multiple phones layed out on a blank background with different app screens throughout

Motiv.

Prototype

View Demo

My Role

UX/UI Designer

Graphic Designer

Project Manager

Programs

Adobe XD

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Photoshop

Timeline

Sept 23’ - May 24’

TLDR

Motiv is a mobile app designed to empower individuals with anxiety and depression by integrating the mental health benefits of physical activity. By delivering personalized workouts, empathetic guidance, and community support, Motiv helps users build resilience and sustainable healthy habits—transforming exercise into a practical tool for improved mental well-being.

Problem

Activity Eases Depression, but Many Still Remain Uninspired

Millions struggle with anxiety and depression, yet many remain unaware of how regular physical activity can significantly improve their mental well-being. Traditional fitness apps focus on performance, neglecting the emotional and motivational barriers that prevent people from getting started. How might we create a digital experience that not only informs but also empowers and motivates individuals with anxiety and depression to integrate movement into their daily lives?

Overview

Mental health and physical activity are deeply connected, yet traditional fitness apps focus on performance rather than the emotional barriers that prevent people from getting started. Many individuals struggling with anxiety and depression find it difficult to stay motivated or even know where to begin.


Motiv was designed to bridge this gap by combining personalized workouts, empathetic guidance, and community support to make exercise more approachable. Instead of pressuring users with performance-driven goals, Motiv fosters resilience, self-efficacy, and sustainable habits through an experience tailored to mental well-being.


This case study explores how research, user insights, and iterative design helped shape an experience that empowers users to take control of their mental and physical health—one step at a time.

Research phase

Understanding the Problem

Having several people close to me suffer from anxiety and depression, this issue remains close to my heart. To understand them I first had to validate this research was significant enough to build a product around.

Our brains respond to stress by increasing NI, increase likelihood of depression and anxiety.

(1/6)

Studies show exercise is as effective as antidepressants in people with non-severe depression.

(2/6)

The U.K., Netherlands, Australia, & Canada present exercise as a “first-line treatment”. The U.S. incentivizes pills first.

(3/6)

NI can also leads to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, & Multiple sclerosis.

(4/6)

Physical activity does improve proinflammatory markers resulting in reduced symptoms of depression & anxiety

(5/6)

New Additional Problem: A higher heart rate caused higher perceived stress, due to exercise mimicking anxiety symptoms.

(6/6)

Primary Research

Understanding the User

I surveyed 37 participants (ages 18–29, all genders, with anxiety and depression) about their physical activity habits, mental health, motivation, and what they knew about physical activities impact on their cognition. Here are the common threads I found:

Physical Activity

Feedback

I enjoy working out with friends when possible, usually keeping a low to moderate pace, and I track my progress with mental notes or an app.

Insights

Activity is a social event

Minimum to moderate effort

No physical record is common

Motivation

Feedback

I prioritize working out for my mental health, but discipline and mental hurdles often hold me back, even though I always feel much better afterward.

Insights

Trouble getting motivated

Always sees improvement after

Works out for mental health

Mental Health

Feedback

When I’m feeling depressed, I talk to my friends, and despite knowing I’ll have a good outcome I often need convincing to start moving.

Insights

People need community when depression hits

Knowing the outcome makes little difference

Persona Name

Amber

age

23

Education

Engineering Student at University

Location

Urban Area

Occupation

Part-time bar-back

Income level

Moderate to low disposable income

"I love exercising, but it’s so hard to motivate myself to do even the simplest things."

Persona Bio

Alex experiences mild anxiety & occasional depression, worsened by academic pressures & the pandemic. Her physical activity has declined, & she’s seeking non-medication ways to boost mental health. Active on Instagram, TikTok, and Reddit, she engages with mental health & wellness communities.

Frustrations

  • Lack of motivation: Finds it hard to take the first step toward regular exercise.

  • Overwhelming information: Online wellness tips feel too generic and not actionable.

  • Physical activity feels intimidating: Gym culture or running alone can seem unwelcoming and isolating.

Motivations

  • Science-backed insights: Wants to understand the direct impact of actions on mental health.

  • Social accountability: Being part of a community or having a virtual “buddy” keeps them engaged.

