Paix - Capstone Case Study

Paix is a mobile application that aides stress and anxiety with meditative games, music, journaling, and meaningful connections with friends. Paix provides resources and solutions to the user when they are struggling with emotional and mental health.

My Role

Research & Strategy
Wireframing
Branding
UI Design
Prototyping

Tools

Figma
Photoshop
Illustrator

Stress and anxiety affect over 40 million Americans over the age 18, the causes are abundant, and the solutions are scattered. There are times when stress and anxiety can leave a person feeling lonely and burdened with their thoughts. With that in mind, I designed Paix, a mobile application to serve as a space for the user to unravel their thoughts, chat with close friends, and seek resources for mental and behavioral health.

Discovery

I had the freedom to choose my own path for this project, and I had an idea of what “wellness app” should be, but it was paramount to gather more information to build a strong framework for the application.

I conducted an interview with 11 participants and one question changed the core of what Paix would be: “Would you like for your close friends to you know your emotional and mental state in-case you need a wellness check-in?”. I found that 55% of interviewees answered “Yes”. So my main goal was to design a feature that would allow the user to update and share their emotional and mental health that would only be visible to close friends. This feature would promote more worthwhile interactions and it would prompt the user to seek help either from friends or outside resources.

Sharing ones emotional and mental health is an intimate act, so it was important that I designed Paix in way where the user is in total control of every aspect of their interaction with the app. These initial sketches illustrate some key prompts and privacy options the user can clearly identify.

User Research

Part of my research plan, I conducted a second interview to discover what the participants have experienced with wellness apps and what they were missing from those experiences. The results of this interview also supported my competitive analysis of other wellness apps.

I was able to identify a common problem found in other wellness apps: the lack of variety within a single app. 64% of interviewees wished for more than one or two features from a wellness app, often these apps are composed of mostly games or meditative music/talks.

Persona

After synthesizing interview insights and comparing two pre-existing wellness apps, I formulated the profile of the ideal user:

Design

One challenge was creating a flow that was intuitive and effortless. I utilized a site map to help define a navigational hierarchy. There are three main pages that can be accessed on a sticky navigation bar.

By default, the app opens up to the interactive page where they can either play games or release an anonymous note into the Ether.

The second page is the profile page where the user can message their friends, update their wellness status and change app settings. Here they can create journal entries that are private or viewable to their circle of friends. Users can access their journal entries and Ether history, friends profiles and messages.

The third page provides mental and behavioral health resources. The suicide hotline number is always accessible to the user as well. The user can find therapy offices, meditation centers and clinics near them.

Color

For wellness app, I wanted the color selection evoke a feeling of calmness. The overall composition reflects muted colors, but does not confuse the user with active or non-active buttons or actions.

Thoughtful Design Elements

Some design elements I’m most proud of are the prompts that check in with the user. While other prompts hold the user accountable when interacting with the anonymous Ether chat room.

Safety & Accountability

The priority of Paix is to act as a guardian and gatekeeper of this digital space, which is visible in the call-to-actions throughout

Designed to help

I am pleased with the final result of this mobile application; it embodies everything the modern user in a digital world needs when it comes to mental and emotional health. Human centric design is represented not only through the ease of usability but also through thoughtful functionality. Paix proves that we can connect differently and more intimately with ourselves and with close friends. This project defined what it means to design with empathy and I discovered how a meaningful experience on the digital platform can enhance connections and interactions. I look forward to working on future projects that align with my values as a UX designer.

To explore my final prototype, please click here.