Benjamin Erxleben

Lead Product Designer

Health Care

Startup

B2C SaaS

The mobile app for

Digital Gastrointestinal Therapeutics

The mobile app for

Digital Gastrointestinal Therapeutics

Visit Website

Health Care

Startup

B2C SaaS

The mobile app for

Digital Gastrointestinal Therapeutics

My Role
My Role

IC Design Lead &
Design Team Lead

IC Design Lead & Design Team Lead

About the Client

Cara Care develops a SaaS medical App to improve the quality of life for people with digestive issues like IBS, IBD and others.

Timeframe
Timeframe

4+ years
01 | 2020 — 07 | 2024

4+ years 01 | 2020 — 07 | 2024

My Role

IC Design Lead & Design Team Lead

About the Client

Cara Care develops a SaaS medical App to improve the quality of life for people with digestive issues like IBS, IBD and others.

Timeframe

4+ years 01 | 2020 — 07 | 2024

Active NDA: Case study contains vague details to protect client's IP.

Overview

&

Summary

Applied Services, Deliverables & Impact

Overview

&

Summary

Applied Services, Deliverables & Impact

Responsibilities

Responsibilities

Responsibilities

Responsibilities

Design Team Lead

Design Team Lead

Design Team Lead

Conducted job interviews, hired team members

Conducted job interviews, hired team members

Conducted job interviews, hired team members

Conducted job interviews, hired Designers

Resource development, mentoring & planning

Resource development, mentoring & planning

Resource development, mentoring & planning

Resource development, mentoring & planning

Organization, planning & process optimization

Organization, planning & process optimization

Organization, planning & process optimization

Organization, planning, process optimization

Stakeholder management & collaboration

Stakeholder management & collaboration

Stakeholder management & collaboration

Stakeholder management & collaboration

Management of external partners & contractors

Management of external partners & contractors

Management of external partners & contractors

Management of external partners & contractors

Lead Product Designer (IC)

Lead Product Designer (IC)

Lead Product Designer (IC)

End-to-end product design for various features

End-to-end product design for various features

End-to-end product design (various features)

End-to-end product design (various features)

Rebranding & alignment to business & user needs

Rebranding & alignment to business & user needs

Rebranding & alignment to business & user needs

Rebranding & alignment to business & user needs

Internal CI processing and integration

Internal CI processing & integration

Internal CI processing and integration

Internal CI processing and integration

Creation & maintenance of an Design System

Creation & maintenance of an Design System

Creation & maintenance of an Design System

Creation & maintenance of an Design System

Support for marketing, sales & content via print, merchandise, web & motion design

Support for marketing, sales & content via print, merchandise, web & motion design

Support for marketing, sales & content via print, merch, web & motion

Support for marketing, sales & content via print, merchandise, web & motion design

Outcome

Outcome

Outcome

Outcome

+1.7

+1.7

+1.7

Store Rating

2

2

2

X

X

X

Installs

+36

+36

+36

%

%

%

WAU

Over the 4+ years of the cooperation Cara Care made the shift from an MVP to a holistic, well-selling product Brand with significant increase in users, adaption rate and positive treatment results.

It not only helped patients previously stuck in the outdated medical system regaining their health & quality of life but also achieved an exit to Bayer AG (German multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company).

Over the 4+ years of the cooperation Cara Care made the shift from an MVP to a holistic, well-selling product Brand with significant increase in users, adaption rate and positive treatment results.

It not only helped patients previously stuck in the outdated medical system regaining their health & quality of life but also achieved an exit to Bayer AG (German multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company).

Over the 4+ years of the cooperation Cara Care made the shift from an MVP to a holistic, well-selling product Brand with significant increase in users, adaption rate and positive treatment results.

It not only helped patients previously stuck in the outdated medical system regaining their health & quality of life but also achieved an exit to Bayer AG (German multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company).

Over the 4+ years of the cooperation Cara Care made the shift from an MVP to a holistic, well-selling product Brand with significant increase in users, adaption rate and positive treatment results.

It not only helped patients previously stuck in the outdated medical system regaining their health & quality of life but also achieved an exit to Bayer AG (German multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company).

