Pebble & Aura’s Anxiety Management App

PROJECT TYPE:
Fourth-Year capstone project extension
Individual research and product

The brief:

Pebble & Aura is a system of products including a wearable device, handheld grounding tool, and mobile applications that assists in the awareness and management of Anxiety Disorders. The physical devices need an accompanying mobile application in order to monitor physical symptoms captured by devices, as well as to engage in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and mindfulness exercises that aid in management of Anxiety.

Research & ideation

Prior to starting the ideation for the app, thorough research was done on anxiety disorders and methods of management. This research was used to determine the initial details of the physical products; a wearable device and a handheld grounding tool. Then began the process of developing the app in a way that would integrate into the workflow of users with respect to the physical products, while serving also as a hub for CBT exercises for anxiety management.

I consulted a licensed Social Worker to gain insight on specific CBT activities that are recommended to patients for managing anxiety, and then brainstormed how to turn these paper-based journaling activities into app-based exercises.

A preliminary information architecture map was also created at this point to guide the development of the navigation, sections, and screens on the app.

Initial low fidelity wireframes

user testing wireframes

User Testing

To ensure that the user experience of the app was understandable and intuitive, I conducted several usability test that included 4 key flows on the app:

1. Filling out a journal entry

2. Syncing devices

3. Checking stress scores

4. Filling out a thought record following a detected anxiety attack

These flows were evaluated based on pass or fail, time to complete, and ease of use rating from 1-5. All participants successfully completed all tasks, for the most part with ease. However, several areas of improvement were identified:

Based on user feedback and observed behaviour, the ‘next’ button in the activities was moved from the top of the page, to the bottom. The verbiage and iconography in some of the flows were improved. Additionally, the steps to complete and activity were shortened, and success screens were added to inform users of completion.

Final Design

The final design includes a mobile application that supports two physical products in awareness and management of Anxiety Disorders. Use the interactive prototype to see more of the app, and click here to learn more about Pebble & Aura, the accompanying products.