A WatchOS App Revolutionizing Meditation and Mental Wellness

How we transformed thousands of restless minds into calmful souls with a simple WatchOS solution.

UI UX case study for Apple watchOS app UI UX by Harshana Gamage

Mindful Minute Apple watchOS app UI/UX

Find calm, find yourself with Mindful Minute 🧘‍♀️
Market research
Competitive analysis
User survey
Personas
Flow diagrams
Design System
High-fidelity UI
Prototype
Usability study
Accessibility Check
Where
Jönköping, Sweden
What
Apple watchOS app UI design
Why
Provide a simple meditation app
Role
Designer, researcher
Category
Health & fitness, Lifestyle
When
Sep 2023 - Oct 2023

What is the "Mindful Minute" project about

Health and fitness apps, particularly meditation apps, have gained attention from individuals seeking to enhance their mental and physical well-being in today’s busy life. This case study is dedicated to researching meditation and mindfulness services, aiming to offer a straightforward and user-friendly solution for customers.

Inspired by the commitment to mental well-being, my watchOS app, designed for the health and lifestyle category, aligns with the philosophy of Mindful Minute. The project integrates features like daily reminders for meditation tips, guided daily meditation training, mindfulness exercise practices, and easy goal-setting and achievement. This app goes beyond the ordinary – it’s a silent companion on the user’s wrist, ensuring they never miss a moment of mindfulness amidst life’s chaos.

Why I designed an Apple WatchOS app?

Apple Watch and other smartwatches are gaining popularity due to their simplicity in performing tasks. Drawing insights from these trends, this case study presents a watchOS app UI design tailored to provide users with an ever-present tool for prioritizing wellness in their fast-paced lives. By seamlessly integrating personalized mindfulness exercises into daily routines, this app commits to guiding users towards a healthier mental state, offering moments of calm and enhancing mental resilience for navigating life’s challenges with ease.

Market research​

Market overview

Embarking on this journey, I initiated the collection and analysis of prevailing services in the market, exploring the current demand for meditation-related services worldwide. Through this enlightening research, I discovered a substantial surge in both demand and search volume for the term “mindfulness” over the past 16 years on a global scale, revealing a harmonious evolution in the world’s pursuit of serenity and self-discovery.
Google search for mindfulness worldwide - UI UX case study done by Harshana Gamage

According to my researches 53% of US senior citizens meditate at least once a week.

One of the mindfulness facts and statistics worth considering in the US region is that, although everyone is practicing meditation weekly, individuals aged 65 and above are devoting more time. Specifically, 19% of those aged 18-29 practice meditation, 28% of individuals aged 30-49 engage in meditation, and a noteworthy 53% of those aged 65 and older practice meditation.
Age demographics of American citizens that meditate - case study by Harshana Gamage

Analyze the demand on the world

Below map displaying searches for “mindfulness” among different countries. Darken shade of color translates to higher volume of searches for a specific country.

Analyze the demand on the world

Below map displaying searches for “mindfulness” among different countries. Darken shade of color translates to higher volume of searches for a specific country.

Countries with the most searches

1. Ireland
2. Denmark
3. Netherlands
4. Sweden
5. New Zealand
6. Australia
7. United Kingdom
8. Norway
9. Spain
10. Finland

The claim

The number of meditating users in the US has risen by 3 times since 2012.
According to mindfulness facts and statistics, American users are found to be spending heavily on these meditation applications, which earn money by subscription and other such monetization strategies. In fact, it has been found that the US self-care app market will be worth $2.08 billion by the end of 2022.

The problem

Despite observed results, many individuals either avoid proper mindfulness exercises or lack necessary guidance for effective meditation. Some cite time constraints as a hindrance, preventing engagement in these practices. Consequently, a significant portion of the population misses out on full mindfulness and meditation benefits.
The main issue is the lack of convenient solutions or watchOS app solutions in many services in the current market.

Competitive analysis

I undertook an evaluation of the three most widely used mindfulness & meditation related applications. This analysis encompassed a thorough examination of the mindfulness exercises, users’ willingness and consistency in utilizing the app, the efficacy of goal setting and accomplishment, & a scrutiny of negative feedback on both app stores to discern recurring patterns.

Breethe - Meditation & Sleep
  • Relaxation Music and Sleep Sounds
  • Curated playlists for different moods, occasions, and customization.
  • Narrated stories and meditations for a deep night’s sleep.
  • Bedtime Visualizations: Guidance for absorbing healing messages to fall asleep.
Headspace Care (Ginger)​
  • Real-time, text-based coaching available 24/7 for immediate care.
  • Trained professionals with advanced degrees and/or coaching certification.
  • Video-based sessions with licensed therapists and psychiatrists.
  • Available in Spanish for individuals aged 18 and older through employers.
Calm - Sleep, Meditate, Relax
  • Meditate with seasoned experts, regardless of your experience level
  • Sleep soundly listening to Sleep Stories, bedtime stories for adults & children
  • Stress management and relaxation with daily meditation and breathing exercises
  • Emotion and mental health tracker through Daily Streaks

Problems found from the customers’ comments

User survey

I conducted a brief survey on Twitter among individuals currently engaged in mindfulness exercises and meditation. The aim was to gather insights into their current meditation practices, understand any challenges hindering expected results, and collect suggestions to enhance the ease and regularity of their exercises.

How I did the Twitter Survey.

How I did the Twitter Survey.

Result

I got 52 participants for the survey, and it was a success.

Feedback from participants

Feedback from participants for my survey

Final outcome from my research

My research shows that an increasing number of people are seeking a super-convenient, user-friendly, and easily accessible service with daily tracking to monitor their progress. Many start using a meditation or mindfulness app but eventually abandon it due to inconvenience, leading to a loss of motivation. The essence is to engage in meditation and mindfulness activities without experiencing any stress.