Applied Services & Skills

IC & Team Lead

IC & Team Lead

Research, Concept & Ideation

Research, Concept & Ideation

Branding & CI

Branding & CI

Prototyping & Validation

Prototyping & Validation

Product Design

Product Design

Digital & Print Media Design

Digital & Print Media Design

Audit, Testing & QA

Audit, Testing & QA

Consultations & Workshops

Consultations & Workshops

Assessment

&

Approach

Defining Starting Point & Improvement Areas

Assessment

&

Approach

Defining Starting Point & Improvement Areas

Assessment

&

Approach

Defining Starting Point & Improvement Areas

Assessment

&

Approach

Defining Starting Point & Improvement Areas

Initial Assessment

Initial Assessment

A baseline branding, understanding of market situation & target group were given but lacked the story & finesse to connect with the users on the particularly delicate & personal topic of digestive health.

The initial product was in the shape of a MVP with a minimal feature set and various UI / UX struggles due to the lack of a clear Vision, Corporate Identity & Design System.

Marketing efforts & customer journey existed in rough outlines but suffered under the indirect & complex payment approach of reimbursement via users’ health insurances.

A baseline branding, understanding of market situation & target group were given but lacked the story & finesse to connect with the users on the particularly delicate & personal topic of digestive health.

The initial product was in the shape of a MVP with a minimal feature set and various UI / UX struggles due to the lack of a clear Vision, Corporate Identity & Design System.

Marketing efforts & customer journey existed in rough outlines but suffered under the indirect & complex payment approach of reimbursement via users’ health insurances.

Approach

Approach

In conclusion these typical loose ends of early stage startups were meant to be adressed & realligned holistically towards a more user centered approach that creatively handles the complex market & payment situation within the german healthcare system.

From an informed vision to a supporting corporate identity, design principles for fitting product features & user journey, ending in a retention strategy after the initial user treatment journey has ended.

In conclusion these typical loose ends of early stage startups were meant to be adressed & realligned holistically towards a more user centered approach that creatively handles the complex market & payment situation within the german healthcare system.

From an informed vision to a supporting corporate identity, design principles for fitting product features & user journey, ending in a retention strategy after the initial user treatment journey has ended.

Research

&

Ideation

Insights for informed Decisions towards Product Market Fit

Research

&

Ideation

Insights for informed Decisions towards Product Market Fit

Research

&

Ideation

informed Decisions towards Product Market Fit

Research

&

Ideation

Insights for informed Decisions towards Product Market Fit

The Facts

The Facts

Through interviews with Users and Key Stakeholders (both inhouse & external advisors) we became painfully aware of:

Through interviews with Users and Key Stakeholders (both inhouse & external advisors) we became painfully aware of:

the target group variety in terms of both basic criteria (age & gender) and topic specifics (e.g. pre-existing illnesses, allergies & intolerances)

the target group variety in terms of both basic criteria (age & gender) and topic specifics (e.g. pre-existing illnesses, allergies & intolerances)

the target group variety in terms of both basic criteria (age & gender) and topic specifics (e.g. pre-existing illnesses, allergies & intolerances)

the target group variety in terms of both basic criteria (age & gender) and topic specifics (e.g. pre-existing illnesses, allergies & intolerances)

the collectively shared struggles of helplessness, shame and isolation with these conditions

the collectively shared struggles of helplessness, shame and isolation with these conditions

the collectively shared struggles of helplessness, shame and isolation with these conditions

the collectively shared struggles of helplessness, shame and isolation with these conditions

the fact-driven, time restricted & non-compassionate healthcare system and it’s required steps for anamnesis, contraindications and exclusions

the fact-driven, time restricted & non-compassionate healthcare system and it’s required steps for anamnesis, contraindications and exclusions

the fact-driven, time restricted & non-compassionate healthcare system and it’s required steps for anamnesis, contraindications and exclusions

the fact-driven, time restricted & non-compassionate healthcare system and it’s required steps for anamnesis, contraindications and exclusions

the need for a personalised, supportive approach based on individual patients’ set & setting (allergies, diseases, mental state, dedication etc.)

the need for a personalised, supportive approach based on individual patients’ set & setting (allergies, diseases, mental state, dedication etc.)

the need for a personalised, supportive approach based on individual patients’ set & setting (allergies, diseases, mental state, dedication etc.)

the need for a personalised, supportive approach based on individual patients’ set & setting (allergies, diseases, mental state, dedication etc.)

