From Clunky to Clean Transformation: Clear Minds’ Mobile App
From Clunky to Clean Transformation: Clear Minds’ Mobile App
Timeline:
Timeline:
2 Months
2 Months
Role:
Role:
UI/UX Designer
UI/UX Designer
Client:
Client:
Clear Minds
Clear Minds
Before
After
About Clear Minds
About Clear Minds
At CLEAR MINDS, we believe emotional well-being starts with awareness. Clear Minds’ app encourages you to reflect through journaling, track your mood patterns, and stay motivated through challenges and courses—all in one simple, supportive space.
At CLEAR MINDS, we believe emotional well-being starts with awareness. Clear Minds’ app encourages you to reflect through journaling, track your mood patterns, and stay motivated through challenges and courses—all in one simple, supportive space.
Problem Statement
Problem Statement
Problem Statement
The users of Clear Minds need a faster, more intuitive, and emotionally supportive journaling experience because the current app feels disorganized, overwhelming, and lacks essential features like mood tracking, progress reminders, and seamless navigation—making it harder for them to build a consistent mental health habit.
The users of Clear Minds need a faster, more intuitive, and emotionally supportive journaling experience because the current app feels disorganized, overwhelming, and lacks essential features like mood tracking, progress reminders, and seamless navigation—making it harder for them to build a consistent mental health habit.
The users of Clear Minds need a faster, more intuitive, and emotionally supportive journaling experience because the current app feels disorganized, overwhelming, and lacks essential features like mood tracking, progress reminders, and seamless navigation—making it harder for them to build a consistent mental health habit.
The outdated UI confirmed user frustration.
The outdated UI confirmed user frustration.
With these insights in mind, I began reimagining the experience from the ground up.
With these insights in mind, I began reimagining the experience from the ground up.
With these insights in mind, I began reimagining the experience from the ground up.
Armed with feedback and observation, I began to rebuild.
Armed with feedback and observation, I began to rebuild.
“Would’ve been great if I could track my mood alongside my journal. Right now it’s just a glorified notepad.”
“Would’ve been great if I could track my mood alongside my journal. Right now it’s just a glorified notepad.”
To address the frustrations uncovered in reviews and outdated UI patterns, I conducted deeper research with both existing and potential users.
Through surveys and one-on-one interviews, I was able to uncover not just what wasn’t working—but what users truly needed from a mental health app. These insights became the foundation for a more intuitive, calming, and supportive experience.
To address the frustrations uncovered in reviews and outdated UI patterns, I conducted deeper research with both existing and potential users.
Through surveys and one-on-one interviews, I was able to uncover not just what wasn’t working—but what users truly needed from a mental health app. These insights became the foundation for a more intuitive, calming, and supportive experience.
Seeing Through the User’s Eyes
Seeing Through the User’s Eyes
Seeing Through the User’s Eyes
To dive deeper, we synthesized emotional drivers, behaviors, and user quotes into an empathy map—giving us a clear picture of who we’re designing for.
To dive deeper, we synthesized emotional drivers, behaviors, and user quotes into an empathy map—giving us a clear picture of who we’re designing for.
To dive deeper, we synthesized emotional drivers, behaviors, and user quotes into an empathy map—giving us a clear picture of who we’re designing for.
From Insights to Structure
From Insights to Structure
From Insights to Structure
With real frustrations uncovered, clear user personas defined, and an empathy map to understand what our audience thinks, feels, says, and does — the next step was to turn these insights into an experience that feels logical, calm, and effortless to navigate.
I used the empathy map to pinpoint what actions users needed to take most often, what information they’d expect to find first, and how each feature should connect naturally to the next.
This became the blueprint for the Information Architecture: a structure designed to reduce overwhelm, guide users step by step, and make every part of CLEAR MINDS feel intuitive and supportive from the very first tap.
With real frustrations uncovered, clear user personas defined, and an empathy map to understand what our audience thinks, feels, says, and does — the next step was to turn these insights into an experience that feels logical, calm, and effortless to navigate.
I used the empathy map to pinpoint what actions users needed to take most often, what information they’d expect to find first, and how each feature should connect naturally to the next.
