Inspired by the Hindi word for "care," Khyaal (kee-yah-al) aims to integrate self-care and mindfulness seamlessly into the fabric of everyday existence.
It's getting harder to find a good work-life balance.
Many young adults find it challenging to manage their daily routines and achieve a balance between work and personal life. As a result, they often experience stress, anxiety, and depression.
How can we promote health & wellness in today's working culture?
Scientific research has proven that plants possess the remarkable ability to relieve stress, instill a sense of purpose, and reconnect individuals with the natural world.
Young adults are suffering from lack of workplace stability and WFH environments.
Although many working individuals find it hard to find a good work-life balance, young adults in their twenties have the hardest time after transitioning from a school to college to a professional environment in the span of a few short years.I created two personas in age group in two environments to understand how to cater to their needs.
What opportunities are available during the workday for self-care?
One of the greatest challenges with taking “short breaks” to scroll through social media is the difficulty in stopping once you start; it often feels endless until you find the mental motivation to put your phone down. I recognized an opportunity to offer users definite, timed tasks that enable them to return to work rejuvenated and refreshed.
Apps are either tailored to mental health or plant care - but never both.
I checked out three apps that focus on plant care, self-care, and mental health that are currently on the market to see what they offer. I analyzed what makes them successful and studied user reviews to understand their experiences. I took the key elements from each app and used those ideas to guide my own design process.
Developing the right path to get users engaged.
Using the information collected during market research, I began ideating the interface of the application. I found a balance between plant care and self-care, intertwining the two between the pages until they became one.
Khyaal: prioritizing mindfulness and self-care in young adults
Getting acquainted
Users will get introduced to the application and its goals upon first download, giving them a brief overlook over the company’s goals and values. Finally, users will be guided to create an account to begin their self-healing journey
Adding a new plant
Once the user has created an account, they can pair their new plant to the app. To do this, they simply need to scan the QR code on top of the plant they ordered from the company.
Post-scan, users will receive an overview of the care instructions. All of the information in this section is simplified for two reasons. The first is to pique interest and get users excited to use the app. The second is to prevent users from getting overwhelmed by throwing large amounts of information at them.
Checking in with yourself
The Home tab acts as an overall overview of the user and their progress. This is where they’ll be able to check off their reminders and log how they’re feeling.
Discovering new practices
On the Discover tab, users will be able to learn and grow through the resources the app provides such as articles on plant care, meditation guides, etc. Through the users’ preferences as well as learning from their algorithm, the app will suggest videos, articles, and tips that refresh daily.
Excelling as a plant parent
The Collection page offers users a comprehensive hub where they can view their accumulated plants, access detailed information about each plant including its benefits, and obtain specific care instructions.
Additionally, users can track upcoming milestones related to their plants and easily report any issues or request additional assistance.
Reflection
Throughout this project, one of the most valuable insights I gained was the significance of visual design. Selecting the appropriate colors, fonts, and language plays a pivotal role in establishing a warm and inviting atmosphere for the user. It is crucial to foster an emotional connection between the user and the app, making them feel engaged and connected on a deeper level. From the high-fidelity user feedback, I gained valuable insight on how to create a smoother user flow and how to make the apps more suitable for a real-world scenario.
