UX Case Study · Rose Agenor

Where nurturing habits
bloom resilient minds.

A peaceful mental wellness app designed to help users track, grow, and sustain their mental health, one nurturing habit at a time.

New Product Concept
UX/UI Researcher & Designer
Figma · Optimal Workshop · Pen and Paper
Mobile & Desktop
scroll

01: Overview

Redefining Mental Health Care in a Fast-Paced World

Mental health is easy to neglect when life gets busy. People want a simple, trustworthy way to track their wellbeing and build sustainable habits, but most tools feel clinical, complicated, or hard to stick with. Cerebloom was designed to change that.


Cerebloom gives users one calm, private space to log moods, set goals, access resources, and connect with therapists, everything they need to take their mental wellness seriously, without the overwhelm.

Problem

Most people don't have a simple, judgment-free way to track their mental health and stay consistent with self-care.

Solution

A calm, responsive app that brings mood tracking, habit building, therapy access, and wellness resources into one place.

Users

Adults aged 20–50 looking for an approachable, private tool to support their mental health journey.

Impact

Easier access to mental health tools, stronger daily habits, and users who feel genuinely supported, not overwhelmed.

Project Timeline

Weeks 1–2
User Stories
Competitive Analysis
Business Requirements
Weeks 3–4
User Flows
User Testing
Lo & Mid-Fi Wireframes
Weeks 5–6
Hi-Fi Prototypes
Web Page Components
Design Documentation

02: Research & Discovery

Understanding the People Behind the Problem

Before designing a single screen, I needed to understand who Cerebloom was really for. I conducted remote interviews with three participants aged 20–50, asking 10–15 questions about their mental health habits, attitudes toward seeking help, and experiences with wellness apps. Findings were synthesized through affinity mapping to surface the patterns that would shape the product.

Research Objectives

3

Remote Interviews

Participants ranged from ages 20–50 and were interviewed with a structured set of questions covering mental health attitudes, app habits, and barriers to care.

10–15

Questions Per Session

Topics included trust, data privacy, personalization, cost concerns, and what would make a mental health app feel genuinely useful and safe.

4

Affinity Map Categories

Interview notes were grouped into observations, positive feedback, pain points, and errors, then prioritized using Jacob Nielsen's heuristic scaling.

What We Learned

  • Cost is the #1 barrier. Many users want professional support but find therapy financially out of reach.
  • Users want choice in their care. The ability to find and filter therapists by fit, specialty, and availability was highly valued.
  • Privacy is non-negotiable. Users are wary of apps that store sensitive mental health data without clear, trustworthy policies.
  • Habit features need to feel encouraging, not guilt-inducing. Gentle nudges work; pressure doesn't.
  • Stigma is still real. Users need an app that feels safe, judgment-free, and completely private.

Research Method

Moderated remote interviews, followed by collaborative affinity mapping. Insights were then prioritized using Nielsen's heuristic evaluation framework to determine which problems to solve first.

Key Takeaway

Users don't just want a tracker, they want to feel understood. Every feature in Cerebloom was shaped by the real needs, fears, and hopes that surfaced in these conversations.

03: User Personas

Meet Our Users

Based on patterns surfaced through user interviews, two distinct personas were developed to represent Cerebloom's core audience. Senya and Gabriel come from very different backgrounds, but both reflect a real, underserved need for mental health tools that are flexible, inclusive, and genuinely trustworthy. Every design decision was checked against their goals and frustrations.

S
Senya, 35
Software Engineer · Austin, Texas · She/Her

Background

Senya is a Vietnamese immigrant who moved to the US at age 2. Highly intelligent and analytical, she's also prone to overthinking. She's struggled with anxiety and depression for most of her adult life, especially after losing her mother. Married with two young children, she juggles a demanding career with family life, leaving little time for herself. Traditional therapy hasn't worked for her schedule, and she's motivated to find support on her own terms.

Goals

Find tools to manage anxiety and depression, build community and connection, and work toward greater peace and overall wellbeing, for herself and her family.

Frustrations

Feeling disconnected from past therapists, never having enough time for herself, and apps that don't allow for personalization.

Needs from Cerebloom

Mood Tracking Flexible Scheduling Personalized Therapy Community
G
Gabriel, 23
Freelance Graphic Artist · Brooklyn, New York · Him/They

Background

Gabriel is a queer, Black, Puerto Rican artist born and raised in New York. Growing up in a community where mental health was rarely discussed, often seen as weakness, he's navigated insomnia, social anxiety, and panic attacks largely on his own. He's always found it helpful to talk to friends, but is ready to try therapy. He wants an app that feels inclusive, connects him with a therapist who understands his background, and gives him daily tools to manage his mental health.