This became the blueprint for the Information Architecture: a structure designed to reduce overwhelm, guide users step by step, and make every part of CLEAR MINDS feel intuitive and supportive from the very first tap.
With real frustrations uncovered, clear user personas defined, and an empathy map to understand what our audience thinks, feels, says, and does — the next step was to turn these insights into an experience that feels logical, calm, and effortless to navigate.
I used the empathy map to pinpoint what actions users needed to take most often, what information they’d expect to find first, and how each feature should connect naturally to the next.
This became the blueprint for the Information Architecture: a structure designed to reduce overwhelm, guide users step by step, and make every part of CLEAR MINDS feel intuitive and supportive from the very first tap.
Bringing Structure to Life
Bringing Structure to Life
Bringing Structure to Life
With the Information Architecture as a foundation, I translated the flow and hierarchy into low-fidelity wireframes. This step ensured that every screen layout, navigation path, and feature placement stayed true to what users needed most—simple, calm, and easy to follow.
By mapping structure into wireframes first, I could focus on solving usability pain points before adding visual details, keeping the experience intuitive and distraction-free from the start.
With the Information Architecture as a foundation, I translated the flow and hierarchy into low-fidelity wireframes. This step ensured that every screen layout, navigation path, and feature placement stayed true to what users needed most—simple, calm, and easy to follow.
By mapping structure into wireframes first, I could focus on solving usability pain points before adding visual details, keeping the experience intuitive and distraction-free from the start.
With the Information Architecture as a foundation, I translated the flow and hierarchy into low-fidelity wireframes. This step ensured that every screen layout, navigation path, and feature placement stayed true to what users needed most—simple, calm, and easy to follow.
By mapping structure into wireframes first, I could focus on solving usability pain points before adding visual details, keeping the experience intuitive and distraction-free from the start.
From Wireframes to Visual Clarity
From Wireframes to Visual Clarity
Once the wireframes solved the structure and flow, the next step was to transform them into a final, cohesive experience. To do this, I created a UI Kit—a system of reusable colors, typography, icons, and components designed to keep every screen visually consistent, calming, and easy to use.
The UI Kit ensured that as the wireframes evolved into high-fidelity mockups, they stayed true to the app’s goal: making mental wellness feel clear, welcoming, and emotionally safe.
Once the wireframes solved the structure and flow, the next step was to transform them into a final, cohesive experience. To do this, I created a UI Kit—a system of reusable colors, typography, icons, and components designed to keep every screen visually consistent, calming, and easy to use.
The UI Kit ensured that as the wireframes evolved into high-fidelity mockups, they stayed true to the app’s goal: making mental wellness feel clear, welcoming, and emotionally safe.
70% users preferred having guided prompts, but they wanted those prompts to feel optional and unobtrusive.
Many users just wanted a quick, low-friction way to reflect—without getting overwhelmed by multiple form fields or long setups.
Instead of splitting prompts across multiple form sections, the new UI uses a single, calming text area. When users want guidance, they can simply tap the “+” icon to select from a set of thoughtful prompts—letting them stay focused in flow, not jump between fields.
To further enrich reflection, a feelings tracker and sleep log were integrated within the same space—making it easier to draw connections between mood, rest, and thought patterns.
70% users preferred having guided prompts, but they wanted those prompts to feel optional and unobtrusive.
Many users just wanted a quick, low-friction way to reflect—without getting overwhelmed by multiple form fields or long setups.
Instead of splitting prompts across multiple form sections, the new UI uses a single, calming text area. When users want guidance, they can simply tap the “+” icon to select from a set of thoughtful prompts—letting them stay focused in flow, not jump between fields.
To further enrich reflection, a feelings tracker and sleep log were integrated within the same space—making it easier to draw connections between mood, rest, and thought patterns.
Motivation That Feels Earned
Motivation That Feels Earned
The Reward System is a feature designed to make learning more inclusive and motivating. Instead of relying solely on paid access, users now have the opportunity to earn points by completing journaling tasks, daily reflections, or any challenges.