Personas created for the project

Based on the research data, I created two personas to make it easier to continue the project.
Persona 1 for HG case study 2
Persona 2 for HG case study 2

Now its time to start the designing!

After collecting and analyzing my result data, I proceeded to the first step, creating the low fidelity UIs for the watchOS app

Flow diagram

I have shown all the main features of the app that user can do. All main features are mentioned, bus some of minor fail status and messages are not shown here to make the flow diagram more clearer.

Low-fidelity wireframes

After completing the main flow chart of the app, I began sketching low-fidelity wireframes with a pencil on white paper for the watchOS app.
Low-fidelity wireframes of case study 2 done by Harshana Gamage
Low fidelity wireframe of Mindful minutes

Mindful Minute Design system​

I created the design system before starting to design the real heavy elements in the app. First, I established my color palette and selected a suitable rounded font for the app. Then, I began designing the basic building blocks of the app, components that will allow for easy expansion in future versions. Let’s see how it went.

Colors

Accent, primary, secondary, tertiary, background

Other colors used

additional colors for case study 2 UI UX by Harshana Gamage

App branding and logo concept

Logo design for the "Mindful Minute"

I started thinking about a logo for the Mindful Minute app. It should showcase the ultimate goals of the app, so I took my pencil and a few sheets of white paper and began unleashing my creativity. I aimed to show a person meditating, conveying the message that they can achieve ultimate mindfulness through the logo.

This is my play ground for the logo. 

Mindful Minutes app logo design play ground by Harshana Gamage
To add a personal touch, I incorporated the shape of a person in a meditative position. I utilized the letter ‘M,’ the initial letter of the app’s name ‘Mindful Minute,’ to form the body of the person. To symbolize ultimate mindfulness, I employed the infinity sign as the leg part of the figure.
how mindful minutes logo designed by Harshana Gamage

Finalized logo

I created the final logo in three versions:

1. A light-colored logo for darker backgrounds.
2. A dark-colored logo for lighter backgrounds.
3. A logo with the brand color for lighter backgrounds.

Other icons created for the app

I created some icons related to meditation and relaxation. I incorporated common symbols, such as water lilies, to evoke a sense of meditation in the app’s branding.

show success message in the app

Typography

To align with the app’s concept, I opted for a more rounded font style. ‘Rounded Mplus 1c‘ proved to be the perfect typography for the concept. I utilized regular, medium, and bold font weights in appropriate screens and employed font sizes of 12pt, 14pt, 16pt, 18pt, and 20pt for main headings.”

Rounded Mplus 1c

Aa Ba Cc Dd Ee Ff Gg Hh Ii Jj Kk Ll Mm Nn Oo Pp Qq Rr Ss Tt Uu Vv Ww Xx Yy Zz
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Aa

Components created for the app

Buttons

Buttons are integral components of any app. I carefully designed them with matching colors. Moreover, I ensured that the buttons are easy to press, with the correct width and height, aligning seamlessly with watchOS interfaces to facilitate easy interaction with finger presses.
I created buttons for Mindful Minute watch OS app

List and cards

Lists and cards designed for the Mindful Minute app

Checkbox and switches

Graphs, progress bars, and indicators

graphs and indicators created for app

Look and feel

The icons and other images incorporated into the app are designed to evoke a sense of calmness and readiness for meditation. The use of serene color patterns and smooth, rounded elements contributes to an elegant look and feel, aligning with the app’s primary goal of providing a calming and mindful experience for the user.

High-fidelity UI designs

I created a total of 34 high-fidelity designs for this watchOS app project, aiming to infuse a sense of calm and relaxation. Throughout the app, calming colors and rounded shapes were employed to enhance the serene ambiance. All buttons and clickable components were meticulously designed with a focus on touch ease, ensuring a simple and effortless navigation experience.
I created 34 high-fidelity UI screens for Mindful Minute app
Going to high fidelity design

Alignment and grid system used for the design

I implemented a 4-point grid system for this project, establishing margins within groups at 4, 8, and 12, and spacing between groups at 24, 28 and 32. This arrangement ensures a visually appealing hierarchy for all screen elements.
Alignment and grid system used for the design

High-fidelity prototype.

I linked up all my high-fidelity designs to create a clickable prototype so users can experience all the features of the app. This prototype was tested with the people who participated in the survey.

01) Mood boosting features

Hi Fi wireframe - Mood boosting features

02) Do breathing exercise

03) Overall flow of the watchOS app

The prototype can be previewed live via this link – [Click here]

Live prototype of Mindful Minute WatchOS App

Accessibility check

I checked the application UI to ensure compliance with the AA standards of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines regarding contrast. During this assessment, all the UIs passed the test. It is very important for the accessibility of the app. That is why I took efforts towards improving contrast levels within the application to align with the WCAG AA standards. This will enhance the overall user experience for individuals with diverse visual needs.

These are a few of the screens I tested for AA standards.

Accessibility check of watchOS app
mindful minute mockup by Harshana Gamage

Mindful Minute watchOS app summary

In this project, I initiated a market research & analyzed market. Utilizing a brief online user survey on Twitter, I gathered valuable insights from participants, followed by an online usability test with the same group. To visualize the user experience, I created a progression of low-fidelity wireframes, iteratively refining them into a prototype and ultimately converting them into high fidelity UI designs. In the final review, I checked the quality of the app, focusing on ensuring consistency and optimizing color contrast to improve the accessibility.
Mindful Minute watch OS app case study by Harshana Gamage

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