Research & Insights

I started by looking into user emotions and friction in existing meditation apps. Online forums, app reviews, and early interview feedback highlighted common blockers: the feeling of being overwhelmed by features, anxiety around performance, and lack of personalization.

These findings informed design decisions including:
• Simple onboarding that encourages a daily practice loop
• Short sessions styled for clarity and calm
• Feedback that emphasizes progress rather than perfection
• Visual metaphors that connect session completion to tree planting

Personas

I developed two core user profiles to keep design grounded in real needs:

Sara, Busy Professional Seeking Calm
Sara handles a demanding job and rarely finds time for reflection. She needs an app that lets her meditate quickly, with clear feedback and no overwhelm.

Mark, Conscious Young Adult
Mark wants to build mindfulness, support the environment, and see visible impact. He responds best to playful progress indicators tied to real outcomes.

These personas shaped onboarding flows, level progression, and feedback tone across the UI.

Information Architecture & User Flows

To create a smooth habit-building path, I mapped mobile-first flows around these user journeys:

• Simple signup and onboarding
• Daily meditation session with minimal overhead
• Post-session feedback screen showing trees planted and streaks
• Growth tab with long-term progress tracking
• Settings and support menus for optional personalization

Each flow was designed to minimize friction and keep users engaged with positive reinforcement.

Wireframes & Prototyping

Low‑fidelity wireframes played a key role in the early stages of the design process. They allowed me to explore different layout options quickly and iterate on ideas without getting caught up in visual details. I focused on structuring core screens like the session interface, progress tracking, and feedback moments. This phase helped validate the overall information hierarchy and flow, ensuring that users could easily navigate and understand the experience.

Once the foundational structure felt solid, I transitioned into high‑fidelity mockups. These were designed with real content and visuals to reflect the brand tone and personality more accurately. I also created interactive mobile prototypes to simulate real user interactions, enabling smoother communication with stakeholders and faster usability testing.

Interaction design was central to this phase. I paid special attention to refining tap interactions, micro-animations, and transitions, especially for progress indicators, session feedback, and subtle state changes. The goal was to create a sense of calm and momentum throughout the journey. By prototyping and testing these motion details, I ensured that the experience felt purposeful, fluid, and encouraging, even during moments of user hesitation or cognitive load.

Visual Design & Habit Feedback

The UI features a clean, soft palette with calming tones and gentle motion. Rounded elements and clear type hierarchy support ease of use. After each session, users receive feedback through a visual tree growth metaphor, streak trackers, and mood notes. These micro interactions reinforce a sense of accomplishment and connection to the app’s mission.

Both light and dark modes were designed to ensure comfort at different times of day and environments. Typography and contrast rules were selected with accessibility and readability in mind.

Developer Handoff

Design files were structured with reusable components, naming conventions, and mobile-first auto layouts. All screen interactions and state behaviors were documented in a style guide. I collaborated directly with developers to clarify animations, transitions, and logic behind feedback flows.

Results & Impact

Initial feedback from beta users suggested high emotional engagement and ease of use. Users cited that the tree planting feedback felt motivating and distinct from typical meditation apps. In discussions, users shared comments such as “I feel good after every session” and “seeing my tree grow makes a difference.”

These insights confirmed that the design not only supports mindfulness but also drives connection and retention through real-world impact.