My Role:
- Software Engineer Intern
- UI/UX Designer
Duration:
May 15, 2024 - current
Tools:
- Technologies: Python, Django
- Design Tools: Figma
Skills:
- User Research, UX Design, Interaction design, Usability Testing, Product Strategy, Presenting
- Backend/Frontend development, Database management
CONTEXT
What is Inke?
Inke is a mental wellness tech start-up company, where we strive to revolutionize the digital landscape by prioritizing mental health and well-being.
The platform is designed to reshape social media and community building, using cutting-edge technology to create safer, healthier online environments.
It focuses on data-driven techniques to prevent and treat mental disorders, enhancing life satisfaction and community growth. By meeting people online, we offer tools to improve mental wellness, reshape social media, and enhance user experience and behavior.
OVERVIEW
Redefining Social Media: Addressing Mental Health in the Digital Age
Since the rise of social media, mental wellness has declined, and mental health treatment has become more complex and individualized. Current social platforms, though widely used, can hinder maturity and decision-making, increasing anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation, especially among youth. These platforms also potentially link to crime and violence in underrepresented communities. As proper brain development is crucial for societal progression and individual well-being, we must address these issues online, where people spend much of their time.
There is a critical need to develop and evaluate technologies specifically for mental health. The long-term goal of this project is to implement data-driven techniques that prevent and treat mental disorders. It aims to redefine social media and community building, leveraging technology to promote better mental health and behavior.
PROBLEM
Social media harms Mental wellness. Need healthier online communities.
Current social media platforms contribute to mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation. There is a need for a social platform that prioritizes mental wellness and fosters positive community interactions.
SOLUTION
Transforming Social Media for Mental Wellness
1. Develop and implement innovative, data-driven techniques to prevent and treat mental disorders
2. Integrate features that support mental health prevention and treatment
3. Improve user experience and behavior by addressing the negative impacts of current social media
4. Focus on mitigating issues related to anxiety, depression, and impaired brain development
RESEARCH
Evaluating Social Media's Impact
Research Goals:
- Conduct user research to understand the needs and pain points of different demographic groups
- Identify and analyze the negative impacts of current social media platforms on mental health
- Analyze successful elements of existing mental health apps and support systems
- Measure improvements in life satisfaction and overall well-being through enhanced digital experiences
User Interviews:
We conducted interviews with about 20 users who are either actively using social media apps or who are using some kind of mental health apps to gain deeper qualitative insights into user experiences, challenges, and expectations regarding mental health and social media use.
“Meditation is great, but I also need tools that help me manage stress and anxiety in other ways.”
"Knowing there’s someone to talk to in a crisis situation would make me feel better and being able to talk to others who understand what I’m going through would be amazing”
Competitive Analysis:
Competitive audit (Happify, Headspace, Calm) revealed that it
1. excelled in providing a wide range of guided meditation sessions and mindfulness exercises that cater to various needs
2. effectively engaged users with personalized daily practices, reminders, and progress tracking
3. high-quality audio/video content with a variety of themes were pretty successful
1. excelled in providing a wide range of guided meditation sessions and mindfulness exercises that cater to various needs
2. effectively engaged users with personalized daily practices, reminders, and progress tracking
3. high-quality audio/video content with a variety of themes were pretty successful
What was lacking?
These apps lack strong community-building features, which are crucial for fostering a sense of connection and support among users. Features such as forums, group sessions, and peer support systems are missing, limiting opportunities for users to share experiences, offer mutual support, and build a supportive community.
Identified Opportunities
- Community Building - group chats and sessions for users to share experiences and support each other
- Professional Support - mental health professionals for personalized guidance and virtual therapy sessions
- Holistic Mental Health Tools - Incorporate cognitive-behavioral techniques and stress management
tools, mood tracking and progress monitoring features.
tools, mood tracking and progress monitoring features.
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IDEATE
Wireframe: start brainstorming ideas
"How might we..."
- Facilitate peer support in a way that feels safe and accessible?
- Establish a digital environment that reduces social comparison?
- Create an intuitive way to filter for personalized preferences
- Promote mental health education and awareness?
Most importantly, we found that while people are naturally curious about others' likes, followers, and comments, these features can contribute to anxiety, stress, and unhealthy comparisons.
Therefore, we first decided to remove these elements so that users can see their own likes and interactions, but others cannot, to prioritize mental wellness. By eliminating these potentially harmful features, we aim to reduce social comparison and emphasize meaningful content and positive interactions.
Different sketches that came up:
After brainstorming, we found that our ideas for the app were aligned, prompting us to question the purpose and efficiency of each feature. For instance, while peer support seems straightforward, we considered how it would be used by those seeking mental health support. We asked questions like, "Who should be allowed to offer peer support? Could this be moderated?" and "Should there be a system to ensure the quality and safety of the support provided?"