Since the healthcare market for medical treatment via software (DiGA’s) was still in its baby shoes, chances for new approaches were arising but had to be carefully steered through various slow buerocratic hurdles (medical studies, insurance coverage, audits ...)

Since the healthcare market for medical treatment via software (DiGA’s) was still in its baby shoes, chances for new approaches were arising but had to be carefully steered through various slow buerocratic hurdles (medical studies, insurance coverage, audits...)

Since the healthcare market for medical treatment via software (DiGA’s) was still in its baby shoes, chances for new approaches were arising but had to be carefully steered through various slow buerocratic hurdles (medical studies, insurance coverage, audits...)

Since the healthcare market for medical treatment via software (DiGA’s) was still in its baby shoes, chances for new approaches were arising but had to be carefully steered through various slow buerocratic hurdles (medical studies, insurance coverage, audits, etc...)

The Vision

The Vision

With fresh clarity on patient needs, market challenges and a new path for opportunities the adjustments needed for the company vision became clear:

With fresh clarity on patient needs, market challenges and a new path for opportunities the adjustments needed for the company vision became clear:

bridge the gap between users and healthcare service requirements

bridge the gap between users and healthcare service requirements

bridge the gap between users and healthcare service requirements

bridge the gap between users and healthcare service requirements

create awareness, practice compassion, stay discrete and trustworthy

create awareness, practice compassion, stay discrete and trustworthy

create awareness, practice compassion, stay discrete and trustworthy

create awareness, practice compassion, stay discrete and trustworthy

adjust the product from a static tool to a flexible companion

adjust the product from a static tool to a flexible companion

adjust the product from a static tool to a flexible companion

adjust the product from a static tool to a flexible companion

rethink the customer journey to a holistic approach from first contact to retention after treatment success

rethink the customer journey to a holistic approach from first contact to retention after treatment success

rethink the customer journey to a holistic approach from first contact to retention after treatment success

rethink the customer journey to a holistic approach from first contact to retention after treatment success

Positioning

&

Rebranding

Defining the Nieche & filling it with Character

Positioning

&

Rebranding

Defining the Nieche & filling it with Character

Positioning

&

Rebranding

Defining the Nieche & filling it with Character

Positioning

&

Rebranding

Defining the Nieche & filling it with Character

Positioning

Positioning

To save time we hired an external agency to support the shift from old brand basics to holistic corporate identity. I coordinated and streamlined these efforts to keep alignment while working out the product vision adjustments in parallel.

To save time we hired an external agency to support the shift from old brand basics to holistic corporate identity. I coordinated and streamlined these efforts to keep alignment while working out the product vision adjustments in parallel.

To save time we hired an external agency to support the shift from old brand basics to holistic corporate identity. I coordinated and streamlined these efforts to keep alignment while working out the product vision adjustments in parallel.

To save time we hired an external agency to support the shift from old brand basics to holistic corporate identity. I coordinated and streamlined these efforts to keep alignment while working out the product vision adjustments in parallel.

The Corporate Philosophy had to fill the gap in the user & market need between a general physician and a close friend in order to fulfill both key virtues of discretion & professionalism but also trustworthiness & empathy.

The Corporate Philosophy had to fill the gap in the user & market need between a general physician and a close friend in order to fulfill both key virtues of professionalism & discretion but also trustworthiness & empathy.

The Corporate Philosophy had to fill the gap in the user & market need between a general physician and a close friend in order to fulfill both key virtues of professionalism & discretion but also trustworthiness & empathy.

Rebranding

Rebranding

In order to achieve a more human and empathic approach the Corporate Design needed to shift to an easily “digestible” style with high general appeal through organic shapes, desaturated natural colors, extended usage of white space and friendly illustrations mixed with authentic imagery.

