We're the DentaPal team, a passionate group of designers/researchers/writers, and dental enthusiasts who came together to revolutionize the dental care experience.

Our backgrounds are diverse, ranging from HCI, sociology, and humanities. But we share a common goal: to make oral healthcare more accessible, less intimidating, and truly patient-centric.

We believe creativity, especially design, has the power to solve real-world problems and improve lives. We were drawn to the creative field because it allows us to combine our passion for technology, design, and healthcare to make a meaningful impact—one smile at a time!

Zhixian: I designed workflows and interfaces to optimize the telehealth experience.

Xinyuan: I'm a UX writer who transformed complex workflows into user-friendly experiences with a focus on clarity and empathy. Bonus: I'm also a VR table tennis champion!

Kaidi: I'm a full-stack product designer and a student in Indiana University’s renowned HCI/d program.

Szu-Chin: I'm a product designer specializing in data visualization, simplifying complex workflows, and enhancing usability in litigation and business.

Zhaodi: I'm a PhD candidate in sociology at Indiana University. My research uses mixed methods to study online public engagement and the mechanisms shaping digital inequality.

To us, creativity is about finding innovative solutions to challenges, thinking outside the box, and pushing boundaries. It's about combining empathy and imagination to create something new and meaningful that improves people's lives.

A creative idea or design is one that is original, impactful, and user-centered. It solves a real problem, resonates with its audience, and sparks a sense of delight.

Essentially it means that when it doesn’t look or feel right, we’ll go an extra mile to find a solution, and not give up on addressing the opportunity.

Our creative process was collaborative and iterative. We started with deep user research to understand the needs and pain points of our target audience. The whole team sat down together to review feedback from our participants and created affinity diagrams to find key themes. These were long afternoons in a small room and not enough pizza!

Then, we brainstormed ideas, sketched out concepts, and built prototypes. This was when we started working on different things. We broke out into squads to work on different flows. We used our strong suits to address different parts of the design—visual, flow, content.

When everything started to tie in, we tested and refined our designs through user feedback, ensuring that DentaPal is intuitive, engaging, and truly helpful.

Our favorite part was drawing from our own experiences as international students navigating the often complex and unfamiliar process of seeking dental care. This perspective helped us identify real pain points and explore meaningful ways to assist others.

Seeing our ideas validated through interviews and user testing was incredibly rewarding, and it pushed us to continuously refine DentaPal to better meet users' needs.

Our creative style is user-centered, empathetic, and empowering. We focus on creating designs that put users first, especially since dental care can be a particularly vulnerable experience.

By combining innovative technology with a compassionate approach, we aim to make dental care more accessible, less intimidating, and ultimately empowering for everyone.

Absolutely! Our team's diverse backgrounds and experiences bring a rich tapestry of perspectives to our creative process. I believe our perspective is unique because, as non-natives, we’ve experienced the complexities of the U.S. healthcare system firsthand.

This allowed us to approach the design of DentaPal with fresh eyes, emphasizing inclusivity, empathy, and simplifying the user experience for those navigating dental pain in the U.S.

Winning the MUSE Creative Awards is an incredible honor and a testament to our team's dedication and passion. It validates our vision for DentaPal and motivates us to continue pushing the boundaries of innovation in dental care.

We're incredibly grateful for this recognition and excited to share DentaPal with the world.

DentaPal is an AI-powered mobile app that empowers patients to take control of their oral health. We chose to enter this project because we believe it has the potential to transform the dental care experience, making it more accessible, efficient, and anxiety-free for everyone.

The biggest challenge was dealing with issues that are beyond the scope of design, such as systemic and economic barriers in healthcare, along with many other limitations.

While we couldn’t address these larger problems directly, we focused on creating a solution that empowers users and helps them navigate these challenges more effectively. Our goal was to design an app that offers meaningful support within the constraints of the existing system.

Winning this award has boosted our team's confidence and fueled our passion for creating impactful solutions. It has also increased visibility for DentaPal, opening doors to new opportunities and collaborations.

- The ability to make a positive impact on the world through innovative solutions.

- The collaborative spirit and the opportunity to learn from diverse perspectives.

- The constant evolution and challenge to push boundaries and explore new possibilities.

The United States has a vibrant and diverse creative industry, inspired by a diverse culture of innovation, risk-taking, and entrepreneurship. This environment fosters us creativity and encourages the development of innovative solutions to address real-world challenges.

We believe the creative industry will continue to be driven by cutting-edge technology, with an increasing emphasis on human-centered design and social impact. We envision a future where design is used to solve critical global issues like climate change, inequality etc. To create a more sustainable and equitable world across the board.

As Steven said, “Stay hungry, stay foolish.” Embrace your curiosity, never stop learning, and don't be afraid to experiment and take risks. Find mentors and collaborators who inspire you, and always stay true to your creative vision.

Online platforms like Skillshare and Coursera offer valuable courses and resources for developing creative skills. Industry events and conferences are also great opportunities to learn from experts and network with other creatives.

Something we’ve never told anyone else is how DentaPal almost got its name by accident. During one of our early brainstorming sessions, we were tossing around names when someone jokingly said, "Wouldn’t it be great if your dentist could just be your pal?'". We all laughed, but then there was this pause... and someone said, "Wait, Denta... pal... DentaPal!"

It was one of those moments where something meant to be funny turned into the perfect fit. Now, every time we see the name, we remember that moment and how it reflects our mission: making dental care more approachable and friendly.

As a team, we’ve been inspired by individuals who are passionate about making a difference, especially in the design field. Innovators like Don Norman, who champions human-centered design, have deeply influenced us. His approach to creating solutions that genuinely improve people’s lives aligns with our mission for DentaPal.

We’re driven by the idea that thoughtful design can break down barriers and make something as daunting as dental care feel accessible and empowering for everyone.

One thing we did was stay relentlessly user-focused. From the beginning, we’ve prioritized understanding the real fears and challenges people face when it comes to dental care. By listening, empathizing, and iterating based on user feedback, we’ve built DentaPal to truly address those pain points.

Our parting advice? Never underestimate the power of empathy and simplicity. When you put yourself in the user's shoes and design with clarity and compassion, you’re not just creating a product—you’re solving real problems and making a meaningful impact.

We’d just like to emphasize how excited we are about DentaPal’s potential to make a real difference. Dental care can be intimidating, but by addressing fear, uncertainty, and complexity, we believe we’re creating something that goes beyond just an app—it’s a supportive companion for users on their dental health journey.

We’re proud of the work we’ve done and can’t wait to see how DentaPal helps people feel more confident and in control of their care. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to share our story!