Designing KeepOn: A Minimal Interface for Maximum Emotional Impact
Designing KeepOn: A Minimal Interface for Maximum Emotional Impact
This case study explores how design decisions — from tone of voice to interaction patterns — helped shape KeepOn into a supportive, approachable tool for daily mental health. The goal: create a product that feels calm, consistent, and genuinely useful without overwhelming the user.
This case study explores how design decisions — from tone of voice to interaction patterns — helped shape KeepOn into a supportive, approachable tool for daily mental health. The goal: create a product that feels calm, consistent, and genuinely useful without overwhelming the user.
KeepOn is a mindfulness app designed to support users in building mental resilience through simple, daily interactions. This case study dives into the design process, highlighting how thoughtful user experience and intentional design choices created a product that integrates seamlessly into daily life, providing ongoing value without overwhelming the user.
KeepOn is a mindfulness app designed to support users in building mental resilience through simple, daily interactions. This case study dives into the design process, highlighting how thoughtful user experience and intentional design choices created a product that integrates seamlessly into daily life, providing ongoing value without overwhelming the user.
Problem
Users often struggle to maintain mental resilience with complex, overwhelming tools. There’s a need for a simple, effective product that fits into daily routines, offering support without adding stress or friction.
Who is our customer
Who is our customer
Good mental health and balanced mind is an essential need regardless of age, gender or race. Hence, our customer is everyone. A question remains, what our customers have in common?
Good mental health and balanced mind is an essential need regardless of age, gender or race. Hence, our customer is everyone. A question remains, what our customers have in common?
Our customers suffer from an occassional anxiety, as a result of social or economic pressure
Our customers suffer from an occassional anxiety, as a result of social or economic pressure
Our customers are resolved to take an action to improve their mental health
Our customers are resolved to take an action to improve their mental health
Our customers are/were users of self-help/mindfulness apps
Our customers are/were users of self-help/mindfulness apps
Who are we up against?
Who are we up against?
The market with self-help, mindfulness and mood tracking apps has seen a massive increase in demand lately. Companies invest great efforts into offering their users the best experience possible across different self-help practices.
The market with self-help, mindfulness and mood tracking apps has seen a massive increase in demand lately. Companies invest great efforts into offering their users the best experience possible across different self-help practices.
Hypothesis
If we create a simple, intuitive product that supports daily mental resilience with minimal effort, users will engage consistently and experience a positive impact on their well-being.
Solution
Mood tracking: Allows users to log and monitor their emotional states over time.
Meditation Sessions: Offers guided meditation to support mindfulness practices.
AI-Driven Chatbot: Provides personalized support and guidance to help users build mindful habits.
Personalized Focus Areas: Enables users to select specific areas to concentrate on, tailoring their experience to individual needs.
Atomic Habit Building: Facilitates the development of small, consistent habits that contribute to overall mental well-being
Mood tracking: Allows users to log and monitor their emotional states over time.
Meditation Sessions: Offers guided meditation to support mindfulness practices.
AI-Driven Chatbot: Provides personalized support and guidance to help users build mindful habits.
Personalized Focus Areas: Enables users to select specific areas to concentrate on, tailoring their experience to individual needs.
Atomic Habit Building: Facilitates the development of small, consistent habits that contribute to overall mental well-being
Research
Competitive Analysis
Survey
Interviews
Affinity Mapping
Personas
User Journeys
User Flows
Design
Informed Brainstorming
Information Architecture
Card Sorting
Wireframing
User Feedback
High-fi Design + Prototyping
Design System
Testing
Usability Testing
Design Iterations
Next Steps
Driving through competitor benchmark, discovery interviews and surveys
Driving through competitor benchmark, discovery interviews and surveys
Competitor benchmark
Competitor benchmark
In order to understand current market state, I took my research into two different directions. First, I analysed self-help applications, that provided features combining mood tracking and psychological advisory:
Sanvello
Moodfit
Headspace
Insight Timer
Calm
In order to understand current market state, I took my research into two different directions. First, I analysed self-help applications, that provided features combining mood tracking and psychological advisory:
Sanvello
Moodfit
Headspace
Insight Timer
Calm
Survey
I have taken my research a step further to confirm whether the selected features align with what users actually expect from self-help applications.
