The problem:
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At the start of the project, the app’s design had already been initiated by a previous designer. However, as the company continued to grow and introduce new features, the original layout began to feel cluttered and difficult to navigate.
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The home screen, in particular, became overwhelmed with content, making it hard for users to focus or find what they needed. My challenge was to simplify the experience, while ensuring that the interface remained peaceful and intuitive, in line with the app’s purpose.
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Understanding the user
User research
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I have conducted both primary and secondary research in order to identify pain points and positive experiences users have when using meditation apps.
Through user interviews and app store review analysis, I noticed that many users, especially busy parents like Martha, often struggle with apps that require too much setup or have overwhelming home screens.
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On the other hand, users responded positively to apps that offered short, guided sessions. These insights helped shape our design decisions, focusing on simplicity, and a soothing user experience.
Pain points
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​Users are overwhelmed by Expensive subscriptions
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Complex or cluttered interfaces
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Users often struggle to find sessions that match their mood, time, or experience level.
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Apps that require a constant internet connection can be frustrating for users with limited data or poor signal
Persona
Problem statement:
Martha wants to feel like she’s not alone in her struggles and hopes the app can offer emotional support and peace of mind, without adding to her financial stress.
User journey
map
Mapping Martha's user journey revealed how helpful it would be for users to have a simplified home page and a longer period of free trial.
Creating Solutions
Competitor's Strengths
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These apps have been on the market for years, giving them credibility and a loyal user base.
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They invest heavily in marketing, with clean, calming branding and well-targeted ads that make them feel premium and trustworthy.
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By featuring celebrities, respected psychologists, or spiritual teachers, they draw in users who feel curious or reassured by familiar voices
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They offer a huge variety of meditations, courses, music, and sleep content, which makes users feel like they’re getting value and always have something new to explore.
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The design feels premium, which creates a positive emotional experience
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Insight Timer lets users comment, join groups, or even host live sessions
Competitor's Weaknesses
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Many users feel frustrated by how limited the free content is. A lot of popular or helpful features are locked behind high-priced subscriptions
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While having lots of content is a strength, it can also be a downside. New or busy users often feel lost, unsure where to start or what’s best for their current mood or time available.
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Despite large libraries, the experience can still feel “one-size-fits-all.” Users often wish the app better understood their goals, moods, or routines to suggest more relevant sessions.
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Some screens feel visually busy, which can be the opposite of relaxing. Users might feel mentally overloaded just trying to pick a session.
Starting the design
Digital wireframes
At the top, a large container displays the current date and a short daily quote, something uplifting and quick to read, even during a busy commute.
Below, a minimal
preview of the daily zodiac, without cluttering the interface
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To support accessibility and encourage engagement, the home screen continues with a clean preview list of free audio files, even though the company offers one year of free access
The bottom section
highlights four core categories: Meditation, Healing, Sleep, & Stories so that the users can navigate directly to the content they need.
Below that, there's another list with bigger content collections. It's easy to scroll through and keeps the screen clean, so users can explore more without feeling overwhelmed.
Next steps
Final thoughts
With the next steps I would put more work with the brand itself and improve the motion design throughout the app.
It was a real pleasure working on this project, especially knowing it helps people find moments of peace in their busy lives.