From STRESS to GRATITUDE: How I Designed Vybe to Foster Mindfulness in Teens
User research | Wireframing | UI Design | Prototyping
Vybe is a mobile application designed to help users cultivate a habit of gratitude and gain insights into their well-being. Unlike existing platforms, it focuses on fostering mindfulness without promoting social media sharing.
Timeline:
6 Weeks
Team:
2 UX Researchers
2 UX Designer
My Role:
Secondary research
Product strategy
Feature ideation
Visual design
Tools:
Figma
Miro
HOW DID IT ALL START?
Recognising the stress caused by “excessive social media use” among teenagers, I focused on addressing the negative impact on their mental well-being.
CONTEXT
70% of teenagers report increased anxiety and stress due to social media, according to a 2022 study by the American Psychological Association.
60% of teens feel social media exacerbates feelings of inadequacy as per the findings of Pew Research Center.
The lack of mindfulness and gratitude among teenagers due to excessive social media use is a significant concern.
However, this challenge presents an opportunity to create a solution that encourages healthier digital habits, improves mental well-being, and fosters a more balanced lifestyle for young users.
OPPORTUNITY
Problems:
Habit Formation: Users struggle to maintain a regular gratitude practice.
Engagement: Existing platforms lack engaging and visually appealing interfaces.
Mindfulness: There is a need for insights that promote well-being and mindfulness.
Challenge
How might we rekindle gratitude and mindfulness while countering the detrimental effects of excessive social media use?
Design Methodology
User Research
Data Synthesis
Ideation & Strategy
Design
User Testing
Vybe, a mobile application designed to help users cultivate a habit of gratitude through the Gratitude Tracker and gain insights into their well-being.
Unlike existing platforms, it focuses on fostering mindfulness without promoting social media sharing.
Solution
User Research
Conducted unbiased interviews with 8 individuals aged 18-24 as this age group directly faces social media's varied impacts on gratitude and mental well-being.
We included both working professionals and students, to understand diverse perspectives on social media's impact.
User Interviews:
Assessed existing gratitude and mindfulness apps like Calm and Headspace to identify gaps and opportunities.
Reviewed extensive literature and engaged with social media communities, gaining insights into user experiences and behavior in the digital and real-world context.
Desk Research:
Data Synthesis
After conducting extensive research, we gathered a wealth of information, insights, and pain points. To make sense of this data, we employed data synthesis methods like empathy mapping and card sorting, leading us to the following key insights.
Users need reminders and engaging interfaces to maintain a gratitude practice.
Providing insights into well-being can enhance mindfulness and promote a balanced digital life.
Users prefer a platform that fosters gratitude and mindfulness without the distractions of social media.
Key Insights:
The insights from the data helped us craft detailed user personas, ensuring a design process deeply rooted in user empathy and a clear understanding of user needs, goals, and behaviors.
User Personas:
Ideation & Strategy
After extensive brainstorming, numerous discussions, and thorough consideration, we narrowed down our options to three distinct ideas:
Focused Device:
A dedicated gadget that eliminates social media distractions, concentrating solely on the essentials.
Community Bracelet: Designed to foster a sense of community, bringing users together in a virtual safe haven.
Gratitude Tracker:
Users could monitor their emotions, transforming digital chaos into self-awareness.
User feedback from storyboards and surveys revealed a strong preference for the Gratitude Tracker.
Community Bracelet
Focused Device
Gratitude Tracker
Design Implementation
Sketching and Wireframes:
Utilized Crazy 8s and rapid prototyping to ideate and refine interface sections.
Lo-Fi Wireframes:
Screen Clutter: Interface felt congested.
Question Overload: Too many questions and options.
Survey Format: Long paragraphs reduced task completion motivation.
Navigation Issues: Difficulty locating the 'Next' button.
Insights after Heuristic Evaluation and Think-Aloud Testing:
How I overcame these challenges:
Simplified Questions: Shortened and made queries more user-friendly.