Once users reach a certain XP threshold, they can unlock specific premium courses for a limited time. This system balances accessibility with accountability—making content feel rewarding, but still time-sensitive enough to encourage action.
The Reward System is a feature designed to make learning more inclusive and motivating. Instead of relying solely on paid access, users now have the opportunity to earn points by completing journaling tasks, daily reflections, or any challenges.
Once users reach a certain XP threshold, they can unlock specific premium courses for a limited time. This system balances accessibility with accountability—making content feel rewarding, but still time-sensitive enough to encourage action.
Support That Feels Personal
Support That Feels Personal
97% accountability partner helps users stay motivated.
Many also expressed a desire to engage with a like-minded, judgment-free community—not for social scrolling, but for genuine connection and support.
To support this bond, we also introduced a private messaging system. Designed to be light and distraction-free, this feature allows users to send encouraging messages, follow up on emotional check-ins, or simply remind one another that they’re not alone.
97% accountability partner helps users stay motivated.
Many also expressed a desire to engage with a like-minded, judgment-free community—not for social scrolling, but for genuine connection and support.
To support this bond, we also introduced a private messaging system. Designed to be light and distraction-free, this feature allows users to send encouraging messages, follow up on emotional check-ins, or simply remind one another that they’re not alone.
Turning Patterns into Personalized Guidance
Turning Patterns into Personalized Guidance
To help users reflect visually, we introduced the Mood and Energy Stats dashboard, where they can view trends over time through intuitive graphs. By layering sleep data with emotional check-ins, users start to see how their rest, feelings, and fluctuations connect.
To help users reflect visually, we introduced the Mood and Energy Stats dashboard, where they can view trends over time through intuitive graphs. By layering sleep data with emotional check-ins, users start to see how their rest, feelings, and fluctuations connect.
But the real shift happens with the introduction of Smart Guidance—a button that unlocks AI-powered insights based on the user’s tracked behavior.
From this feature, users receive:
A personalized Patterns Report highlighting emotional highs and lows in relation to sleep
A 7-Day Mood & Reset Plan with simple, achievable daily intentions
Curated course and class recommendations based on their current emotional state
But the real shift happens with the introduction of Smart Guidance—a button that unlocks AI-powered insights based on the user’s tracked behavior.
From this feature, users receive:
A personalized Patterns Report highlighting emotional highs and lows in relation to sleep
A 7-Day Mood & Reset Plan with simple, achievable daily intentions
Curated course and class recommendations based on their current emotional state
NEXT STEPS
NEXT STEPS
Conduct usability testing to validate feature intuitiveness
Measure engagement levels with key features (journal, buddies, AI plans)
Continue iterating based on user feedback and behavioral patterns
Conduct usability testing to validate feature intuitiveness
Measure engagement levels with key features (journal, buddies, AI plans)
Continue iterating based on user feedback and behavioral patterns
Final Thought
Final Thought
Mental wellness is deeply personal. Designing for it requires more than just clean interfaces—it demands care, clarity, and compassion. This project was a reminder that good design isn't just about solving problems—it's about creating emotional safety.
Mental wellness is deeply personal. Designing for it requires more than just clean interfaces—it demands care, clarity, and compassion. This project was a reminder that good design isn't just about solving problems—it's about creating emotional safety.
4+ years of experience in brand identity, UX/UI design, and high-conversion digital experiences. Skilled in designing conversion-focused landing pages, marketing collateral, and responsive websites that optimize user journeys and drive measurable business outcomes.
Jason Piano. All rights reserved. 2025
Let's Work Together!
4+ years of experience in brand identity, UX/UI design, and high-conversion digital experiences. Skilled in designing conversion-focused landing pages, marketing collateral, and responsive websites that optimize user journeys and drive measurable business outcomes.
Jason Piano. All rights reserved. 2025
Let's Work Together!
4+ years of experience in brand identity, UX/UI design, and high-conversion digital experiences. Skilled in designing conversion-focused landing pages, marketing collateral, and responsive websites that optimize user journeys and drive measurable business outcomes.
Jason Piano. All rights reserved. 2025
Let's Work Together!