This document outlines key lessons learned from designing a youth mobile app. It discusses 10 important strategies: 1) Clearly define the problem and verify users want a solution. 2) Assess readiness and capacity. 3) Choose experienced partners. 4) Engage intended users and stakeholders early. 5) Have a realistic timeline. 6) Trust youth as experts. 7) Optimize the app through testing. 8) Structure team roles. 9) Plan feedback processes. 10) Budget for maintenance. The document provides advice and resources for creating an effective youth health app.

2. 10 Things We
Learned While
Designing a
Youth Mobile App
Monica Armendariz, EngenderHealth
Jenifer DeAtley, EngenderHealth
Molly Pilloton, YTH

3. Session Objectives:
q Explore concepts of youth-centered health design and
youth friendly services.
q Identify key strategies for a successful app project.
q Assess your own level of readiness to launch an app
project for your program or partnership.

4. Who We Are: EngenderHealth
For more than 70 years,
EngenderHealth has improved the
lives of men, women, and families
through work in:
• Family planning
• Maternal health
• STIs, including HIV
• Clinical quality improvement
• Advocacy and policy
• Gender equity

5. Adolescent
Health
Teen Pregnancy
Prevention
Teen Parenting
Support
STI / HIV Prevention
Adolescent
Interpersonal
Violence Prevention

7. How might we improve linkages between youth
and sexual and reproductive health services in a
local community?

10. #1: Know Your WHY

11. #1: Know Your WHY
§ Can you clearly articulate the perceived value of the
project and why you want an app?
§ Determine the specific solution you want your
technology to address.
§ Have you verified intended users
WANT it?

12. #1: Know Your WHY
The age group that spends the most time on apps
monthly in US in 2017 is 18-24 year olds.
(93.5 hrs / month on smartphone apps, 27.6 hrs. / month
on tablet apps)
(Source: Statista)

13. #2: Asess Your Readiness & Capacity

14. #2: Assess Your Readiness & Capacity
§ Staffing skills, resources and time needed.
§ Budget needed (and wiggle room for additional
expenses that come up).
§ Buy-in and approval from stakeholders and key
decision-makers.
§ Clear understanding and capacity to work within a
reasonable timeline.

15. #3: Who You Choose to Work With Matters

16. #3: Who you choose to work with matters
§ Experience
§ Price
§ Partnership approach
§ Reputation in the community
§ Strategic partnerships

17. #4: Engage intended users and key stakeholders early on

18. #4: Engage Intended Users, Stakeholders &
Decision-Makers Early
§ Focus groups with youth
§ Involving all staff in regular presentations and updates
about the work
§ Elevate anticipated needs and approvals to senior
staff early on
§ Engage users and stakeholders in dissemination and
sustainability planning early on as well

20. #5: Have a realistic, flexible timeline

21. #5: Have a realistic, flexible timeline
§ Building an app can take 2 months to a year; clearly
communicate any time constraints you have upfront
§ Have a Plan A, B and C!
§ Always add cushion in for reviews, last minute
changes, troubleshooting, etc; all of the tiny details
matter!
§ Set up times for regular check-ins and timeline
adjustments with your team and with your partners

22. #6: Trust and engage youth as experts

23. #6: Trust and engage youth as experts
§ Remember that the product is designed for them and
trust that they understand what is important and
necessary to youth
§ Engage diverse youth to provide multiple perspectives
and generous sample sizes
§ Pay for their time and expertise with money or
incentives
§ Provide credit and recognition for their contributions

24. #6: Trust and engage youth as experts
Color should not
be inclusive, not
“gendered”
Ability to be
anonymous
Ability to be
avatars and
cartoons
Creating a
favorites list
Identified specific
resource
categories they
would search
Ability to block
and report content
to feel safe
Ability to chat with
other youth and
share experiences
and resources

25. #7: Optimize the App

26. § 3 million apps in Google Play
§ 2.2 million in the Apple Store
§ 2016 data shows that many
downloaded apps are not used
more than once in the first six months
§ In real life people tend to use 10 apps on a daily basis
#7: Optimize the app

27. #7: Optimize the app
§ Take the time to do meaningful usability testing,
multiple times
§ Set up systems to incorporate changes/edits
§ Engage early users in submitting reviews
§ Budget for maintenance and updating

28. #7: Optimize the app
In considering the competition for app space, what will
make yours appealing to users?

29. #8-10: Structuring Team Roles, Feedback
Processes, and Budget Planning

30. Suggested Resources
App Readiness Assessment:
https://www.enolalabs.com/blog/archives/app-development-checklist-what-
to-consider-before-beginning
Design Thinking Framework for Educators:
https://designthinkingforeducators.com/
Youth Centered Care Toolkit:
http://nahic.ucsf.edu/resource_center/toolkit-youth-centered-care/
EngenderHealth U.S. Programs:
https://www.engenderhealth.org/youth/

31. Suggested Resources
App Annie Report:
http://files.appannie.com.s3.amazonaws.com/reports/1705_Report_Consum
er_App_Usage_EN.pdf
Family & Youth Services Bureau TPP/SRH apps:
https://ncfy.acf.hhs.gov/media-center/slideshows/apps-help-prevent-teen-
pregnancy-and-promote-youth-sexual-health

32. Monica Armendariz
marmendariz@engenderhealth.org
Jenifer DeAtley
jdeatley@engenderhealth.com
Molly Pilloton
molly@yth.com