clarity, usability, and transparency. Based on research, a practical framework was developed and then applied in a healthcare app redesign with Universitätsspital Basel to create more transparent, reliable, and humane tools.

Written Thesis
Project Presentation
man walking in front of textured wall
crowd of people on a town square
people playing basketball outside

I grew up with doctors in my family. From an early age, I saw how much energy and attention their work demanded, and how communication with patients often suffered under the pressure of time and complex systems. Instead of helping, many digital tools introduced in hospitals became just another burden — something people did not understand, did not want to use, or did not see the value of.

 

This made me wonder: why would someone actually trust a system and choose to use it? That question shifted my focus from mere functionality to how design makes people feel. More specifically, I began exploring the role of UX/UI in building trust within digital healthcare environments.

man taking a photo on a wharf
two people sitting on a ledge talking
people dancing on square

The opportunity to put these reflections into practice came through an association with Universitätsspital Basel. The hospital is undergoing a digital transformation, and PROMs (Patient-Reported Outcome Measures) became the starting point to test my approach. I worked on redesigning the PROMs app — facing real-world constraints such as medical regulations and institutional branding. Along the way, I tested prototypes with patients and learned how nuanced trust can be – shaped by small, thoughtful design decisions. In parallel, I developed alternative design concepts free from these limitations to explore what might be possible in a less restricted environment. One of the core challenges was creating an interface that could work for everyone: patients of all ages, clinicians, and administrative staff across departments. The system had to look and feel human and alive, yet remain structured and reliable enough to serve diverse audiences. Ultimately, this project is an inquiry into whether trust is truly abstract – or whether it can be consciously designed. In healthcare, designing for trust means designing for care, for communication, and for dignity.