Tools Used
Timelines
Figma
NVIVO
Zoom
Adobe Acrobat
Google Docs
12 months total
Months 1–3: Discovery & research
Months 4–6: Framework analysis & content development
Months 7–9: Workbook prototyping & co-design
Months 10–12: Usability testing, iteration, and publication prep
Name: Shovesh
Gender: Male
Age:30+
Bio
Shovesh has been working as a Software designer in an IT Infrastructure company located in Bangalore. Just like every other employee initially he was excited to start working from the comfort of his home but as it was not long when started to realise the pressure he was under due to increase in work load and decrease in his producity. Due to lack of physical activites, his lethargic behaviour was effecting his ability to focus and be productive. He is planning to start building healthier habits like doing medidation & exercise to improve his well-being.
Pain Points
I often find it difficult to manage and track the progress of daily habit forming tasks
Managing time between my office, personal life & family is tricky
Do not have a clue on how to set realistic goals
Needs a guided path for building healthier habits
Goals
Wants to enjoy a healthier work life balance
Wants to improve his physical & mental health
Allocate time and resources to manage multiple activities and build a healthy habit
Name: Gargi
Gender: Female
Age:20+
Bio
Gargi started her professional career during under the work from home regime, she was excited to be a part of a multinational company at an early age. Being a new joinee the work culture took a toll on her well being & lifestyle. She finds it difficult to manage time and has been procastinating to pick up healthier habits
Wireframes
Early Sketches & Ideations
Prototype
We developed a fillable workbook prototype using:
Guided templates for each of the five simplified KT steps
Built-in prompts, reminders, and strategy-matching tables
Visual scaffolding to reduce overwhelm and increase usability
Frameworks were embedded in a way that supported intuitive decision-making without requiring prior knowledge of theory.
Test
The workbook was tested with nine novice implementers using think-aloud usability testing. We captured qualitative feedback across clarity, structure, visual layout, and theoretical relevance. Findings were analysed and synthesised using qualitative content analysis to inform iterative design improvements.
Simplicity drives adoption. Reducing jargon and clearly structuring steps empowered users to take action.
Frameworks need translation. Theory became usable when connected to strategy selection tools like COM-B and SELECT.
Co-creation is essential. Working with users throughout the process made the tool far more usable and relevant.
Equity cannot be optional. Designing with intersectionality in mind helped ensure accessibility across diverse contexts.
What Went Well
Early versions of the workbook lacked visual guidance, which made navigation difficult for some users during testing.
Some theoretical sections were initially too word-heavy, leading to cognitive overload for novice users.
Development of a digital version was postponed due to time constraints and scope limitations.
What Didn’t Go Well
Key Learnings
Balancing academic accuracy with user-friendliness was a constant tension during content design.
Mapping multiple frameworks into one simplified flow required careful decision-making and consensus across disciplines.
Explaining KT terminology without diluting its meaning took multiple rounds of iteration and user testing.
Key Challenges
If I Had More Time...
Summary
Simplicity drives adoption: reducing jargon and breaking down processes step-by-step increases user confidence.
Frameworks need translation: theory is only usable when clearly connected to real decisions.
Co-creation is essential: working with users throughout ensured the workbook was relevant and usable.
Intersectionality is non-negotiable: designing with equity in mind improves accessibility for diverse users.
I would have developed and tested a digital, interactive version of the workbook with branching logic, auto-filled recommendations, and inline guidance.
I would conduct longitudinal testing to measure the workbook’s real-world impact over time.
I would expand the workbook's reach by creating role-specific versions for clinicians, policy makers, and researchers.
User Problems
Unsure which frameworks to use or how to combine them
Struggle with KT vocabulary and jargon and theoretical language
No step-by-step process for planning or evaluating implementation
Lack of confidence in selecting behavior change strategies
Possible Solutions
Based on the user problems identified, I explored several possible solutions to simplify the KT process and make implementation frameworks more accessible and actionable for non-experts.
Reduce the number of frameworks presented
Map steps to user goals instead of academic stages
Provide visual tools and fillable templates
Create a repeatable, scalable format
Understanding the Problem
To understand pain points, we leveraged:
Years of user feedback from KT courses
Input from KT consultation sessions (1,000+ projects)
Workshop discussions with novice implementers
These insights revealed a consistent challenge: while users recognised the value of applying evidence-based practices, they often felt uncertain about where to begin and how to move forward. The complexity of existing frameworks—particularly the widely used Knowledge-to-Action (KTA) Cycle—was a significant barrier. Although comprehensive, the KTA model was perceived as too abstract and overwhelming for those without formal KT training.
To make the implementation process more approachable, we analysed the KTA Cycle and mapped it into a simplified, step-by-step structure that could be embedded directly into a fillable workbook.
