Starting, we brainstormed the main features users needed. Our main target audience is students who wish to better their mental and emotional health concerning their studies. To better understand our users, we created multiple user personas. 

From the personas, we realized to focus on usability, repeated use and simplifying data entry as much as possible. Given the private nature of the data collected, we ensured user data would be safe behind a username. To help users identify and log their emotions, we used Plutchik’s Wheel of Emotions and further catered options after surveying students.  

To encourage regular logs, we opted to use a mobile platform. Looking at adjacent health apps, user actions were separated into logging, stats, online articles and resources into pages. For further depth, a scale to describe the intensity of emotions and emphasize multiple emotions per log to allow complexity was implemented. Pairing this with a category tag system allowed users to add complexity to their logs. To ensure users understand how to use the app, metaphors such as diary entries were used. Using an interface adjacent to fitness apps focuses on a more familiar user experience. Using common icons and graphs to promote recognition over recall. When it came to data representation, we leaned more towards showing proportions over time rather than individual logs. This allows the user a more encompassing summary instead of focusing on small moments in time.

Seeing our design come to life was exciting, but we understood the importance of engaging our end users in the design process. To ensure their voices were heard, we conducted multiple user tests with our prototype. We expected to find issues in our user flow and hoped to keep the conversation as open as possible.

To gain insight into the usability of our application, gathering rich and non-specific information from participants was preferred. The purpose of this study was not to evaluate particular features of the application but to gain a better understanding of the pathways participants would take, as well as any obstacles they may face. For this reason, we decided to combine a Think Aloud study with a brief semi-structured interview.

From the testing, it was found a mixed reaction. Some enjoyed the modern, simplistic interface, while others found it confusing. Testers thought the graphs were overwhelming, given the prototype was done in greyscale. Others found the icons and emojis inconsistent with

Given the varied responses, a high-impact, low, effort task list was made. In response, the language regarding adding a log was changed from “Check-In” to “Log Mood ”.This cleared up confusion regarding one of the main features. The capability to add a log from anywhere in the app was added, seeing that it would be the feature users would use the most. Colours corresponding to emotions were implemented throughout the app consistently to ensure less confusion and better recognition. Changing the category tag to a checklist format ensured less user error in the form of misspelled tags and encouraged recognition over recall for a faster logging experience. Smaller changes with great impact included adding a logout button, tutorials, and a dark mode.