Interaction - Bachelor

Zebrix

With the most common form of Ehlers Danlos Syndrome still being only 1 in 7,000 people. Zebrix is a community-based application that focuses on connecting and providing for people living with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome.

Helene Van Der Merwe

What is Ehlers Danlos Syndrome?

Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is a group of inherited disorders that affect your connective tissues — primarily your skin, joints and blood vessel walls. Connective tissues support your organs and hold parts of your body in place. They’re made of two proteins: collagen and elastin. EDS affects your body’s ability to produce collagen the way it should. People with EDS have weaker collagen. This means their connective tissue isn’t as strong or supportive as it should be.

about Zebrix

Zebrix is a community-driven platform created to bring together people living with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). Living with EDS can often feel lonely and misunderstood, but you don’t have to go through it alone.

Within the app, you can share your story, connect with others who understand your challenges, and find advice from people who’ve walked a similar path. Explore trusted resources and discover specialists who truly get EDS. Whether you’re looking for emotional support, practical tips, or just a friendly space to chat, Zebrix is a place where you can feel seen and understood.

At its heart, Zebrix is about community, compassion, and connection — because together, we can make living with EDS a little easier, one conversation at a time.

research

A study was conducted on 152 women all diagnosed with a form of Ehlers Danlos Syndrome,

– 84.9% have received a misdiagnosis
– 28% received 4 – 6 different misdiagnosis before proper diagnosis
– Over 73% have been misdiagnosed with anxiety and depression
– 145 out of 152 women had to educate their health professional about EDS

Image of a orange and white striped box with a zebra on the logo and the title Zebrix.

Zebrix Parcel

After completing the Zebrix community app survey, participants receive a special Zebrix Parcel — a thoughtful package designed to support and celebrate the EDS community. Inside, you’ll find leaflets filled with information about possible medication, treatment options and follow on diagnosis. To provide a little physical support, the parcel includes two joint braces tailored to help stabilise your two most troublesome joints, offering comfort and relief in daily activities. And because everyone deserves a small treat, you’ll also find a few colourful lollies — a sweet reminder that managing EDS is about care, community, and a touch of joy along the way.

User Testing

When user testing the Zebrix project there were multiple different aspects that needed to be tested in order to ensure that the feedback was well rounded and had a good mix of both positive and constructive feedback. These aspects included the multiple deliverables within this project such as the application and the parcel. Whilst there wasn’t main testing feedback regarding the parcel itself due to its overall lack of user interaction. The users were still questions regarding the overall usefulness and necessity of the parcel itself.

Helene Van Der Merwe

Helene Van Der Merwe is an Interaction Design and Information Systems student with a passion for human-centered design and creating accessible, intuitive user experiences. She is particularly interested in the design for health sector, driven by a desire to help as many people as possible.