Goals

Connect with a therapist who shares or understands his background, access anonymous support groups, find motivational content, and become more comfortable in social settings.

Frustrations

Apps that feel exclusive or lack outside resources, expensive subscription models, and platforms that don't reflect or respect his identity.

Needs from Cerebloom

Inclusive Design Therapy Search Support Groups Free Resources

04: Wireframes & Prototypes

From Research to Reality

With a clear picture of who Cerebloom was for, I moved into structuring and building the product. The process was deliberately iterative, each step informed the next, from understanding how users think about the content all the way through to a fully realized high-fidelity prototype.

1

User Personas & Task Flows

Starting with the research findings, I built out user personas and mapped task flows to understand how each user type would move through the app to accomplish their core goals.

2

Card Sorting & Site Map

I asked participants to organize Cerebloom's content and structure using closed card sorting. Their input directly shaped a site map that visualized every page needed for Cerebloom to perform its basic functions.

3

Lo-Fi Paper Wireframes

Using the site map as a guide, I sketched low-fidelity screens with pen and paper. This fast, low-stakes approach let me explore layout and structure before committing to any digital tool.

4

Mid-Fidelity Prototype in Figma

Hand-drawn screens were translated into clickable mid-fidelity wireframes in Figma, detailed enough to test with real users, flexible enough to iterate quickly based on feedback.

5

Usability Testing & Affinity Mapping

I conducted moderated remote usability testing with six participants. Feedback was captured on sticky notes and organized into four affinity map categories: observations, positive quotes, negative quotes, and errors.

6

Nielsen Prioritization & Hi-Fi Build

Using Jacob Nielsen's heuristic scaling method, I prioritized feedback and developed targeted solutions. Those solutions guided the final high-fidelity prototype, a fully branded, production-ready design.

Screens Designed

Splash / Intro Screen
Onboarding Slides (×4)
Sign In. Default & Error States
Sign Up. Account Creation
Sign Up. Personal Info
Sign Up. Health History
User Dashboard
Select Challenges
Green House. Garden
Mood Tracking Flow (×4 states)
Add New Mood / Add New Activity
Reminder Screen
Discover. Articles & Resources
Therapy Search & Therapist Profile
Send Request & Confirmation
Settings

05: Usability Testing

Putting the Design to the Test

Using the mid-fidelity prototype, I conducted moderated remote usability testing with six participants who matched Cerebloom's target audience. Sessions began with open-ended questions asking participants to walk through the onboarding process and describe what they thought the app's main purpose was. From there, each participant was asked to complete three core tasks.

Testing Setup

6
Participants
3
Core Tasks

All sessions were conducted remotely with moderation. Participants matched Cerebloom's target demographic, adults seeking accessible, stigma-free mental health support.

Tasks Given

① Create a challenge and set a reminder
② Search for a therapist
③ Log a mood

Key Finding

6 out of 6 participants found selecting moods and activities by icon alone confusing. Labeling all emoji and activity icons became a top priority fix.

06: Visual Design & UI

Designing with Accessibility & Brand in Mind

Once all usability issues were addressed, focus shifted to the visual design system. A set of design guidelines was created to capture the essence of Cerebloom as a brand, ensuring consistency, accessibility, and warmth across every screen.

Primary Teal
#20716A
Teal Mid
#529E98
Teal Light
#CCE8E5
Pink Accent
#FC5185
Navy Slate
#364F6B
Off White
#ECEEED
Header 1
Roboto Slab · Bold · 64px · Splash screens, brand name
Header 2
Roboto Slab · Semi Bold · 36px · Welcome & sign-in titles
Header 4. Buttons & Card Titles
Roboto · Semi Bold · 24px · UI labels
Medium body text, informational content and descriptions
Roboto · Regular · 16px · Body copy

Color Usage

Green is the primary color used for navigation bars, backgrounds, and most buttons. Pink is reserved for small details, links, and error states. Blue serves as a secondary button and card color.

Tone of Voice

Inclusive, friendly, and inviting. Language is encouraging, honest, and clear, no clinical jargon. Users should feel comfortable trusting Cerebloom with their mental health journey.

Imagery & Illustration

A mix of human-focused photography and colorful floral illustrations. Background images layered at ~20% opacity (Luminosity mode) maintain brand warmth without overwhelming content.