Medical credibility on the other hand was maintained through a well balanced Corporate Communication & Language with well chunked bits of accurate & actionable information that is free from medical jargon, mixed with a supportive & reassuring tonality that is unencumbered by taboos.

In order to achieve a more human and empathic approach the Corporate Design needed to shift to an easily “digestible” style with high general appeal through organic shapes, desaturated natural colors, extended usage of white space and friendly illustrations mixed with authentic imagery.

Medical credibility on the other hand was maintained through a well balanced Corporate Communication & Language with well chunked bits of accurate & actionable information that is free from medical jargon, mixed with a supportive & reassuring tonality that is unencumbered by taboos.

Product Iteration

&

Design

From DYI-Tools to holistic Treatment Companion

Product Iteration

&

Design

From DYI-Tools to holistic Treatment Companion

Product Iteration

&

Design

From DYI-Tools to holistic Treatment Companion

Product Iteration

&

Design

From DYI-Tools to holistic Treatment Companion

Product Vision & Feature set

Product Vision & Feature set

The product vision and feature set had to adapt from a plain analytical food & stool tracker tool to a companion that augments the traditional medical treatments: It explains, consults, and offers practical help. With the data it generates, it can also help doctors diagnose a users conditions more easily.

This lead to the development of a guided program, personalised to the specific user needs & conditions (time quota, diseases, allergies, etc) as the main feature. The existing tracking features were offered in an additional tool-kit, combined with a powerful correlation analysis to help the user understand this data and weaved into the main program where supportive.

The product vision and feature set had to adapt from a plain analytical food & stool tracker tool to a companion that augments the traditional medical treatments: It explains, consults, and offers practical help. With the data it generates, it can also help doctors diagnose a users conditions more easily.

This lead to the development of a guided program, personalised to the specific user needs & conditions (time quota, diseases, allergies, etc) as the main feature. The existing tracking features were offered in an additional tool-kit, combined with a powerful correlation analysis to help the user understand this data and weaved into the main program where supportive.

Interface & Experience Design

Interface & Experience Design

Supporting the new Company & Product Vision various changes were rolled out in feature versions to keep the app usable and the user adaption cost as low as possible. Some of the bigger adjustments:

Supporting the new Company & Product Vision various changes were rolled out in feature versions to keep the app usable and the user adaption cost as low as possible. Some of the bigger adjustments:

Home Screen became a hub for next steps in the guided program, latest tracking insights, nutritional suggestions and general reminders

Home Screen became a hub for next steps in the guided program, latest tracking insights, nutritional suggestions and general reminders

Home Screen became a hub for next steps in the guided program, latest tracking insights, nutritional suggestions and general reminders

Home Screen became a hub for next steps in the guided program, latest tracking insights, nutritional suggestions and general reminders

Information architecture and User Flow of the Guided program was well chunked into various media types & occasional quizzes alligned through a weekly content cadence with monthly recurring personalisation check-ins

Information architecture and User Flow of the Guided program was well chunked into various media types & occasional quizzes alligned through a weekly content cadence with monthly recurring personalisation check-ins

Information architecture and User Flow of the Guided program was well chunked into various media types & occasional quizzes alligned through a weekly content cadence with monthly recurring personalisation check-ins

Information architecture and User Flow of the Guided program was well chunked into various media types & occasional quizzes alligned through a weekly content cadence with monthly recurring personalisation check-ins

required regular medical check-ins were modularized and combined with a evaluation screen showing the users treatment progress and enabling quick handover to the physician of choice

required regular medical check-ins were modularized and combined with a evaluation screen showing the users treatment progress and enabling quick handover to the physician of choice

required regular medical check-ins were modularized and combined with a evaluation screen showing the users treatment progress and enabling quick handover to the physician of choice

required regular medical check-ins were modularized and combined with a evaluation screen showing the users treatment progress and enabling quick handover to the physician of choice

Extensive tracking tools was simplified and linked to correlation analysis with a simple yet understandable evaluation system

Extensive tracking tools was simplified and linked to correlation analysis with a simple yet understandable evaluation system

Extensive tracking tools was simplified and linked to correlation analysis with a simple yet understandable evaluation system

Extensive tracking tools was simplified and linked to correlation analysis with a simple yet understandable evaluation system

To improve short term retention and joy of use the general design language was tranlated into the UI & UX and mixed with various small but smart interactions & micro-animations.

