Mobile App Design

Alleviate Your Brain

At-A-Glance

"IlluminateEase App" is a wellness app that promotes mental clarity and relaxation through red light and sound. By syncing with the IlluminateEase lamp, it offers personalized meditation courses, soundscapes, and adaptive lighting to reduce mental strain and enhance focus."

Solo Project

My Role

Product Design - user research, visual design

Timeline

Sep 2024 - Dec 2024

Tools

Figma

Starting thoughts...

College students are often
overwhelmed by academic stress.

As an observer of modern life, I have noticed many people, especially students, are overwhelmed by stress, making it difficult for them to focus on their personal and academic goals.

SOLUTION

Create a balance in everyday life.

During my research, I found that achieving balance in life requires more than just eliminating stressors. To create lasting harmony, it is essential to incorporate practices that promote mental clarity, reduce anxiety, and enhance focus, enabling individuals to maintain a sustainable sense of well-being.

Meditation Courses

Expert meditation guidance is available 24/7 with certified license, offering a variety of options to suit your preferences. Each session provides step-by-step instructions to support you on your meditation journey.

Track Remind Repeat

Keep track of your soundscape sessions, meditation course progress, and personalized settings

More choices for your needs

Discover a wide range of options designed to cater to your unique needs, offering fast and convenient relaxation with the simplicity of a single press

01. DISCOVER

What should we focus on to help college students manage academic stress?

Secondary Research

Starting with initial research, I began to uncover the underlying causes of academic stress among college students. During my exploration, I also came across a noteworthy social shift that provided valuable context and deeper insights into the issue.

In a Gallup poll that surveyed more than 2,400 college students in March 2023, 66% of reported experiencing stress and 51% reported feelings of worry a lot "during the day." And emotional stress was among the top reasons students considered dropping out of college in the Fall 2022 semester, according to findings in the State of Higher Education 2023 report, based on a study conducted in 2022 by Gallup and the Lumina Foundation.

‍Acute academic stress is short-term stress triggered by specific events, such as exams or deadlines, and typically resolves once the event has passed.

Chronic academic stress relates to long-term pressure from persistent academic demands, such as heavy coursework or ongoing exams, which can have a detrimental effect on mental and physical health if not managed.

In another survey, students mentioned how stress impacts their academic are at a great deal and at some level

Now I see that academic stress is the result of ongoing pressure, and students are striving to find ways to cope with it. Why has this issue become so widespread and debated? Let’s explore the reasons!

Screener Survey

After reviewing the results, I became intrigued by the factors contributing to the differing opinions on managing academic stress. To gain a clearer understanding, I conducted screeners to collect general data and identify potential interviewees.

x 20

respondents

It is concerning that many college students are dealing with moderate academic stress, with over 72% attempting self-management techniques without success. I want to explore the reasons behind their self-guided efforts and the factors that influenced their outcomes

User Interview

x 8

interviewees

Throughout the screener, I was able to identify 8 interviewees who have tried either self-guided stress management techniques or in-person therapy

Key Points

o  70% of participants reported they had attempted self-guided stress management techniques, such as using apps or onlineres ources, when they first noticed their academic stress.
o  Initial belief was that they could manage stress on their own, as the symptoms were perceived as mild at first.
o  The main barriers to seeking in-person therapy included time constraints and cost, making it difficult for students to commit to regular sessions.
o  Some students feeling uncomfortable or ashamed to openly discuss their stress with a professional.
o  While all participants experienced some relief during their self-guided methods, 65% reported a return to high stress levels after a short period, indicating the temporary nature of the results.

Competitor Analysis

Research Synthesis

After conducting extensive user research and analyzing relevant industry trends, I synthesized the data and insights to identify nine key pain points that are essential for ensuring the success of users.

PAIN POINTS

Based on the identified user pain points and research findings, I prioritized the key criteria that are crucial to focus on.

KEY INSIGHTS

02. ARCHETYPE

Identify users' needs based on pain points and key insights

User Persona & Journey Map

Based on the identified user pain points and research findings, I prioritized the key criteria that are crucial to focus on.

03. IDEATE

How can I help users achieve their goals and meet their expectations?

Hybrid Card Sorting

Original hybrid card sorting study was conducted to design an Information Architecture aligned with user needs and expectations.

x 5

participants

Data Organization

Based on the hybrid card sorting results, I grouped the data into five categories to streamline and structure the ideas effectively.

04. PROTOTYPE

Craft a focused vision to generate impactful ideas.

Visual Style

The primary color palettes are designed to create calm and relaxing atmospheres.

Design System

I developed the design system using the Atomic Design methodology, beginning with a comprehensive library of tokens, including colors, typography, icons, grids, and patterns, to ensure a cohesive and consistent design language.

Usability Testing

I performed a usability test with five users from diverse backgrounds, ranging from beginners to experts, to better understand the user-friendliness of the app's flow.

Iteration

Low Fidelity Design

High Fidelity Design

Key Features

Tailored Experience

Enhancing meditation through an interactive approach, the app engages with user progress. After each session, reflective questions assess feelings and exercise impact, enabling personalized course recommendations tailored to evolving needs and goals.

Monitor All Progress

The app tracks your meditation progress daily, weekly, and monthly, helping you stay on course. Featuring a concentration mode and continuous reminders through meditation and soundscapes, it ensures a consistent, focused practice while reinforcing your commitment to growth.

Custom Goals

During onboarding, users set personal meditation goals that guide their practice. The app provides regular reminders to help keep goals in focus, and allows users to update them anytime, ensuring the journey remains aligned with evolving intentions.

Variety of Choices

Another feature offers instruction choices based on user preferences, offering courses at various levels to match individual needs. This personalized approach helps guide users through their meditation journey, fostering steady growth in mental clarity and balance.

Personalized Settings

Personalized Settings allow users to adjust and customize meditation and soundscape elements, adding or removing items based on their needs. Changes sync instantly with the lamp for a fully tailored experience.

05. FUTURE SCOPE

How can the user experience be improved?

I. User & Expert Feedback

In the future, the app will integrate expert reviews and feedback on courses, allowing users to benefit from professional insights. User-generated reviews will also play a key role in shaping course recommendations, helping to build a community-driven platform.

II. Rewards System

Future updates will introduce gamified elements, offering badges, achievements, and tangible rewards to users for milestones achieved in their meditation journey. These rewards will encourage long-term commitment and provide motivation to maintain a regular practice.

III. Interactive Communication Improvements

The app will enhance interactive communication by incorporating real-time chat features, personalized notifications, and AI-driven responses. Users will receive tailored guidance based on their progress and preferences, fostering a more immersive and responsive experience. Future improvements will focus on creating deeper connections, whether through peer interaction or direct communication with meditation experts and instructors.