The WE application, recognized as a 2025 Honoree in the Core77 Design Awards, demonstrates a thoughtful examination of how design can act as an intermediary between susceptible users and intricate systems. Crafted by QIMU Design, led by designers Shuting Jiang and Tianyue Wu, the venture delves into the concept of developing tools that not only address functional issues but also establish trust, respect, and inclusivity.
The design team’s journey commenced with a key realization: immigrant women facing challenges in accessing healthcare in a foreign land often encounter numerous obstacles. Issues such as language barriers, cultural variances, and bureaucratic complexities intertwine to create not just practical difficulties but emotional stress as well. Instead of focusing on fixing the users’ limitations, Jiang and Wu redefined the issue as a systemic design challenge. They pondered on how technology could serve as a connection without overshadowing the human connections that give value to healthcare experiences.
The solution took shape in a hybrid approach. The AI assistant of WE delivers translations tailored for medical scenarios and presents information in a manner that empowers decision-making. Additionally, the platform offers personal companions who accompany women to medical appointments, ensuring that empathy and comfort are not compromised for efficiency. This collaboration highlights a crucial design revelation: tools alone seldom alleviate vulnerability; it is the well-thought-out coordination of digital and personal interactions that creates a supportive experience.
Through thorough research and continual testing, QIMU Design honed features like streamlined insurance comparisons and multilingual community platforms. These are not flashy extras but deliberate responses to genuine user requirements. What sets WE apart from a design standpoint is its commitment to blending usability with respect. Every interaction—be it exploring policy choices or waiting for an appointment—was viewed as an opportunity to diminish stress and foster self-assurance. In this manner, Jiang and Wu showcase how design can function not solely on an interface level but also on emotional and systemic levels. WE transcends being just a product; it serves as an illustration of how compassionate design can revolutionize access to care for those often marginalized.
If you are working on an inventive application, product, service, or environment, we encourage you to present your project in the 2026 Core77 Design Awards—Submissions open in January 2026.