Research
I began with informal interviews and scanned online wellness communities. A recurring theme was the discomfort users felt with generic or public platforms. Many wanted a quieter space, one that respected privacy and felt emotionally aware.

Competitive Analysis
I analyzed mental health apps, AI-driven journaling tools, and spirituality platforms. Most leaned heavily into clinical design or generic wellness trends. This gave me space to position EnlightenME around personalization, soft interactions, and cultural relevance.

Ideation
Using the Double Diamond framework, I mapped core needs into user stories. Crazy 8s and early wireframes helped shape features like personalized onboarding, mood-adaptive journaling, and cultural language settings. The main challenge was designing for vulnerability without overstepping comfort zones.

Design
I built the UI in Figma, aiming for a calm and welcoming tone. Visual elements were refined in Illustrator and Photoshop to soften the interface. I reduced visual noise by adjusting hierarchy, simplifying flows, and spacing content in a way that gave users emotional breathing room.

Prototyping and Testing
The first prototype surfaced issues with tone and layout. I revised the onboarding, restructured content blocks, and added micro-interactions to simulate AI-driven feedback. In a second round of usability testing, users reported improved clarity, smoother navigation, and stronger emotional engagement.

Final Delivery
The final prototype included a customizable AI guide, personalized onboarding flows, culturally-aware content suggestions, and private journaling tools. The project received a 3.0 out of 4.0 in the course evaluation but taught me far more about designing with emotional intelligence. It helped refine my approach to inclusive UX, especially when building for communities that are often overlooked or underserved.