Centered Mind is a prototype for an app I developed during the UX Design course I took with General Assembly. The course online and consisted of 12 people and 2 instructors from around the world. We worked independently and in groups to learn about the UX process that included Interviews, Journey Mapping, Developing Personas, Categorizing, Sketching, Wireframing, and Designing the User Interface.
For my UXD prototype I created an app focused on Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). DBT is a type of cognitive-behavioral therapy that combines 4 strategies: mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness, distress tolerance, and emotion regulation.
My purpose was to create an app that would help people find ways to stay emotionally centered throughout each day. Rather than creating a DBT therapy app, I wanted to focus on the exercises and activities.
From user interviews, I was able to find a need for an app that could help people to better manage their emotional stress levels. Based on the data collected, I selected 3 areas of focus to start: Mindfulness, Meditation and Mantras.
How might we... tell my kids to go away to reduce my stress levels and focus on being certified in UX Design?
The Process
Throughout the course I learned about UXD from start to finish. From Research, Synthesizing, Ideation, to Delivery. (In other words: interviews, solution sketches, user flows, affinity mapping, the four step sketch, journey maps, problem statements, HMW’s, wireframing, prototyping, and user testing.)
Wireframing + Testing
After designing my wireframes, we tested the prototype with the class. I learned that wireframing and testing the prototype was beyond invaluable. It forced me to take a much closer look at the functionality which truly takes precedence over the UI design.
“The function of design is letting design function.” — Micha Commeren
Design Thinking
The GA UXD course taught me the core of the UX Design process. I learned how important it is to have research and data to support design. That in the early phases, it’s important to just listen, observe and ideate, then solve the problem.
I learned that UX Design is fluid and not linear, which is quite different from Graphic Design.
