Scribble is an interactive journaling and mental wellness application that helps you take charge of your mental wellbeing, Feelings can be tricky; which is why Scribble aims to provide you with wellness companions that guide you through the ups and downs of life. No matter how you feel Scribble is here to assist you by demonstrating progress, helping you cope with your feelings and motivating you at every step of the way.
At present, there are 315,000 mental health apps available on the app store. Yet most of them end up being downloaded and eventually unused as they fail to meet the users' needs. Apps have the potential to offer high-efficiency mental health interventions only when coupled with self-monitoring characteristics, immediate feedback, patient involvement, and relief options. The challenge was to promote mental wellness through journaling while being mindful of a sensitive audience with diverse needs.
The objective was to produce a universal experience that solved the gap left behind by other applications yet appealed to a wider demographic. As a UI/UX designer, I took on the responsibility of designing an innovative solution from start to finish backed by research and strategic planning. The preliminary research revealed that most mental wellness applications limit themselves by being a wellness coach or an expert, but fail to act as an emotional companion. To design a product that was user-centric yet distinct from its rivals, Scribble was positioned as a mental wellness companion that checked in with its users, guided them through their ups and downs, and provided them relief options that were tailored to their every mood.
To evaluate the user’s usage patterns, requirements, & pain points, 200 consumers’ reviews from several mood tracking and journaling apps were randomly extracted from the app stores for analysis. The analysis revealed that most consumers' experiences could be classified into three key factors i.e. the motivation behind using the application, the current app usage and desired features.
To identify the problem areas, define requirements and improve the process of journaling/mood tracking, a semi-structured interview was conducted. The interview candidates comprised 4 mental health experts (with 5 or more years of experience) and 8 participants who used some tool or another to track their physical, mental and emotional well-being. The research findings were then synthesized and analyzed to define the need. The analysis revealed that very few behavioral/mental applications out there met the fundamental quality requirements. It was noticed that the motivation to use the app was often lost due to lack of variety, personalization and unavailability of relief options. These requirements were then translated into the goals that needed to be accomplished. Some of the basic goals were:
Scribble aims to make data collection time-efficient yet fun. With a simple two-step entry process, users can journal and track their mood on-the-go. They also have the flexibility to personalize their entries using emoticons, notes, pictures, and voice recordings.
Scribble understands the importance of instant feedback and relief options. Hence, it provides users with customized relief options that are catered to their every mood. These relief options are in the form of music, advice, games, wellness programs, and professional counseling.
Scribble helps users take charge of their mental wellness using interactive graphs and charts. By converting the data collected into graphs, tables, and other visualizations; Scribble makes it easy for users to comprehend their behavior, identify triggers, view patterns, and track progress.
Goals help you stay focused, set the stage for active reflection, and enhance mental wellness. Hence, Scribble suggests several goals to help users feel empowered and in control of their mental, physical, and emotional health.
Character strengths and a gamified approach encompass about 60-70% of the programming and interventions that make up positive psychotherapy beneficial for people suffering from depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, and borderline personality. As a result, Scribble makes use of a gamified approach to guide users on a wellness journey that can positively impact their mood.
I create meaningful & interactive experiences through design. My prior experience as a Business Analyst combined with my skills as a UI/UX designer gives me the unique ability to analyze both client and user needs to come up with creative solutions.
