SARRAH GANDHI
A comprehensive wellness & meditation app design featuring calming aesthetics, intuitive user flows, and thoughtful micro-interactions for mindful living.
Click and interact with the design below to explore the full user experience
The meditation app market is saturated with options, yet most users abandon these apps within days. I was tasked with designing an experience that not only attracts users but keeps them coming back— transforming meditation from a chore into a daily habit.
I conducted user interviews with 24 participants, analyzed competitor apps, and surveyed 150+ potential users to uncover pain points and opportunities.
24 in-depth interviews with meditation beginners and experienced practitioners to understand motivations and frustrations.
150+ responses analyzing habits, preferences, and reasons for abandoning previous wellness apps.
Deep-dive analysis of 8 leading meditation apps to identify market gaps and opportunities.
of users abandon wellness apps within the first week
Retention is the key challengesaid they feel overwhelmed by too many features
Simplicity mattersprefer personalized content over generic programs
Personalization drives engagementcite lack of progress visibility as reason to quit
Show the journeyBrand recognition & content library
Expensive, overwhelming features
Sleep stories & ambient sounds
Less focus on beginner guidance
Free content, community
Cluttered UI, inconsistent quality
"I want to meditate, but I always feel like I'm doing it wrong. I need something that guides me gently without making me feel like a beginner."
"I've been meditating for years but need fresh content. Most apps feel too basic or don't respect my time."
I mapped out the complete user journey to identify key touchpoints and opportunities for creating meaningful moments that drive engagement and retention.
Discovers app through recommendation
Clear value proposition
Sets up profile and preferences
Personalized experience
Completes first meditation
Positive reinforcement
Returns for daily practice
Streak rewards
Based on research insights, I designed an experience centered around three core principles:
A warm, conversational onboarding that learns user preferences and sets personalized goals—no overwhelming options upfront.
Soft gradients, generous whitespace, and subtle animations create a sense of tranquility from the first screen.
Instead of endless browsing, users receive daily curated sessions based on their mood, goals, and progress.
I restructured the app's navigation from a complex 6-tab system to a focused 3-tab experience, reducing cognitive load while maintaining discoverability.
Users reported feeling overwhelmed and unsure where to start
Clear entry point with personalized daily recommendations
The design evolved through multiple iterations, with each version informed by user feedback and usability testing insights.
Daily mood check-in with personalized session recommendations
Distraction-free player with breathing visualizations
Visual streaks, stats, and achievement badges
Categorized content with smart filters
Key Iteration: After testing, we moved the mood check-in from a separate screen to the home feed header, reducing friction and increasing completion rates by 34%.
Complex navigation with 6+ tabs
Simplified to 3 core tabs: Today, Explore, Progress
Generic session recommendations
Daily mood check-in drives personalized content
Abrupt session endings
Gentle transitions with reflection prompts
I conducted moderated usability tests with 12 participants across two rounds, iterating based on feedback to refine the experience.
User testing with the new prototype showed significant improvements across all key metrics:
"This feels like an app that actually wants me to succeed, not just another subscription trap."
— User testing participant
"I love how it doesn't overwhelm me with choices. The daily recommendation is exactly what I need."
— Beta tester, 32
Reducing cognitive load is essential for apps meant to reduce stress. Every element should serve the user's peace of mind.
Users feel cared for when the app remembers their preferences and adapts to their journey.
Small, thoughtful animations during loading states and transitions create moments of delight that reinforce the calming experience.
Early user feedback prevented costly redesigns and helped validate assumptions before investing in high-fidelity designs.
Curated sessions for stress relief, focus, and sleep
Daily check-ins with visual progress insights
Calming narratives for better rest
Custom wellness journeys based on user needs
User interviews & competitive analysis
Low-fi sketches & user flows
High-fidelity screens & components
Interactive flows & micro-interactions
A vibrant gradient palette with purple and indigo tones, designed to create a calming yet engaging experience.
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