HEADSPACE FEELINGS
Scope
User Interviews, Wire-framing & Prototyping, UX Research,
UI Design
Project timeline
Duration - 1 month (Nov - Dec 2023)
Solo Project
Context
Headspace is an app that makes mindfulness, meditation, and mental wellness tools approachable. I chose Headspace because I like their positioning, quality of content, their design, and gentle UX. With their brand collaborations and specialized programs, I see Headspace becoming more relevant in the future.
I designed a feature called ‘Headspace Feelings’ which is a mood tracker and journaling tool. This feature analyzes patterns based on how you’re feeling, where you’ve been feeling your best and worst, and gives you recommendations from the Headspace library.
Goal
Finding common pain points among Headspace users and proposing a feature that seamlessly fits into the current app infrastructure.
Opportunities for Intervention
I would like to note how I feel before and after so I can keep a track of progress/ feelings.
- Manasi Sabnis, Geospatial Analyst
I want a journaling tool. I want to write how I feel with nuance and be able to look back at how I felt.
- Isha Raut, ArchitectHeadspace gives you no way of looking back and getting real feedback. I want to record my progress and share it with a therapist.
- Isha Raut, Architect
It would feel valuable if the data is visualized in a way that makes sense.
- Shaurya Mehta, StudentI would like to set goals and have accountability. They could be tangible baby steps towards it.
- Amit Rao, Tech AnalystThey could use more AI and machine learning tools to give you custom recommendations.
I would also like different music and activities for different times of the day.
- Amit Rao, Tech AnalystI want to meditate with my friends. I want a clear separation from social media - not super social but slightly social. I don’t want to gloat about my streak.
- Shaurya Mehta, StudentI find the app hard to navigate. I want something specific without having to search in the library.
- Kunal Agrawal, Software Engineer
Uses Headspace with Therapy
Isha, 30, Architect
"Headspace gives you no way of looking back and getting real feedback. I want to record my progress and share it with a therapist."
Power User
Kunal, 29, Software Engineer
"I use Headspace frequently and don’t want to waste time finding the right meditation. I find the app hard to navigate. I want something specific without having to search in the library."
Frequent User
Amit, 57, Tech Analyst
"I would like to set goals and have accountability. They could be tangible baby steps towards it. I would also like different music and activities for different times of the day."
When All Else Fails
Manasi, 29, Geospatial Analyst
"I would like to note how I feel before and after so I can keep a track of progress/ feelings. I would also like a social aspect to sharing and improving my mental health."
Impulsive User
Shaurya, 25, Student
"Tracking progress could be interesting. It would feel valuable if the data is visualized in a way that makes sense."
Users Mindsets & Key Problems
Problem Discovery
Through user interviews, I discovered that Headspace users wanted the following features - note taking, progress tracking, goal setting, personalization, and social interactions.
I conducted a round of interviews on sketches on each idea and feedback leaned heavily towards tracking and goal setting. Users were interested in personalization in some form. They felt strongly against social features because they didn’t feel like sharing details of their mental health in a social space.
Mood Tracker
Goal Setting
User Feedback
Chosen Direction
I conducted a round of interviews on mid fidelity mid resolution prototypes of the mood tracking and goal setting features. 3 of 5 users leaned towards the mood tracker and 2 of 5 leaned on the goal setting feature. All users wanted to see more usage of Headspace’s friendly visual language. 4 of 5 users wanted to know how the data from both features would be visualized.
User Feedback
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Users felt that this feature would be most valuable if the analytics page gave them a summary of the analyzed data and a clear step forward. This could be in the form of weekly or monthly recommendations based on their feelings in that period.
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Users also wanted to hide data such as who you’re spending time with to avoid feeling shame or guilt.
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50% of users wanted to see more of the ‘Headspace emojis’.
Key Takeaway
Users want data to be summarized and given to them in a way that’s clear and actionable
Solution
For the user -
Users get to record their feelings in as much detail as they want. They can track their progress and also see what in their environment is making them thrive. They get to enable and hide information according to what is relevant to them. In addition to this, they are given recommendations of content that would suit them the most, saving them the time of having to find the right meditation or course.
For Headspace -
The check in flow and analytics page provide personalized recommendations to users. It helps them to better use the large amount of content in the Headspace library. They get to track progress and find content specific to them. This will increase the impact of the time users spend on Headspace.
Final Prototype
Reflections and next steps
It was rewarding working within the existing visual language of an app like Headspace. I had to be mindful to design a feature that would fit in seamlessly within Headspace and not stand out.
This project taught me the vast differences in how people take care of themselves. Every interview gave me a new insight of how people practice mindfulness and how they use the app. I tried to incorporate as many small thoughtful gestures as I could to ensure that Headspace’s gentle approach stayed constant.
The next steps would be to find a way to export this data to share with therapists. Some users I interviewed used Headspace along with traditional therapy and wanted a way to share these records with their therapists.