Streamlined Navigation: Refined layout for intuitive flow.
Reduced Cognitive Load: Consolidated information to minimise clutter.
Enhanced Visual Hierarchy: Improved design for easier identification of key elements.
FINAL DESIGN
Design Goal 1
Focus on building a gratitude practice, distinct from apps like Calm and Headspace.
Emphasise Gratitude:
Home Screen
Good evening, Beyonce
Today’s Reflection
Social Media Usage
Ready to reflect on your day? Share your thoughts here and embrace gratitude.
Check-in
Set Reminder
Screen Time
3H 30M
/ 8 h
9:41
Home
Discover
Challenges
Community
Settings
Check-in for gratitude
Revisit of previous check-in entries
Daily reminders for check-in
Personalised questionnaire for the daily gratitude check-in
Reflection Check-in
1/9
What's the highlight of your day?
Achieving a personal goal
Learning something new
Acts of kindness
Connecting with a loved one
Enjoying nature
Nothing Special
Next
9:41
Home
Discover
Challenges
Community
Settings
Self-reflection space for the users thoughts.
Share your reflection here
250
Reflection Check-in
Use this space to reflect on how you’ve been feeling lately.
Save without notes
Save
9:41
Home
Discover
Challenges
Community
Settings
Design Goal 2
Implement gamification to make developing gratitude habits enjoyable and track well-being insights.
Engage through Gamification:
Reflection Check-in
Home
You have earned a beginner badge
+100 XP
9:41
Home
Discover
Challenges
Community
Settings
Earn XP with each task.
building habits and enjoying a sense of accomplishment.
Challenges
My Stats
Weekly Challenges
7 Days of Gratitude
Gratitude Photo Journal
Digital Detox Challenge
Daily Breathwork
Screen Free Evening
27
M
i
n
d
f
u
l
D
a
y
s
Mindful Minutes
8 hr 43 min
Challenges
6
XP Points
3546
Share with Community
9:41
Home
Discover
Challenges
Community
Settings
Track your progress and see your growth clearly.
Share your journey with the in-app community for accountability.
Design Goal 3
Exclude social media to avoid distractions and enhance a personal, focused gratitude practice.
Eliminate Social Media:
Insights from check-ins and self-reflections will be analyzed to provide users with actionable insights, enhancing self-awareness and mindfulness.
Social Media Usage
Most Used Apps
Screen Time
3H 30M
/ 8 h
M
🔥
T
🔥
W
-
T
🔥
F
🔥
S
🔥
S
🔥
You are on a streak!
1 h 3 m
Opened 6 times
48m
Opened 3 times
Youtube
41m
Opened 4 times
34m
Opened 1 times
21m
Opened 2 times
Focus Mode
When Focus Mode is turned on all the social media apps are blocked
9:41
Home
Discover
Challenges
Community
Settings
Monitor and set daily limits for social media screen time.
Track progress with streaks.
Use focus mode to block social media apps and reduce distractions.
focus mode to block all the social media apps from using.
PROTOTYPE
IMPACT & RESULTS
User Feedback:
Positive feedback from 7 peers, highlighting clarity and engagement.
Design Efficiency:
Average task completion time of 2 minutes, with a 5% error rate.
Usability Testing:
Usability rating of 85/100 (System Usability Scale) and user satisfaction score of 4.5/5.
Learnings
Behavior-Focused Design:
Used psychological insights to drive positive behavioral changes.
Clear and Engaging Design:
Applied minimalist design principles to avoid clutter.
Balanced Features:
Merged simplicity with functionality for an enhanced user experience.
Theory Meets Practice:
Combined academic insights with practical strategies.
Quick Feedback Loop:
Utilized feedback to continuously refine the app.
Iterative Testing for Depth:
Improved usability and identified areas for deeper user engagement.
Powered by Curiosity, Late Nights, and Endless Iterations.
Karthik Anupindi – 2024