07: Final Solution

Cerebloom. Built for Real Mental Wellness

Cerebloom was designed with a mobile-first approach. While a high-fidelity prototype of the desktop home screen was explored, the primary focus, and all usability testing, was conducted on the mobile experience. The final prototype brings together every research insight, user feedback, and design decision into a cohesive, accessible product that feels as good as it works.

Splash & Onboarding
Splash Screen
Splash Screen
Introduction
Introduction
Onboarding 1
Onboarding. Journal & Track
Onboarding 2
Onboarding. Therapy
Onboarding 3
Onboarding. Challenges
Authentication & Account Setup
Sign Up
Sign Up. Create Account
Sign Up 2
Sign Up. Personal Info
Sign Up 3
Sign Up. Health History
Sign In
Sign In
Sign In Error State
Sign In. Error State
Core App. Dashboard & Garden
User Dashboard
User Dashboard
Select Challenge
Select Challenges
New Reminder
New Reminder
Resources
Scientific Resources
Green House
Green House. Garden
Mood Tracking Flow
Mood Tracking
How Are You Feeling?
Mood Tracking 12
Related Activities
Mood Journal
Mood Journal Entry
Mood Added
Mood Added!
Add New Mood
Add New Mood
Add New Activity
Add New Activity
Therapy, Discover & Settings
Therapy Search
Therapist Search
Therapist Profile
Therapist Profile
Send Request
Send Request
Request Sent
Request Sent!
Discover
Discover Resources
Settings
Settings
🌱

Habit & Challenge Tracking

Daily micro-challenges like drinking water, breathing exercises, and meditation keep users engaged with small, achievable wins.

😌

Mood Tracking with Emoji Wheel

An intuitive emoji-based check-in captures emotional states across a spectrum, Confused, Anxious, Neutral, Angry, Happy, Sad, making logging feel natural and low-pressure.

🎯

Goal Tracker with Progress Bar

Visual progress indicators for personal goals give users a clear, motivating sense of how far they've come.

🔍

Personalized Therapy Search

Users can find and connect with therapists that match their needs, schedule, and preferences, putting the power of choice in their hands.

📖

Mental Health Resources

Curated articles, podcasts, and playlists surface relevant, research-backed content to support learning and self-care between sessions.

🌸

Green House. Gamified Wellness

Users earn coins by completing daily challenges and can spend them in the Green House to grow and collect a personal garden of plants and flowers, making self-care feel rewarding and fun.

08: Reflection & Learnings

What This Project Taught Me

Cerebloom was my first major UX project, and it confirmed something important about the kind of designer I want to be.

"My background is in Biology, but UX gave me a new way to pursue the same goal, using knowledge and empathy to improve people's lives. Cerebloom showed me that good design can educate, empower, and motivate. That's the kind of work I want to keep doing."
— Rose Agenor, UX/UI Designer

What I Learned

  • I want to work on projects that educate, empower, and motivate users, design as a tool for positive impact, not just aesthetics.
  • Every decision, whether it turned out to be a mistake or not, was a lesson that needed to be learned. I wouldn't change a thing about this process.
  • Designing for sensitive topics like mental health requires intentionality in every word, color, and interaction. Nothing is neutral.
  • Inclusive design isn't a feature to add at the end, it's a foundation to build from the very beginning.
  • Research never really ends. Each round of testing revealed something new, and the willingness to keep listening is what separates good design from great design.

Where I'm Headed

  • I want to use my skills as a designer to make a meaningful difference in the lives of people in underserved communities, particularly Black, PoC, LGBTQ+, and other marginalized groups.
  • I'm drawn to health and science-based projects where design can bridge the gap between complex information and the people who need it most.
  • Cerebloom is a product concept I'm proud of, and one I believe has real-world potential with the right team and resources behind it.

Next Steps for Cerebloom

  • Introduce AI to analyze user mood and activity data, surface personalized insights, and make the app more effective over time.
  • Expand the therapy search with filtering by specialization, language, cultural background, and insurance coverage.
  • Restructure onboarding into shorter, transition-based steps to reduce friction and increase completion rates.
  • Conduct additional usability testing with a more diverse participant pool, particularly from the communities Cerebloom is built to serve.
  • Develop the desktop experience into a fully tested, responsive companion to the mobile app.
  • Build out a community and peer support section for optional, moderated group connection.
  • Explore integration with wearable health devices for passive mood and stress data collection.