In summer 2024, I interned with Airy as a UX/UI designer, focusing on their visual systems to enhance the user experience. Airy is a journaling app that offers young adults increased mental and emotional clarity through personalized, guided reflection sessions. In a team of four designers, we spent 9 weeks iterating and creating new, research-driven designs.
Our goal for this project was to design a reflective journaling app aimed at improving mental wellness. Many individuals seek to address mental health challenges independently but often lack effective strategies to do so. Given the high costs and long wait times associated with traditional therapy sessions—averaging $150 per session and a 51-day wait—we aimed to provide a more accessible solution. Our design team focused on creating personalized and easily accessible reflection sessions, enabling users to identify, understand, and grow from mental health challenges before they escalate into serious issues.
Before diving in, we wanted to understand pre-existing systems and why users chose to journal. What were the majority’s expectations in terms of both experience and outcome? Through competitor analysis, we highlighted seven key reasons:
1. Emotional Outlet: Journaling provides a safe space to express and release emotions.
2. Self-Reflection: It allows users to reflect on their thoughts, behaviors, and patterns.
3. Creativity: Journaling stimulates creativity by providing a space for free expression.
4. Stress Reduction: The action can reduce stress and anxiety by offloading worries.
5. Goal Setting/Tracking: Journaling helps set, track, and achieve personal goals.
6. Problem-Solving: It aids in breaking down and solving problems by writing them out.
7. Mental Clarity: Journaling can help clear the mind and organize thoughts.
Then, we noted the strengths and weaknesses of both indirect and direct competitors to identify critical areas of focus for enhancing Airy. Ensuring ease of use, offering extensive customization, providing reliable customer support, and prioritizing user privacy are crucial.
Then came the questions of an ideal journaling platform. What are some barriers and benefits associated with journaling? Based on these experiences, what features would you like to see to improve your experience? To answer these questions, we conducted 8 in-person interviews at the Skandalaris Research Center. Some repetitive ideas were taken out as areas of further investigation.
Gathering our research, we realized that our main problem was to implement three key ideas: 1) Simplicity, 2) Personalization, and 3) Growth. First, the interface of the app needed to be easy to use and accessible at all times, considering that young adults are mostly occupied during working hours. Second, since young adults have diverse needs, the app had to be personalized to cater to their individual preferences. Third, Airy needed to provide users with feedback and indicators of growth, whether in the short term or long term.
To provide a comprehensive understanding of our target user’s goals, pain points, emotions, and behaviors. This detailed profile will help us tailor our product features, marketing strategies, and user interactions to better meet the needs and expectations of our target audience.
Working with a real stakeholder meant having iterations until the majority approved. The first iteration was a low fidelity sketch consisting of features we believed were needed. We listed out the features and created a site map of the user flow to try testing the clarity to users before proceeding.
As we tested our wireframes, we came across a variety of feedback from areas of opportunities to confusion. Some believed the call-to-action was weak and some felt the intuitivity was unclear. After five design iterations, we soon pinpointed the main confusion for our target users: Being able to differentiate AI guided sessions vs. our journal entries. So we brainstormed further to understand how to keep them in the same timeline while dividing the two ideas.
After multiple rounds of user testing and iterations, we settled on a specific user flow that meets both user needs and business goals. This design was reviewed and approved by our business and engineering teams for the initial launch of the app.
Airy is designed to democratize mental wellness by making reflection as natural as conversation. Whether you're looking to quickly jot down a note, reflect deeply on your day, or capture a fleeting moment with a photo, Airy accommodates your needs with a seamless, intuitive interface. With Airy, you can maintain a consistent journaling habit that is both productive and enjoyable. We envision a future where self-discovery is enjoyable, personal growth is effortless, and mental well-being is truly accessible to all—one conversation at a time.
For our logo, we simplified our main feature, "Airy"—the AI assistant—and tucked it inside a pocket, representing the ease with which users can carry their reflections anywhere. Our main color is peach (#FBA898), often associated with warmth, comfort, and positivity, aligning with our goal of creating a welcoming and supportive journaling experience.
When users first download the app, we ask them to create an account to ensure their progress is backed up in case it is lost. Then, we navigate them through a couple of quick questions regarding their intentions for downloading Airy and their notification preferences. This allows us to ensure that Airy is as personalized as possible for the user before they begin.
On the homepage, we provide users with a clear layout and call-to-action. Users can select between a guided session, which includes questions and analysis, or a free-write session for self-reflection. When users complete a session, they can see the entry in their timeline. After many iterations, we determined that a timeline would be the best way to organize their entries throughout the day. Sliding left and right allows users to navigate between dates.
Guided sessions, our most crucial feature, offer personalized AI-guided conversations for reflection. Users can select from a variety of personalized sessions that align with their current emotions and state.
During the session, the AI assistant engages with the user by actively listening, asking questions, providing advice, and reflecting with the user. The questions are designed to be open-ended, encouraging users to explore solutions without restricting their options. At the end of each session, the app generates a comprehensive analysis, which includes suggested actions, mood analysis, goal setting, motivational quotes, and a text transcript of the conversation. This analysis helps users reflect on their session and provides actionable insights for continued growth and understanding.
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However, there are times when users want to reflect on their own with a simple journaling session. To meet this need, I aimed to make the design as clear and simple as possible. Free-Write sessions provide users with a way to quickly record, write, or photograph their thoughts. After completing a journal entry, users are navigated back to the home screen without a detailed analysis, giving them the free self-reflection space they desire.
Through this case study, I have gained valuable insights into the design process and the challenges faced in balancing user experience with practical constraints. One key lesson was the impact of business restrictions, including engineering limitations and cost considerations, on the final design. It became clear that while striving to create an ideal user experience, it’s crucial to acknowledge these constraints and explore how to maximize design effectiveness within these bounds.
Additionally, I realized the importance of focusing on a single, clear goal rather than overwhelming users with numerous features. While it’s tempting to include a wide array of functionalities, an app with a well-defined purpose is often more user-friendly and effective. Simplifying the user experience can prevent confusion and ensure that the core features stand out.
Overall, this project has reinforced the importance of balancing design ambition with practical limitations and focusing on clarity to deliver a more intuitive and engaging user experience.