The top mindfulness app activities include meditation, exercise, habit tracking, and breathing exercises.
The top mindfulness app features include personalization, gamification, daily check-ins, and reminders.
Chatbot feature deemed valuable prop for user x app interactions
Apps do not provide for individualiszd needs of people in regards to age, gender or race
I have taken my research a step further to confirm whether the selected features align with what users actually expect from self-help applications.
#1
The top mindfulness app activities include meditation, exercise, habit tracking, and breathing exercises.
#2
The top mindfulness app features include personalization, gamification, daily check-ins, and reminders.
#3
Chatbot feature deemed valuable prop for user x app interactions.
#4
Apps do not provide for individualiszd needs of people in regards to age, gender or race.
Discovery interviews
I conducted user interviews online with 3 participants. As a result of the survey), I conducted an additional in-person interview with a BiPOC transgender woman to investigate potential inclusivity biases.
I conducted user interviews online with 3 participants. As a result of the survey), I conducted an additional in-person interview with a BiPOC transgender woman to investigate potential inclusivity biases.
Key takeaways
Accountability
Being held accountable for one's progress is a strong motivator for staying consistent and maintaining a healthy routine.
All-in-one solution
Meditating, tracking mood, and monitoring progress make improvement easier and more motivating & reduces screen time.
Personal support
Motivation decreases over time, but having a support partner to discuss emotions can boost it.
Emphatising with personas through journey mapping
To synthesize my research findings, I have defined 3 distinct user personas to better understand and clearly define their goals, needs, and frustrations, ultimately providing the best possible solution with the KeepOn app. For this presentation, I have selected one persona to showcase my design approach.
Foundations of design explorations through user journeys and lo-fi prototype
Foundations of design explorations through user journeys and lo-fi prototype
I've built 2 user journeys to map out user experience for 2 flows: Setting up Sleeping routine and Sleeping routine itself, in order to capture a holistic experience of this feature. Subsequently, I created low to mid-fidelity wireframes that I further tested with several users.
Quick ideation
To better understand how the experience could be shaped, I designed key screens within the Sleep regimen flow, mapping out each step of the configuration process in the UI.
To better understand how the experience could be shaped, I designed key screens within the Sleep regimen flow, mapping out each step of the configuration process in the UI.
Mid-fidelity prototype to validate assumptions
Mid-fidelity prototype to validate assumptions
Quick sketches served as a foundation for mid-fidelity prototype that I tested with selected testers.
I paid close attention to each error and, based on how frequently it was mentioned during testing, organized them into a Rainbow Chart according to their severity levels.
Usability testing with mid-fidelity protoype
Usability testing with mid-fidelity protoype
I conducted six usability tests with participants from diverse backgrounds and varying app usage patterns — including two in-person sessions and four remote (online) sessions.
Usability testing on the mobile version of the KeepOn app was predominantly focusing on the core features. Participants were given a series of direct and scenario-based tasks designed to reveal potential usability issues and friction points in the user experience.
All usability test findings were synthesized into an affinity map, categorized into Positive Quotes, Negative Quotes, Observations, and Errors.
I've organized feedback using a PME method to better understand potential improvements opportunities:
Distinction between Sleep tracker setup and a Sleep routine unclear
AI assistant lacking contextuality and connection to othe features
Cluttered user dashboard
Other minor usability issues
To prioritize improvements, I then organized the identified usability issues into a Rainbow Spreadsheet using Jakob Nielsen’s Severity Rating Scale, based on how frequently each issue occurred across sessions.I've organized feedback using a PME method to better understand potential improvements opportunities:
Sleep tracker.
I've organized feedback using a PME method to better understand potential improvements opportunities:
Distinction between Sleep tracker setup and a Sleep routine unclear
AI assistant lacking contextuality and connection to othe features
Cluttered user dashboard
Other minor usability issues
Iterations based on user feedback
After a thorough review of user feedback, I implemented changes that streamlined the overall experience, allowing users to complete tasks step by step with greater clarity. I also refined the UI to ensure visual consistency and balance across all features, creating a more cohesive and intuitive interface.
Sleep tracker
All participants (P1–P6) reported limited understanding of the Sleep Tracker feature. The concentration of multiple functionalities on a single screen led to confusion and prevented users from easily completing their intended task.
