tested.me

tested.me began as a COVID-19 health verification app and evolved into a platform for securely sharing test and vaccination records. It was one of the few non-government apps allowed to operate alongside official contact-tracing tools. My role was to lead UX design after inheriting the project from another designer, improving a complex, multi-dashboard ecosystem while adapting to rapidly changing pandemic conditions.

Team:

2 Product Managers, 6 Frontend engineers, 2 Backend engineers, 2 external founders / stakeholders

Role:

Lead Product Designer

Time:

12 months

The challenge

  • Support multiple user types (individuals, companies, labs, event organizers) with different verification needs.

  • Ensure data trustworthiness while balancing privacy concerns.

  • Streamline verification flows under pandemic time pressures.

  • Integrate new features without disrupting active use at large-scale events and airlines.

  • Update or rebuild a legacy design system inherited from a previous designer.

My role

  • Sole UX/UI designer collaborating closely with PMs, developers, and stakeholders from labs and events.

  • Led redesign of verification flows for individual users, companies, and labs.

  • Designed multiple dashboards (employee/visitor, event, lab) to digitize existing processes.

  • Developed lo-fi prototypes for new features and ran scenario-based testing.

  • Advocated for accessibility, privacy, and data minimization.

Process and approach

Discovery and analysis

  1. Conducted stakeholder workshops with event companies, testing labs, and internal teams.

  2. Reviewed the existing design system, identifying gaps and inconsistencies.

  3. Mapped user journeys for all major flows to highlight friction points.

Redesigning core flows

  1. Simplified onboarding from stringent ID checks to quick email-based verification.

  2. Created clear pathways for uploading and verifying health data with image/video proof.

  3. Introduced a “Medical Professional” role with elevated privileges to validate data.

Multi-dashboard design

  1. Employee/Visitor Dashboards: Enabled secure check-ins, time-bound data storage, and remote work verification.

  2. Event Dashboard: Allowed event-specific entry requirements and rapid processing of thousands of attendees.

  3. Lab Dashboard: Digitized lab workflows to automatically push verified results and issue certificates.

Testing and iterating

  1. Built lo-fi prototypes for unreleased features like surveys for workplace/venue entry.

  2. Validated designs with target users in workshops and pilots.

  3. Made rapid adjustments in response to live event feedback.

Impact

  • Reduced onboarding time by eliminating mandatory government ID verification for most users.

  • Improved trust in shared data through the “Medical Professional” verification layer.

  • Streamlined operations for labs by integrating directly with their result systems.

  • Enabled large-scale event use, successfully checking in thousands of attendees with minimal delays.

  • Enhanced accessibility with a web-based alternative for users unwilling to install the app.

Key learnings

  • When inheriting a fragmented design system, evaluate whether it’s worth salvaging — sometimes starting fresh is faster and more consistent.

  • In fast-changing, high-stakes environments, adaptability is as critical as design quality.

  • Clear role-based access and trust signals (e.g., “verified by medical professional”) significantly improve user confidence.