To improve short term retention and joy of use the general design language was tranlated into the UI & UX and mixed with various small but smart interactions & micro-animations.

Customer Journey

&

Marketing

Solving Market Problems through extensive Multichannel Guidance

Customer Journey

&

Marketing

Solving Market Problems through extensive Multichannel Guidance

User Journey

&

Marketing

Solving Problems through Multichannel Guidance

Customer Journey

&

Marketing

Solving Market Problems through extensive Multichannel Guidance

Customer Journey

Customer Journey

The complexity of the markets prescription/reimbursement system had to be tackled through a well structured and extensively guiding customer journey that enables multiple entry points (doctor referrals, self-managed, etc.) and confidently guides the user with supportively chunked steps, reminders & info material.

The complexity of the markets prescription / reimbursement system had to be tackled through a well structured and extensively guiding customer journey that enables multiple entry points (doctor referrals, self-managed, etc.) and confidently guides the user with supportively chunked steps, reminders & info material.

Marketing

Marketing

This was achieved via:

This was achieved via:

a completely overhauled Website with base informations for various user situations, pre-funneled via Typeform surveys

a completely overhauled Website with base informations for various user situations, pre-funneled via Typeform surveys

a completely overhauled Website with base informations for various user situations, pre-funneled via Typeform surveys

a completely overhauled Website with base informations for various user situations, pre-funneled via Typeform surveys

extensive use of various info materials from leaflets to checklists and introduction letters for physicians

extensive use of various info materials from leaflets to checklists and introduction letters for physicians

extensive use of various info materials from leaflets to checklists and introduction letters for physicians

extensive use of various info materials from leaflets to checklists and introduction letters for physicians

various reach-out channels from social media to email campaigns and publications in magazines with both medical and lifestyle focus

various reach-out channels from social media to email campaigns and publications in magazines with both medical and lifestyle focus

various reach-out channels from social media to email campaigns and publications in magazines with both medical and lifestyle focus

various reach-out channels from social media to email campaigns and publications in magazines with both medical and lifestyle focus

active reach-outs to specialised physicians for faster prescription & recommendation routes via sales

active reach-outs to specialised physicians for faster prescription & recommendation routes via sales

active reach-outs to specialised physicians for faster prescription & recommendation routes via sales

active reach-outs to specialised physicians for faster prescription & recommendation routes via sales

Outcome

&

Reflection

From kickstart through growing pains to exit

Outcome

&

Reflection

From kickstart through growing pains to exit

Outcome

&

Reflection

From kickstart through growing pains to exit

Outcome

&

Reflection

From kickstart through growing pains to exit

Outcome

Outcome

Cara Care made the shift from an MVP to a holistic, well-selling product Brand with significant increase in users, adaption rate & positive treatment results. It not only helped patients previously stuck in the outdated medical system regaining their health & quality of life but also achieved an exit to Bayer AG (German multinational pharmaceutical & biotechnology company).

Cara Care made the shift from an MVP to a holistic, well-selling product Brand with significant increase in users, adaption rate & positive treatment results. It not only helped patients previously stuck in the outdated medical system regaining their health & quality of life but also achieved an exit to Bayer AG (German multinational pharmaceutical & biotechnology company).

+1.7

+1.7

+1.7

Store Rating

2

2

2

X

X

X

Installs

+36

+36

+36

%

%

%

Weekly Active Users

+36

+36

+36

%

%

%

WAU

Reflection

Reflection

Over the 4+ years of shifting from MVP to well-selling product I was able to witness lots of various growing pains and requirement shifts throughout the whole company. I filled various roles and was able to utilize & refine a lot of my professional skills & passions, learning so much on the way.

