A Self-Care app customized to you.
Whether you want to learn new self-care techniques or hold yourself accountable to new ones, it can be hard to stay current with treating yourself right due to the fast paced nature of today's world. Candle is a go-to resource for self-care resources such as Mindfulness, Exercise, Journaling, and Relaxation.
The challenge
User need
It can be hard to stay current with treating yourself right due to the fast paced nature of today's world.
Product need
Candle offers personalized self-care journeys initiated with a simple onboarding process utilizing guided surveys.
The approach
How might we help people build lasting self-care habits despite the fast pace of modern life?
Key insights
Findings from in-person and virtual user interviews conducted via Discord.
5 of 6 participants explained they had a hard time finding time to actualize their self care.
Popular categories of self-care included skin care, self-reflection, yoga, and mindfulness.
Interviewees were interested in how to build better discipline and space for their self care.
The desire to track and log self-care in order to structure and hold oneself accountable was expressed by several.
Process & iterations
Observing and iterating: research, brainstorming, and creative design.
Competitive analysis
In addition to interviewing users, I did competitive analysis via the SWOT method to break down what made some similar apps available, and what we could do differently.
Calm
- Meditations
- Sleep stories
- In house library of media
- Subscriptions offered
- Could offer more range of premium subscription
- Lacking free resources
Finch
- Gamified
- Personal experience
- Utilizing cute avatars
- No trial option
Headspace
- Relaxation based
- Name recognized content creators in house
- Subscriptions
- No workshops or community aspect
- UI could be improved
Shine
- Community focused
- Network of mentors
- Includes mental health focuses
- Limited free access
- Smaller "bite sized" lessons could be added
Brainstorming
I approached brainstorming from two perspectives — gathering inspiration to formulate an aesthetic for the look and feel, and sketching and storyboarding various journeys that users could take utilizing the app.
Low-fidelity wireframes
I created low fidelity wireframes of the flows I wanted to highlight based on my user research and competitive analysis.
Colors
I utilized colors that invoked a sense of calm. I leaned towards pastels and muted tones, while using colors that still instilled an energizing quality to the app.
Typography
I went with DM Sans, wanting to lean into an assertive but versatile font style that could anchor the entire Candle experience.
Logo
The logo for Candle was inspired by the unalome, an ancient symbol which represents the path to enlightenment. I reimagined the unalome in a simplified manner and added my own touch to it. All my sketching and composing of the logo was done in Adobe Illustrator.
Testing & outcomes
Actualization: prototyping and testing with real users.
Prototype
Utilizing my user research, wireframes, and branding, I created an initial prototype highlighting two user flows to test with users.
User testing
Via Discord, Figma, and OBS, I monitored and recorded users as they navigated the initial prototype for Candle.
By the numbers
Reflection
This was my first experience in creating an end to end mobile app and prototype. It gave me valuable experience building interfaces and interactions in Figma, as well as fuel for ideas moving forward.
