Simplifying ABA data collection for behavior analysis professionals
01 Overview
Creating a seamless data collection experience for ABA therapists
Most ABA data collection tools in the market cater to large enterprises, making them too complex, expensive, and overwhelming for small ABA clinics and independent practitioners. Behavior Tally set out to change that—creating a lightweight, intuitive, and effective data tool specifically for therapists who need fast, easy-to-use, and affordable solutions.
As a freelance product designer, I worked directly with the founders to ensure the product met both user needs and business goals. Through user research, iterative design, and collaboration with engineering, I crafted a platform that simplifies behavior tracking, enhances collaboration, and improves therapist workflows.
Duration
1 months
My Role
Freelance Product Designer
The Team
2 Founders
Tools Used
Figma, FigJam
02 The Challenge
Designing for multiple users without overcomplication
Most ABA therapy software is built for large institutions, which leads to three major problems:
Too complicated
Overloaded with features that independent BCBAs and small teams don’t need.
Time-consuming
Requires long onboarding and training, making data collection a hassle.
Expensive
Not sustainable for small clinics or solo practitioners.
The Challenge
Three user roles, three different needs
Imagine Sarah, a BCBA working with a young client, Alex. She needs to log behavior data in real-time, track progress, and adjust intervention plans—but existing platforms are cluttered, expensive, and difficult to use.
John and Emily, RBTs who collaborate under a BCBA. They need an easy way to record session data, sync with their supervisor, and share progress updates—but existing tools are slow and inefficient.
BCBAs
(Board Certified Behavior Analysts)
Need to set up behavior programs, analyze trends, and supervise RBTs.
RBTs
(Registered Behavior Technicians)
Need a quick and simple way to log session data without distractions.
Business Owners/Clinic Admins
Oversee operations but don’t need direct involvement in data collection.
How do we design a platform that balances simplicity, speed, and functionality—ensuring each user gets exactly what they need, without unnecessary complexity?
03 Research
Understanding the real needs behind ABA data collection
To ensure Behavior Tally was built for the people who would actually use it, I conducted founder interviews and analyzed existing ABA platforms to identify the most critical pain points.
Founder Insights: Bridging User Needs & Business Goals
Since the two founders had both business and technical expertise, our discussions helped clarify:
What therapists actually need
Simple, fast, and effective data tracking.
What small clinics can afford
A cost-effective, no-frills solution.
What’s technically feasible
A lightweight, scalable MVP.
Competitive Research: Simplifying Where Others Overcomplicate
I analyzed leading ABA software (e.g., CentralReach, Hi Rasmus) to spot opportunities for differentiation.
🔍 What We Learned & Applied to Design:
Prioritized speed & simplicity
Simple, fast, and effective data tracking.
Designed with scalability in mind
Ensured the UI structure could adapt for mobile and tablet in future versions.
Role-based access
Allowed different users (BCBAs, RBTs, Admins) to see only what they need.
04 Design Solutions
Key features I designed
1: Role-Based Dashboard with Multiple Calendar Views
Clinic Owners’ View
High-level overview of clinic operations.
Quick insights into team activity and session schedules.
Access to user management and permissions.
BCBA/RBT View
Personalized dashboard based on BCBA or RBT role.
Quick access to recent and assigned sessions and clients' status.
Multiple Calendar Views
Weekly & Monthly Calendar for session planning and supervision. Daily View for real-time task management.
2: session workflow
Data collection & Real-time Analysis and Graphing
Simplified the process of collecting and analyzing behavior data in real-time.
Auto-generated Reports
Auto-generated reports immediately after each session.
View Report
Behavior trends & progress insights for BCBAs.
Exportable reports for external documentation and insurance submissions.
Reports History
Access past session reports with detailed behavior insights.
Filter reports by date, client, or therapist for easy retrieval.
3: Client management system
Client Management
Easily search and view client profiles with historical session data.
Track intervention plans and adjust programs as needed.
05 Outcomes & Reflections
Impact & lessons learned
📌 Client Review:
“Hanzhen was great to work with, very knowledgeable and has a great sense of design. We will be working with her again.”
What I learned
💡 Designing for an Unfamiliar Domain
Working in ABA therapy was a new challenge—I had to quickly get up to speed on how BCBAs and RBTs work, ensuring the design met their real-world needs.
📚 Deep Research is Essential
Understanding complex workflows required extensive research and competitor analysis. I learned that diving deep into the user’s world is key to crafting intuitive solutions.
📢 Timely Communication Drives Success
Frequent collaboration with the founder helped keep the project on track and aligned with both business goals and therapist needs.
⚖️ Balancing Simplicity & Functionality
Striking the right balance between a minimalist experience for ease of use while ensuring BCBAs and RBTs had all necessary tools was a key design challenge.