Degree Project: Idea One

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My first step when thinking of a project idea is usually to think of a problem that either myself or others close to me have expeienced. This is important because having a personal connection to the project helps me to understand the target audience better and makes working on that project more enjoyable.

Therefore I have decided to share an idea that is personal to myself. While on placement, I was diagnoised with suspected Irritable Bowel Syndrom. To understand whether specific foods were triggering my symptoms, it was recommended that I go on a low FODMAP diet. Once I felt better, I needed to then slowly introduce one food at a time to find the trigger.

FODMAPs (fermentable oligo-, di-, mono-saccharides and polyols) are found in foods and are described as, 'short-chain carbs that are resistant to digestion' (Gunnars, 2018). Therefore ingesting food that are high in FODMAPs can cause the symptoms most commonly associated with IBS. 

IBS is more common that I initially first thought, two in ten individuals in the UK have IBS symptoms. (Arnott, n.d.) As it is so common, my website idea would have a viable audience. Although there are already a few mobile applications that are either symptom trackers or focus on the food elimination part of the diet, there are currently no websites or applications that cover this information illustratively. Plus creating a friendly illustrative website and mobile application would successfully show my coding knowledge.

The main problem with this diet is that all the information online is either difficult to understand as it has been academically written or is text-based. Being a previously healthy person, it was overwelming to discover that food was potentially causing me to feel unwell. Eliminating FODMAPs was difficult but the overall process was made harder by the mass amount of online information on this medical problem. The purpose of the website is to give users a clear informative process on how to complete this diet successfully but in a less clinical way - especially for those who are very new to their potential diagnosis. 

Here are some examples of the style of illustrations I would like to create for the website:

(iStock, 2019).

Challenges

  • Creating Illustrations
  • Animating illustrations & icons
  • App Development in general
Positives
  • Mainly informative, designed to put others at ease
  • Able to connect a social media support group
  • Learn new skills

Potential Brand Names

  • Gut Love
  • Gut Hero
  • Fun with FODMAPs
  • FOD-tastic
  • Irritable Bowel Solution (Slogan)
  • FODMAPP - The Irritable Bowel Solution

ARNOTT, I. (n.d.). ‘Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).’ Bupa. [Online] Available from: https://www.bupa.co.uk/health-information/digestive-gut-health/irritable-bowel-syndrome [Accessed 30th September 2020]

GUNNARS, K. (2018). ‘FODMAP 101: A Detailed Beginner's Guide.’ healthline. [Online] Available from: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/fodmaps-101#diet-tips [Accessed 30th September 2020]

ISTOCK (2019). Working at home, coworking space, concept illustration. Young people, man and woman freelancers working at home. [Online] Available at: https://www.istockphoto.com/vector/working-at-home-coworking-space-concept-illustration-young-people-man-and-woman-gm1144176152-307509672 [Accessed: 2 October 2020]

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