Easy PT Easy Ka Polokalamu Hoʻokaʻina Lapaʻau Kino by Stacey Chen

Easy PT Easy Ka Polokalamu Hoʻokaʻina Lapaʻau Kino by Stacey Chen is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award Hao in Hoʻolālā Paʻalima, Polokalamu a me Lako Paʻalima Competition Category.

HaoPaʻalima· 2026

Easy PT Easy Ka Polokalamu Hoʻokaʻina Lapaʻau Kino

by Stacey Chen

Client: Stacey Chen

A' Design Award Hao Winner in Paʻalima Category

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Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #173959

Visit Site View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Easy PT Easy Ka Polokalamu Hoʻokaʻina Lapaʻau Kino

ʻO Easy PT Easy he polokalamu kelepona paʻalima e alakaʻi ana i nā maʻi lapaʻau kino hou i ka huakaʻi mālama akaka a naʻauao hoʻi. Ua pani ʻia nā pepa palapala e kahi kaʻina hoʻokomo maʻalahi. Kōkua nā mea hana loiloi hōʻailona pilikino i nā mea hoʻohana e hoʻomaopopo i ko lākou ʻeha, a hoʻopili pololei nā ala pilina i nā mea hoʻohana me nā kauka lapaʻau kino me ka ʻole o ka palapala hoʻouna a ke kauka laulā. ʻO nā laʻana hihia hiki ke hoʻopili ʻia a me kahi ʻaoʻao maʻalahi e hōʻoluʻolu i ka hopohopo a kūkulu i ka hilinaʻi. Ua hana ʻia ka polokalamu no ke kōkua ʻana i nā maʻi e komo ikaika i ko lākou ola hou ʻana.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Hao

Ua lanakila ka hoʻolālā Easy PT Easy Ka Polokalamu Hoʻokaʻina Lapaʻau Kino i ka A' Design Award Hao, he ʻike hoʻohanohano i hāʻawi ʻia i nā hoʻolālā maikaʻi e hoʻokō ana i nā koi ʻoihana a ʻoihana hana i manaʻo ʻia mai nā mea hoʻokumu i hana maikaʻi ʻia. Hōʻike nā lanakila Hao i ka mākau nui, ka loea kiʻekiʻe, ka ʻike akamai a me ka hiki hana noʻeau o ka poʻe i hana iā lākou. Manaʻo ʻia ʻo ka hoʻolālā Easy PT Easy Ka Polokalamu Hoʻokaʻina Lapaʻau Kino he mea hoʻokumu i mahalo nui ʻia, hoʻohiwahiwa ʻia a aloha ʻia e pono a hou. ʻO kēia hoʻolālā i lanakila i ka A' Design Award Hao e hoʻohui ana i nā hana maikaʻi loa o ka ʻoihana a loaʻa nā ʻano ʻenehana mākaukau i hui pū ʻia me ka ʻike hana a me ka makakoho. Mahalo ʻia ka hoʻolālā Easy PT Easy Ka Polokalamu Hoʻokaʻina Lapaʻau Kino no kona nānā pono a ua hoʻolālā ʻia e hāʻawi i nā hoʻomaikaʻi ola e kōkua ai i ka hana ʻana i ka honua i wahi maikaʻi aku.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: Easy PT-Easy a user-friendly app that guides first-time physical therapy patients through a clear, informed care journey. It replaces paperwork with a streamlined onboarding process, offers symptom self-assessment tools, and connects users directly with PTs, removing the need for a general doctor referral. Through relatable case examples and intuitive design, it eases anxiety, builds trust, and empowers patients to take an active role in their recovery.
Dimensions & Packaging: As a digital product, Easy PT-Easy was designed for mobile platforms with a responsive UI adaptable to various screen sizes. It was prototyped using Figma, focusing on accessibility, touch-friendly interaction, and clear visual hierarchy. The app features symptom check tools, narrative-based onboarding, and direct PT connection pathways, all optimized for user flow efficiency and emotional clarity in first-time physical therapy experiences.
Tags: App Design, UIUX, User Experience Design, User Interface Design, Design Reserach, Mobile App, Physical Therapy, PT, Virtual Triage
Production Technology: Stacey Chen employed human-centered design methods, beginning with qualitative research through interviews and journey mapping to identify user pain points. She synthesized insights into key design goals: clarity, empathy, and accessibility. Low-fidelity wireframes and user flows were iterated based on feedback, leading to a refined prototype. The final design emphasizes intuitive interaction, storytelling, and efficient onboarding tailored to first-time PT patients.
Design Challenge: The hardest part was addressing patients’ emotional uncertainty while navigating the complexity of the healthcare system. Social stigma around injury and limited access to clear information made it difficult for users to trust or engage early. Technological limitations in existing PT systems and privacy concerns also posed challenges. Overcoming these meant designing a solution that felt human, safe, and intuitive, bridging gaps in empathy, access, and communication.
Research: This project used qualitative research to understand the emotional and practical challenges of starting physical therapy. The goal was to uncover patient pain points and gaps in the process. Interviews and surveys were conducted with both patients and clinicians. Insights revealed confusion, fear, and a lack of clear guidance. These findings shaped a design that simplifies the PT journey, improves communication, and encourages early engagement, benefiting both healthcare systems and patient well-being.
Inspiration: Having gone through a serious accident, Stacey Chen experienced firsthand the confusion and anxiety surrounding physical therapy. This inspired her to investigate how design could ease that journey. Through interviews with patients and clinicians, she identified critical gaps in communication and preparedness. The resulting design blends empathetic storytelling with intuitive tools to guide users, reduce anxiety, and improve access to physical therapy.
Project Duration: The project started in January 2024 in Chicago and finished in June 2024 in Chicago.
Operation Flow: Easy PT-Easy guides users step by step, starting with a simple introduction and relatable story to ease anxiety. Users answer a few questions about their pain, and the app helps them understand what might be happening. It then connects them directly to a physical therapist. No doctor visit needed. By setting clear expectations and using friendly language, the app helps patients feel more prepared, supported, and confident about starting their recovery journey.
Image Credits: Image #1: Illustrator Stacey Chen, Easy PTeasy, 2024. Image #2: Illustrator Stacey Chen, Easy PTeasy, 2024. Image #3: Illustrator Stacey Chen, Easy PTeasy, 2024. Image #4: Illustrator Stacey Chen, Easy PTeasy, 2024. Image #5: Illustrator Stacey Chen, Easy PTeasy, 2024.