The knowledge to action cycle
Knowledge Creation Funnel
Knowledge Inquiry
Knowledge Synthesis
Knowledge Tools/Products (e.g., guidelines, decision aids)
Action Cycle (The part I focused on!)
Identifying the problem
Adapting knowledge to local context
Assessing barriers to knowledge use
Selecting, tailoring, implementing interventions
Monitoring use
Evaluating outcomes
Sustaining knowledge use
The Knowledge-to-Action (KTA) Cycle is a widely recognised framework developed by Graham et al. (2006) that outlines how evidence (knowledge) is created, adapted, and implemented in practice. It includes two major components:
What is the KTA Cycle?
Methods Used (Design Thinking Approach)
Co-design sessions with KT scientists and novice users
Input from 1,000+ KT consultations
Analysis of 10+ years of course feedback
Primary research: 1:1 think-aloud usability testing with nine novice users from healthcare, policy, and research settings
Empathise
Define
Synthesised usability and co-design insights to define pain points
Identified patterns around overwhelm, inaccessibility of theory, and lack of step-by-step support
Ideate
Brainstormed solutions to simplify and structure KT planning
Mapped user needs to practical steps using visual and behavioural cues
Secondary Research:
We conducted an in-depth review of existing literature and frameworks to inform our design decisions:
Reviewed a scoping study of 159 KT frameworks
(Esmail et al., 2020)
Analysed commonly used models: TDF, COM-B, CFIR, RE-AIM
Evaluated successful real-world KT applications to identify best practices
Studied the structure of existing implementation tools and databases (e.g., SELECT tool)
This research helped us prioritise the most transferable, intuitive components and inspired key workbook features like prompts, strategy mapping, and evaluation planning.
01 Empathise
02 Define
03 Ideate
04 Prototype
05 Test
Project Goals
Make KT tools accessible and practical
Structure a clear, fillable workbook rooted in validated frameworks
Design for clarity and usability, not academic jargon
Project Overview
The KT Workbook was designed to help novice implementers use knowledge translation (KT) methods to apply evidence-based practices. We simplified complex KT frameworks into five guided steps, turning theory into a user-friendly, fillable workbook.
This project also formed the basis of a peer-reviewed publication in Implementation Science Communications (Fahim et al., 2023).
The Problem Statement
Non-expert users want to apply KT frameworks but feel overwhelmed, confused, or unsure where to start. Existing resources are too academic or fragmented.
How might we help implementers feel confident using KT without needing to be KT experts?
Co-authored a publication in Implementation Science Communications
Structure Design
UX Research
Framework Simplification
Data Analysis & Reflection
Usability Testing
My Role
Knowledge Translation Scientists
UX Designer & Strategist (ME)
Researchers
Project Manager
Graphic Designers
Team
The project applied a Design Thinking approach—moving through the stages of Empathise, Define, Ideate, Prototype, and Test—to ensure the workbook was grounded in both user needs and evidence-based frameworks.
🎓 Beyond the workbook itself, this work culminated in a peer-reviewed publication, helping advance the academic conversation around practical KT implementation tools.
Tools Used
Figma
NVIVO
Timelines
Zoom
Google Docs
12 months total
Months 1–3: Discovery & research
Months 4–6: Framework analysis & content development
Months 7–9: Workbook prototyping & co-design
Months 10–12: Usability testing, iteration, and publication prep
Adobe Acrobat
Name: Shovesh
Gender: Male
Age:30+
Bio
Shovesh has been working as a Software designer in an IT Infrastructure company located in Bangalore. Just like every other employee initially he was excited to start working from the comfort of his home but as it was not long when started to realise the pressure he was under due to increase in work load and decrease in his producity. Due to lack of physical activites, his lethargic behaviour was effecting his ability to focus and be productive. He is planning to start building healthier habits like doing medidation & exercise to improve his well-being.
Pain Points
I often find it difficult to manage and track the progress of daily habit forming tasks
Managing time between my office, personal life & family is tricky
Do not have a clue on how to set realistic goals
Needs a guided path for building healthier habits
Goals
Wants to enjoy a healthier work life balance
Wants to improve his physical & mental health
Allocate time and resources to manage multiple activities and build a healthy habit
Name: Gargi
Gender: Female
Age:20+
Bio
Gargi started her professional career during under the work from home regime, she was excited to be a part of a multinational company at an early age. Being a new joinee the work culture took a toll on her well being & lifestyle. She finds it difficult to manage time and has been procastinating to pick up healthier habits
Wireframes
Early Sketches & Ideations
Co-creation is essential: working with users throughout ensured the workbook was relevant and usable.
If I Had More Time...
Balancing academic accuracy with user-friendliness was a constant tension during content design.