The Sleep Tracker flow was redesigned to focus on a single primary task: setting an Alarm and Bedtime. Optional steps — such as mood logging or selecting a sleep meditation — were made non-blocking, allowing users to complete the core flow without distraction while still offering added value when desired.
Mood tracker
To confirm the findings from the usability test about mood tracker not being intuitive enough when it comes to selecting users' emotions, I conducted additional A/B test via Usability hub to understand how does a simple 5 emotions widget compares to the 'emotion wheel'. The test confirmed that selecting a 'top level' emotion first and subsequently selectring additional ones if needed, proved to be a a valid solution.
Home Dashboard revamp
By integrating user statistics directly into the home screen, the dashboard becomes immediately actionable. Users can now view and customize their mindfulness stats at a glance, while also accessing shortcuts to key features like mood tracking or ongoing meditation challenges.
Iterations based on user feedback
After a thorough review of user feedback, I implemented changes that streamlined the overall experience, allowing users to complete tasks step by step with greater clarity. I also refined the UI to ensure visual consistency and balance across all features, creating a more cohesive and intuitive interface.
Sleep tracker
All participants (P1–P6) reported limited understanding of the Sleep Tracker feature. The concentration of multiple functionalities on a single screen led to confusion and prevented users from easily completing their intended task.
The Sleep Tracker flow was redesigned to focus on a single primary task: setting an Alarm and Bedtime. Optional steps — such as mood logging or selecting a sleep meditation — were made non-blocking, allowing users to complete the core flow without distraction while still offering added value when desired.
Mood tracker
To confirm the findings from the usability test about mood tracker not being intuitive enough when it comes to selecting users' emotions, I conducted additional A/B test via Usability hub to understand how does a simple 5 emotions widget compares to the 'emotion wheel'. The test confirmed that selecting a 'top level' emotion first and subsequently selectring additional ones if needed, proved to be a a valid solution.
Home Dashboard revamp
By integrating user statistics directly into the home screen, the dashboard becomes immediately actionable. Users can now view and customize their mindfulness stats at a glance, while also accessing shortcuts to key features like mood tracking or ongoing meditation challenges.
Final designs
It was crucial to prioritize user feedback to enhance the core product experience. I focused on two key features - Sleep feature setup and daily reminders and AI chat bot, making targeted iterations to ensure seamless user flows.
Sleep tracker setup
Sleep tracker setup
User feedback: "Do I need to create a new routine every time I go to sleep? That's annoying."
In the new implementation, the Sleep Tracker setup will only be available when the feature is first opened. Once the Sleep Routine is set up, the user will be directed to the app's statistics, with the option to adjust the Sleep Routine if needed.
User feedback: "Do I need to create a new routine every time I go to sleep? That's annoying."
In the new implementation, the Sleep Tracker setup will only be available when the feature is first opened. Once the Sleep Routine is set up, the user will be directed to the app's statistics, with the option to adjust the Sleep Routine if needed.
Sleep routine
Sleep routine
User feedback: "I expect to find sleep statistics in the 'Sleep' section. Setting it up as the first action to take feels a bit misleading."
I realized that the prototype testing lacked a complete flow for the sleep routine. I've decided to create an iteration that includes the full experience, including app notifications, sleep statistics, alarms, and journaling.
User feedback: "I expect to find sleep statistics in the 'Sleep' section. Setting it up as the first action to take feels a bit misleading."
I realized that the prototype testing lacked a complete flow for the sleep routine. I've decided to create an iteration that includes the full experience, including app notifications, sleep statistics, alarms, and journaling.
AI chatbot
AI chatbot
User feedback: "How can I benefit from the AI chatbot. Is it learning from our conversations?"
I needed to ensure, that based on the prototype itself, it's clear that the chatbot actually learns from the users and provides them tailored advice and recommendations. I've decided to emulate specific conversations to give users a feeling that the chatbot actually listens and learns.
User feedback: "How can I benefit from the AI chatbot. Is it learning from our conversations?"
I needed to ensure, that based on the prototype itself, it's clear that the chatbot actually learns from the users and provides them tailored advice and recommendations. I've decided to emulate specific conversations to give users a feeling that the chatbot actually listens and learns.