After discussing our common solutions, we decided on several key features:
1. Safe Peer Support (Social Circles): Moderated group chats ensure users can share experiences and seek support in a secure environment
2. Reduce Social Comparison: Eliminate likes, followers, and comments, focus on meaningful content and positive interactions.
3. Personalized Filtering: Customizable settings for content and support preferences.
4. Comprehensive Resource Library: A collection of articles, videos, and interactive content, webinars, workshops to educate users on various mental health topics.
5. Access to Professionals: Opportunities to learn from mental health professionals through Q&A sessions and workshops, as well as options for scheduling sessions with licensed therapists.
6. Journal: A private space for users to log their thoughts, track their mood, and reflect on their mental wellness journey
Lo-fi prototype: navigation and core features
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TEST & PROTOTYPE
Usability Study
The overall goal of the usability study was to evaluate improvements and enhance the user experience of our app by identifying and addressing any issues related to accessibility, functionality, and user satisfaction.
By thoroughly testing and refining key features, we aim to create an intuitive, supportive, and personalized platform that effectively promotes mental health, reduces stress and anxiety, and fosters a positive and engaging digital environment for all users.
Iterate based on feedbacks
Clear Navigation
Research Insight: Users wanted more features or options in the home bar for easier access to wider range of functionalities
Solution: Expand the home bar to include five key features: Feed/Home, Search, Posting, Connections, and Profile, Use intuitive icons
Personalization
Research Insight: Users appreciate personalized content that caters to their specific needs through filtering options
Solution: Add a personalization engine that customizes content recommendations based on user preferences, filtering options, behaviors during onboarding.
Daily Mood Tracking
Research Insight: Tracking mood is highly valued by users who want to understand their emotional patterns and overall mental health journey
Solution: Incorporate mood tracking feature with the journal, allowing users to log their feelings daily
Content Accessibility and Variety
Research Insight: Users appreciate a variety of content formats and easy accessibility
Solution: Include a search function with filters for content type (articles, videos, podcasts, etc.), topics, duration, and language, ensuring users can find relevant resources quickly.
More Settings for User Control
Research Insight: Users appreciate a variety of content formats and easy accessibility
Solution: Include a search function with filters for content type (articles, videos, podcasts, etc.), topics, duration, and language, ensuring users can find relevant resources quickly.
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IMPLEMENT
Software engineering implementation
As a backend software engineering intern, I developed and maintained the backend infrastructure using Python, Django, and SQL. My work focused on creating a robust and scalable system to support the platform's key features, ensuring a seamless and secure user experience. I cannot publicly share all the details of what I have worked on, but only thoughts, experiences, and lessons learned.
Let me know if you would like to learn more about this side of my work!
1. Backend Infrastructure Development:
Developed and maintained the backend infrastructure using Python, Django, and SQL, ensuring a stable and efficient system.
Designed and optimized database schemas to store user profiles, support group interactions, and mental health resources.
2. Enhanced User Experience:
Contributed to a platform that enhanced social satisfaction and emotional stability through data-driven feedback and innovative digital features.
Improved user engagement and retention by implementing features that prioritized user well-being and mental health.
3. API and Data Integration:
Designed and integrated REST APIs to gather and analyze behavioral data, providing valuable insights for product enhancements.
4. Cross-Functional Collaboration:
Worked with cross-functional teams, including frontend developers, UI/UX designers, to address user feedback and improve platform features.
Ensured a user-centric product development approach by incorporating user feedback into the design and functionality of the platform.
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REFLECTION
What did I learn?
- Effective Communication - This project taught me the importance of clear and effective communication with developers, designers, and other cross-functional teams. I learned to support for design and technology decisions that prioritize mental wellness and ensure all stakeholders are aligned.
- Effective Communication - This project taught me the importance of clear and effective communication with developers, designers, and other cross-functional teams. I learned to support for design and technology decisions that prioritize mental wellness and ensure all stakeholders are aligned.
- Bridging Engineering and Design - As someone who worked as a backend engineer but also contributed to design team, I gained a deeper appreciation for the challenges faced by both roles. This dual perspective helped me bridge the gap between technical feasibility and creative design, ensuring a cohesive and functional product.
- Constructive Critique - The project highlighted the value of constructive feedback in refining both design and development processes. Whether it was enhancing UI elements or optimizing backend systems, iterative feedback was crucial. Collaborating and shared commitment is important to creating the best possible product.
Next steps:
We are in the final stages of merging and launching the app. Let me know if you want to know more about it!
* Will update once we finish the final stages