  • Small wins: Prefers quick, achievable goals that lead to a sense of accomplishment.

Goals

  • Improve mental/physical health

  • Create sustainable habits

  • Feel connected

Market Research

Where physical activity and mental health meet is a hole in the market for an app that can solve issues related to motivation, connection, and activity recommendation. The apps that do involve mental health don’t involve physical activity as a potential remedy.

screenshot of categories with app logos within
Development

Hypothesis

We believe users that struggle with anxiety and depression may benefit from an app that changes behavior using social motivation, daily personalized recommendation, and useful information about how to improve.

Main Solution

Motiv is a supportive mobile app that helps users manage anxiety and depression through movement. By combining empathetic guidance with actionable motivation, it fosters resilience, self-efficacy, and lasting habits. Users receive personalized workouts, track progress, and connect with a supportive community, making exercise a sustainable tool for mental well-being.

Design Challenges

  • Mental health is difficult to talk about. How can we design empathetically as to not suggest this solution is the only solution for everyone?

  • What choices can we make to not overwhelm the user and add to their already difficult time?

  • How do we motivate the hardest demographic to motivate?

Solutions

Key Features

Activity Tracker

By keeping track of the users mental health they can see visual see improvement per workout or overtime.

Personalized Recommendations

A personalized activity based on the users questionnaire answers will give the user perceived behavioral control.

Community Page

The user can keep track of their mental state after the activity, and determine what worked for them.

Branding

Motiv. in the Making

writing of brainstorming

Logo Exploration

A logo mark was key to conveying the brand's essence, especially at app size. Drawing inspiration from social interaction, growth, and physical activity, I sketched 12 initial concepts guided by these keywords:

Health

Modernity

Vitality

Vibrance

Science

Sporty

Organic

Energetic

Empathetic

Linear

series of 12 logos drawn out

Meet Motiv.

Motiv. uses hues found in inviting and familiar environments to invoke emotions outside of the user. Depression requires hope for the future and motivation to move forward to dig ourselves out of a hole. These hues motivate and recall feelings of excitement but are used in ways that don't overwhelm.

Phthalo Green

#173B23

Outdoors

Tranquility

Prosperity

Yellow Green

#B9E84D

Young

Healthy

Natural

Mint

#EDF8F5

Healthcare

Tranquility

Prosperity

Canvas

#F4EFEA

Natural

Longevity

Calm

Crayola Orange

#ED784F

Enthusiasm

Excitement

Motivation

young person holding a bag that says motive on it

+

=

different sized text layed out next to color codes and icons
Fidelity process

Wireframing

Naturally with a health app there will be many metrics to decipher. The goal was to not overwhelm users with too many suggestions or graphs right away since being active is the main target. So, how do we create a homepage which offers value but remains pleasing to be on?

Hi-fidelity

Prototype

After collaborating with some colleagues on which layout would work best we arrived at the one that would inform a design system that fit the goal. It includes motivating imagery, texture overlays, solid color blocking and an approachable tone. Several solutions made the final cut and define the product as a multi-step approach to dampening depression and anxiety.

Widget

Stay close to your solution with relevant content on your homescreen.

Community

Tackle life's rough edges with your support group.

Calendar

A Clearer Mind Starts with a Structured Plan.

mental health tracker

Let's help you find out what works.

In Hindsight…

This project took place at the end of my college courses and helped me lean into creative problem-solving and user centered design. The problem I was trying to solve still exists today and seems to grow every year. As we receive new data I'd like to keep updating this project to include new expanded features. Due to Adobe's discontinuation of XD, which was the most popular platform at the time, I will have to iterate on this in Figma which I am much more skilled in now then I ever was in XD.

In the future I want to

  • Post launch test more thoroughly.

  • Develop an onboarding process that helps the user understand the techniques at play.

  • Determine if a smart watch interface would benefit the user based on their feedback and current habits.

  • Test the return rate for user that experience higher levels of depression and anxiety.

I want to make clear that this project deals with serious mental health issues and it is in no way suggesting activity is a "cure" or "remedy" for anxiety and depression in anybody. It is merely a way to dampen symptoms.

  • I’m currently seeking a full/part time {product} designer position in Switzerland

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