Ukiyo

Ukiyo

Ukiyo is a mindfulness app designed to help users build a habit of relaxation by blending mindful colouring and journaling techniques.

Ukiyo is a mindfulness app designed to help users build a habit of relaxation by blending mindful colouring and journaling techniques.

SCOPE

I designed an app from scratch focusing on an MVP. Key features included:

  • Sign-up and log-in

  • User flow for the main feature

  • Progress tracking

I designed an app from scratch focusing on an MVP. Key features included:


  • Sign-up and log-in

  • User flow for the main feature

  • Progress tracking

MY ROLE

UX Research, Ideation, Testing, Product Design,

TYPE & DURATION

Mobile Design

3 weeks

THE PROCESS

  1. DISCOVERY

RESEARCH GOAL

RESEARCH GOAL

Identify pain points and motivations around meditation and relaxation practices.


TARGET AUDIENCE

TARGET AUDIENCE

Adults aged 28-38 who have attempted meditation or other relaxation techniques to manage stress.

HYPOTHESIS

HYPOTHESIS

People struggle to make meditation a habit due to a lack of effective tools and techniques.

Secondary Research

Through secondary research, I explored the benefits of relaxation and meditation, finding that mindful colouring and journaling offer similar benefits, such as:


  • Reducing stress and anxiety

  • Improving sleep

  • Quieting the mind

  • Enhancing creativity

Competitor Analysis

I conducted a benchmark analysis of direct and indirect competitors to compare product features and relaxation techniques.

Interviews

Interviews with 8 participants explored topics such as:


  • Why people use relaxation techniques

  • Motivations for use

  • Methods and frequency of use

Key Insights

Limited knowledge about meditation leads users to use mediation in high-stress situations rather than as a regular practice.

Users desire a meditation habit but lose interest when stress decreases or boredom arises.

Many people use creative activities (e.g., painting, music) to reduce stress and value meditation’s introspective benefits.

  1. DEFINE

👎🏻 THE PROBLEM


People need accessible ways to incorporate relaxation into their daily routines to lower stress levels.


👉🏻 How might I help people adopt and sustain a habit of relaxation or meditation to manage stress effectively?

  1. IDEATE

User Journey

Developed a three-step user journey for the app:


  1. Welcome: Sign-up, login, and settings.

  2. Mindfulness Session: Daily colouring and journaling.

  3. Chill Out More Today: On-demand sessions.


Concept testing revealed the "AHA moment" occurs when users complete their first mindfulness session. A MoSCoW analysis prioritised the features for the MVP version.

Design

Drew inspiration from Japanese aesthetics, choosing a light colour palette for calm and harmony. The logo, inspired by the cherry blossom (Sakura), reflects Ukiyo's Japanese influence.


This moodboard led to design the principles for the app:

UI KIT

Using the moodboard and design principles, I created a UI kit that guided the app's screen designs.

  1. TEST & ITERATION

After creating the high-fidelity prototype, usability and desirability testing highlighted areas for iteration.

  1. HIGH FIDELITY PROTOTYPE

The final app version reflects improvements based on the feedback obtained from the usability and desirability testing, in particular the reaction card test and x5 seconds test.

OUTCOME

This project was one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences during my journey as a UX/UI designer. It provided the opportunity to design and develop an end-to-end app, allowing me to apply the full range of skills and tools I acquired during the bootcamp. I honed my ability to work with an MVP (Minimum Viable Product) mindset, focusing on prioritising essential features to ensure the product effectively addressed its core purpose.


From ideation to execution, building a product from scratch based on real-world problems uncovered during research deepened my appreciation for the vital role UX/UI designers play. This experience highlighted how thoughtful design can create meaningful, positive impact on people’s lives, reinforcing my passion for crafting user-centered solutions that solve genuine needs.