Ultimately this cooperation helped me to really understand:

Over the 4+ years of shifting from MVP to well-selling product I was able to witness lots of various growing pains and requirement shifts throughout the whole company. I filled various roles and was able to utilize & refine a lot of my professional skills & passions, learning so much on the way.

Ultimately this cooperation helped me to really understand:

the industry challenges for digital product companies

the industry challenges for digital product companies

the industry challenges for digital product companies

the industry challenges for digital product companies

the importance of proper adaption strategies vs. quick-fixes (80/20 rule)

the importance of proper adaption strategies vs. quick-fixes (80/20 rule)

the importance of proper adaption strategies vs. quick-fixes (80/20 rule)

the importance of proper adaption strategies vs. quick-fixes (80/20 rule)

the shared value in emphasizing & solving this recurring struggle in a win-win manner that drives progression rather than slowing down the momentum.

the shared value in emphasizing & solving this recurring struggle in a win-win manner that drives progression rather than slowing down the momentum.

the shared value in emphasizing & solving this recurring struggle in a win-win manner that drives progression rather than slowing down the momentum.

the shared value in emphasizing & solving this recurring struggle in a win-win manner that drives progression rather than slowing down the momentum.

Client & Peer Reviews

Praises, kind words & honest opinions

Client & Peer Reviews

Praises, kind words & honest opinions

Client & Peer Reviews

Praises, kind words & honest opinions

Jesaja Brinkmann

Co-Founder & CEO

Jesaja Brinkmann

Co-Founder & CEO

Working with Beni at Cara Care was a real privilege. He brings a rare blend of broad design skills — spanning UI/UX, motion, web, and print — and a deeply human-centered product mindset. He combines structure, curiosity, and critical thinking to create meaningful, user-focused solutions.

His communication is clear and adaptive, and he collaborates seamlessly across teams and disciplines. Above all, he’s humble, creative, and consistently elevates the people and products around him.

Jesaja Brinkmann

Co-Founder & CEO

Jesaja Brinkmann

Co-Founder & CEO

Working with Beni at Cara Care was a real privilege. He brings a rare blend of broad design skills — spanning UI/UX, motion, web, and print — and a deeply human-centered product mindset. He combines structure, curiosity, and critical thinking to create meaningful, user-focused solutions.

His communication is clear and adaptive, and he collaborates seamlessly across teams and disciplines. Above all, he’s humble, creative, and consistently elevates the people and products around him.

Jesaja Brinkmann

Co-Founder & CEO

Jesaja Brinkmann

Co-Founder & CEO

Working with Beni at Cara Care was a real privilege. He brings a rare blend of broad design skills — spanning UI/UX, motion, web, and print — and a deeply human-centered product mindset. He combines structure, curiosity, and critical thinking to create meaningful, user-focused solutions.

His communication is clear and adaptive, and he collaborates seamlessly across teams and disciplines. Above all, he’s humble, creative, and consistently elevates the people and products around him.

Jesaja Brinkmann

Co-Founder & CEO

Jesaja Brinkmann

Co-Founder & CEO

Working with Beni at Cara Care was a real privilege. He brings a rare blend of broad design skills — spanning UI/UX, motion, web, and print — and a deeply human-centered product mindset. He combines structure, curiosity, and critical thinking to create meaningful, user-focused solutions.

His communication is clear and adaptive, and he collaborates seamlessly across teams and disciplines. Above all, he’s humble, creative, and consistently elevates the people and products around him.

Want to talk?

Want to talk?

Want to talk?

No matter if you want to talk about your current / future product, problems to solve or just want to discuss design philosophy

Just book a quick 15 minute call and I will curiously unpack your story to see where our potential overlap might take us.

No matter if you want to talk about your current / future product, problems to solve or just want to discuss design philosophy

Just book a quick 15 minute call and I will curiously unpack your story to see where our potential overlap might take us.

No matter if you want to talk about your current / future product, problems to solve or just want to discuss design philosophy

Just book a quick 15 minute call and I will curiously unpack your story to see where our potential overlap might take us.

Book a Call

Book a Call

Contact Options

Contact Options

© 2025 Benjamin Erxleben

All rights reserved

© 2025 Benjamin Erxleben

All rights reserved