Mapping multiple frameworks into one simplified flow required careful decision-making and consensus across disciplines.
Explaining KT terminology without diluting its meaning took multiple rounds of iteration and user testing.
Key Challenges
I would have developed and tested a digital, interactive version of the workbook with branching logic, auto-filled recommendations, and inline guidance.
I would conduct longitudinal testing to measure the workbook’s real-world impact over time.
I would expand the workbook's reach by creating role-specific versions for clinicians, policy makers, and researchers.
Simplicity drives adoption. Reducing jargon and clearly structuring steps empowered users to take action.
Frameworks need translation. Theory became usable when connected to strategy selection tools like COM-B and SELECT.
Co-creation is essential. Working with users throughout the process made the tool far more usable and relevant.
Equity cannot be optional. Designing with intersectionality in mind helped ensure accessibility across diverse contexts.
Early versions of the workbook lacked visual guidance, which made navigation difficult for some users during testing.
Some theoretical sections were initially too word-heavy, leading to cognitive overload for novice users.
Development of a digital version was postponed due to time constraints and scope limitations.
Summary
Reviewed a scoping study of 159 KT frameworks
(Esmail et al., 2020)
Analysed commonly used models: TDF, COM-B, CFIR, RE-AIM
Evaluated successful real-world KT applications to identify best practices
Studied the structure of existing implementation tools and databases (e.g., SELECT tool)
This research helped us prioritise the most transferable, intuitive components and inspired key workbook features like prompts, strategy mapping, and evaluation planning.
This research helped us prioritise the most transferable, intuitive components and inspired key workbook features like prompts, strategy mapping, and evaluation planning.
User Problems
Unsure which frameworks to use or how to combine them
Struggle with KT vocabulary and jargon and theoretical language
No step-by-step process for planning or evaluating implementation
Lack of confidence in selecting behavior change strategies
Possible Solutions
Based on the user problems identified, I explored several possible solutions to simplify the KT process and make implementation frameworks more accessible and actionable for non-experts.
Reduce the number of frameworks presented
Map steps to user goals instead of academic stages
Provide visual tools and fillable templates
Create a repeatable, scalable format
Understanding the Problem
To understand pain points, we leveraged:
Years of user feedback from KT courses
Input from KT consultation sessions (1,000+ projects)
Workshop discussions with novice implementers
These insights revealed a consistent challenge: while users recognised the value of applying evidence-based practices, they often felt uncertain about where to begin and how to move forward. The complexity of existing frameworks—particularly the widely used Knowledge-to-Action (KTA) Cycle—was a significant barrier. Although comprehensive, the KTA model was perceived as too abstract and overwhelming for those without formal KT training.
To make the implementation process more approachable, we analysed the KTA Cycle and mapped it into a simplified, step-by-step structure that could be embedded directly into a fillable workbook.
The knowledge to action cycle
Knowledge Creation Funnel
Knowledge Inquiry
Knowledge Synthesis
Knowledge Tools/Products (e.g., guidelines, decision aids)
Action Cycle (The part I focused on!)
Identifying the problem
Adapting knowledge to local context
Assessing barriers to knowledge use
Selecting, tailoring, implementing interventions
Monitoring use
Evaluating outcomes
Sustaining knowledge use
The Knowledge-to-Action (KTA) Cycle is a widely recognised framework developed by Graham et al. (2006) that outlines how evidence (knowledge) is created, adapted, and implemented in practice. It includes two major components:
What is the KTA Cycle?
Methods Used (Design Thinking Approach)
Empathise
Define
Ideate
Project Overview
The KT Workbook was designed to help novice implementers use knowledge translation (KT) methods to apply evidence-based practices. We simplified complex KT frameworks into five guided steps, turning theory into a user-friendly, fillable workbook.
This project also formed the basis of a peer-reviewed publication in Implementation Science Communications (Fahim et al., 2023).
The Problem Statement
Non-expert users want to apply KT frameworks but feel overwhelmed, confused, or unsure where to start. Existing resources are too academic or fragmented.
How might we help implementers feel confident using KT without needing to be KT experts?
Co-authored a publication in Implementation Science Communications
Structure Design
UX Research
Framework Simplification
Data Analysis & Reflection
Usability Testing
My Role
Knowledge Translation Scientists
UX Designer & Strategist (ME)
Researchers
Project Manager
Graphic Designers
Team
Project Goals
Make KT tools accessible and practical
Structure a clear, fillable workbook rooted in validated frameworks
Design for clarity and usability, not academic jargon
The project applied a Design Thinking approach—moving through the stages of Empathise, Define, Ideate, Prototype, and Test—to ensure the workbook was grounded in both user needs and evidence-based frameworks.