TL;DR
Solu reframes self-care as something integrated, not added. It syncs with calendars, habit-stacks into daily life, and delivers gentle nudges so that even 5 minutes can feel restorative.
background
When I first looked at the wellness app space, it was clear that the “big players” were polished but narrow—Calm for meditation, Noom for diet, Headspace for sleep. None approached self-care holistically, and none accounted for what it feels like to practice care when you’re exhausted or burned out.
Through research, I realized that people didn’t want another app—they wanted self-care to feel approachable. Solu became my answer: a product that acts like a supportive friend in your pocket, encouraging small, guilt-free wins instead of piling on more to-dos.
Problem
Time scarcity makes routines feel unrealistic.
Burnout is both the motivator and the barrier.
Self-care feels like homework.
solution
Make self-care feel possible, integrated, and supportive. Instead of adding more, Solu helps users do enough.
Project Type
Mobile-First Responsive Website
Role
UX/UI Designer, UX/UI Researcher, Interaction Designer, and Brand Designer
Timeline
January 2024- March 2024
Tools
Figma, FigJam, Optimal, ChatGpt, Fatham, Calendy, Zoom, and Google Workspace
Research
I set out to explore how people thought about self-care, what tools they used, and where those tools fell short. To understand where opportunities might exist, I combined competitive research, user interviews, and card sorting with caregivers, parents, and entrepreneurs.
competitive analysis
Highlighted that apps like Calm, Headspace, and Noom were highly polished—but each lived in a silo. Meditation, diet, or sleep were handled separately, and none addressed the full picture of well-being in daily life.
User Interviews
Revealed the human side of the gap. While participants valued self-care, most admitted they couldn’t sustain it:
Card Sorting
With 20 participants showed which activities resonated most. Nutritious meals, creative outlets, and burnout prevention ranked high, while terms like “routine” felt approachable and “schedule” felt rigid—signaling that even language could shape motivation.
DEFINE
Defining the core problem, goals, and user needs that will guide Solu’s design.
As the research came together, I needed a way to organize all the observations and find patterns across interviews, card sorting, and competitor analysis. I used an affinity mapping exercise to cluster themes like time constraints, burnout, guilt, and motivation triggers. Seeing these connections visually made it clear that while people valued self-care, the way they currently approached it made them feel overwhelming.
From there, I translated the clusters into clear design goals—aligning what users needed with what the project could deliver:
User goal: Make self-care feel light and achievable.
Product goal: Build trust and engagement through supportive, non-judgmental design.
Business goal: Differentiate Solu from competitors by focusing on integration, not isolated wellness features.
To humanize these needs, I built three personas that embodied the voices I’d heard:
Kayla, the Overextended Millennial — a project manager and mom of two, craving flexibility and freedom from guilt.
Brianna, the Time-Starved Supermom — rebuilding after postpartum burnout, looking for gentle, pressure-free routines.
Alex, the Burned-Out Entrepreneur — managing two businesses, needing quick wins that slot naturally into a packed calendar.
Finally, I reframed the problem into a guiding perspective and design challenge:
POV: Self-care should feel like breathing room, not another burden.
HMW: How might we help busy people weave care into daily rituals so it feels natural, not forced?
IDEATE + CREATE
Translating insights into concepts, flows, and a calming visual identity.
With the problem defined and user needs clear, I began to ideate on how Solu could deliver self-care in a way that felt approachable, flexible, and restorative. The process moved from structure to flow to fidelity, layering detail and polish with each iteration.
sitemap
I started with a sitemap to capture the scope and architecture. Since the goal was to make Solu lightweight, I kept the structure simple:
Dashboard (calendar sync + habit stack view)
Solu Chat (AI-guided support + habit suggestions)
Library (short practices + resources)
Settings (profile, notifications, integrations)
This ensured the product stayed focused on what mattered most: quick access to supportive routines.
task flows
Next, I mapped the 3 primary task flows:
Adding a new habit into an existing routine
Syncing your Calendar(s) first time use
Adding a new Self-care Habit Flow
These flows helped me see where users might feel friction—and where Solu could feel the most supportive.
low-fidelity wireframes
I translated the flows into lo-fi mobile sketches. These focused on clarity: a calming dashboard, a sticky Solu chat button, and simple navigation. The priority was speed and confidence, not detail.
mid-fidelity wireframes
Once the structure was working, I moved to mid-fi wireframes. Here, I introduced layouts for both mobile and desktop. Mobile prioritized quick interactions, while desktop offered a bigger-picture overview of habits and progress.
branding
From the start, I wanted Solu’s visual identity to feel gentle but trustworthy. The branding leaned into:
Palette: sage green, cream, sunflower yellow — calming but warm.
Typography: Manrope + Montserrat Alternates for clarity and approachability.
UI kit: buttons, input fields, and icons designed with soft edges and accessible contrast.
The kit became a foundation for consistency as I moved into high-fidelity design.
Hi-Fi Prototypes
Finally, I brought everything together into high-fidelity prototypes. On mobile, Solu guided users through 5–10 minute practices, nudges, and habit stacking. On desktop, the dashboard gave an at-a-glance view of routines across a week.
The result: a product that looked calm, felt approachable, and reinforced the idea that small steps count.
USABILITY TESTING
Validating flows and uncovering opportunities for refinement.
With hi-fi prototypes in hand, I conducted usability testing to see if Solu’s design felt as intuitive and calming in practice as it did on paper. Five participants (ages 25–45) tested both mobile and desktop flows, while I observed how easily they could complete core actions and where they hesitated.
What We Tested
Four core flows captured the heart of the Solu experience:
First impressions of the dashboard
Adding a new habit via Solu chat
Responding to a gentle nudge
Editing an existing habit
ITERATE
Analyzing Results + Prioritizing Revisions
OUTCOME
Proving that small, supportive routines are more sustainable than optimization.
Usability testing confirmed what the research had hinted at from the beginning: people don’t need bigger wellness goals or more streaks to chase. What they need are gentle integrations—tiny wins that fit into their lives and give them permission to feel good about doing enough.
Prototype
Key Insights
Participants consistently described Solu as “clear” and “approachable.”
The habit-stacking dashboard was seen as a helpful anchor: “I can see this fitting into my day without stressing me out.”
By removing friction points, Solu felt more supportive than demanding.
Integration beats optimization. Solu doesn’t push users to do more—it helps them sustain small wins that feel achievable.
Next Steps
Reflections
This project gave me confidence in the power of research-led design. It reminded me that:
Psychology drives behavior change more than aesthetics.
Iteration sharpens ideas—every test made Solu stronger.
Inclusivity amplifies impact—gentle, accessible design reaches further.
Most importantly, it showed me that design can be gentle and effective.
