Consumer Genomics Usability Research
The catch
Users believe they understand something that affects their health, and they don't. That's not a UX problem. That's a liability and an ethics problem.
The challenge
Find out whether people could actually understand their own genetic test results, not just whether they could click through the screens.
What I did
- Ran usability and comprehension testing with 9 participants who had no genetics background, using a six-scenario matrix that varied results from normal to carrier to likely positive, so we'd see real reactions across the full range, not just one outcome
What changed
People felt confident they understood their results. When tested, most couldn't actually explain them. Nobody scored above 90% on a comprehension check. That single finding changed how the team approached the whole product, building in moments that slow down, explain clearly, and check for real understanding.