VYBE
Rekindling Gratitude and Mindfulness in the Digital Age
Timeline:
6 Weeks
Team:
2 UX Researchers
2 UX Designer
My Role:
User Research
Product strategy
MVP Definition
Usability testing
Tools:
Figma
Miro
User research | Wireframing | UI Design | Prototyping
The Problem
Social media is supposed to connect us. But for many teens, it’s doing the opposite.
❌ Doomscrolling replaces mindfulness.
❌ Comparison culture kills gratitude.
❌ Screen time skyrockets, while real connections fade.
Teens are overstimulated yet disconnected. They crave a digital space that fosters positivity, but they don’t want another “self-improvement” app that feels like a chore.
Our challenge was to design a product from scratch that:
Provides engaging mindfulness experiences tailored for teens.
Creates a sense of personal progress, without turning into social media.
Uses habit-building techniques to encourage self-reflection.
The Challenge
How might we create a digital experience that encourages gratitude and mindfulness, without feeling like just another task?
Design Methodology
User Research
Data Synthesis
Ideation & Strategy
Design
User Testing
User Research
📌 Unbiased interviews with 8 individuals (students & working professionals) to uncover social media’s impact on gratitude and well-being.
📌 Behavioral analysis by observing users’ daily routines to identify patterns in their social media usage.
Competitive ANALYSIS:
We analyzed existing mindfulness apps (Calm, Headspace, and Stoic) to pinpoint gaps in engagement and retention.
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.
🔹 Gratitude needs to be effortless. If it feels like work, they won’t engage.
🔹 Reflection should fit into their routine. Long-form journaling is intimidating.
🔹 Social validation matters, but in a pressure-free way. Sharing gratitude should feel uplifting, not performative.
These insights shaped our core design principles: Simplicity, Engagement, and Habit-Formation.
KEY INSIGHTS:
Ideation & Strategy
“What if practicing gratitude was as easy as scrolling?”
That’s how Vybe was born.
After brainstorming multiple solutions, we tested three initial concepts:
1️⃣ Focused Device – A separate gadget to eliminate digital distractions.
2️⃣ Community Bracelet – A wearable that fosters connection through mindful gratitude sharing.
3️⃣ Gratitude Tracker – A mobile app that helps users track emotions, gratitude, and mindfulness.
If gratitude felt like a habit, not a task, teens would engage.
✅ Micro-reflection instead of journaling. Quick prompts, not essays.
✅ Private social sharing. Connect without pressure.
User feedback overwhelmingly favored the Gratitude Tracker, as it aligned with their existing digital habits without requiring additional hardware.
Community Bracelet
Focused Device
Gratitude Tracker
KEY DESIGN FEATURES:
🎯 1-minute Gratitude Prompts
→ Makes journaling less overwhelming.
🎯 Gamified Streaks
→ Encourages consistency by tracking gratitude check-ins.
🎯 Private Social Sharing
→ Share moments of gratitude without pressure.
Design Implementation
Sketching:
Utilized Crazy 8s and rapid prototyping to ideate and refine interface sections.
LO-FI WIREFRAMES:
DESIGN ITERATIONS:
ITERATION 1:
ITERATION 2:
🔹 Switched to dark mode for improved contrast and a more visually appealing experience.
🔹 Improved navigation clarity to reduce friction in journaling.
🔹Adjusted content hierarchy to balance structure and flexibility.
We went through two major design iterations, refining based on usability tests:
I led two rounds of usability testing with 15+ target users to refine the product. These are the insights:
🔹Calming Color Palette: Enhanced for a soothing visual experience.
🔹Optimized Homepage: Quick access to check-ins & social media tracking.
🔹Frictionless Check-Ins: Simplified process for effortless engagement.
🔹Gamification Boost: Streaks & progress tracking to encourage consistency.
🔹In-App Sharing: Community-driven reflections to reduce social media distractions.
Heuristic Evaluation and Think-Aloud Testing INSIGHTS:
Final Design
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
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Discover
Challenges
Community
Settings
Check-in for gratitude
Revisit of previous check-in entries
Daily reminders for check-in
Personalised questionnaire for
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
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Community
Settings
Self-reflection space with actionable insights for mindfulness.
Share your reflection here
250
Reflection Check-in
Use this space to reflect on how you’ve been feeling lately.
Save without notes
Save
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Community
Settings
Reflection Check-in
Home
You have earned a beginner badge
+100 XP
9:41
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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
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n
d
f
u
l
D
a
y
s
Mindful Minutes
8 hr 43 min
Challenges
6
XP Points
3546
Share with Community
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Challenges
Community
Settings
Track your progress and see your growth clearly.
Share your journey with the in-app community for accountability.
Social Media Usage
Most Used Apps
Screen Time
3H 30M
/ 8 h
M
🔥
T
🔥
W
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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
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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
Since this was an academic project, we couldn’t measure real-world metrics, but if launched, success would be measured through:
Impact & Business Value
📊 User Retention & Daily Engagement
→ Tracking how often users complete daily reflections.
📝 Satisfaction Score:
Using surveys & feedback to refine usability.
📉 Drop-Off Rates
→ Measuring where users disengage and optimizing the flow.
Future Developments
🔹 Freemium Model
→ Free access with premium personalization features.
🔹 Educational Partnerships
→ Collaborating with schools to integrate mindfulness practices.
🔹 Corporate Well-Being Expansion
→ A version tailored for young professionals facing burnout.
This project challenged me to:
🔍 Think beyond UI & focus on behavior-driven design.
⚡ Balance engagement with well-being, without turning it into a social platform.
🎯 Define a product strategy from scratch, considering both user needs and business goals.
🤝 Collaborate cross-functionally, incorporating feedback from users, peers, and mentors.
This project reinforced a critical lesson:
📌 The best UX doesn’t demand behavior change, it fits into existing habits.
Social media isn’t going away, but the way we use it can change.
Key Learnings & Takeaways
If You Like What You See...
Powered by Curiosity, Late Nights, and Endless Iterations
© Karthik Anupindi 2025
