MINDFUL
HEADSPACE
A Case Study In Creating A Curated Meditation Experience
THE PROBLEM
FINDING A CURATED EXPERIENCE
In navigating the current Headspace platform, users encounter a fragmented process when attempting to personalize their meditation experiences.
This disjointed user experience hampers the platform's ability to fully harness its potential for enhancing engagement among its current user base and enticing prospective users to join.
In 2020, Headspace received an appraisal of $100.7 million, distinguishing itself as one of the few companies to profit significantly from offering mindfulness services. Its expansion was partly fueled by the pandemic, which made self-help resources more accessible to consumers. Additionally, a 2019 ProfitWell survey revealed a strong connection between customers' willingness to pay for such services and their meditation usage and frequency.
TIMELINE
3 Weeks
DELIVERABLES
App Prototype
TOOLS
Figma
Google Docs
Google Slides
Mural
Trello
MY ROLE
UX/UI Designer
I conducted secondary research, carried out interviews, brainstormed through ideation techniques, prototyped, performed user testing, and iteratively updated the prototype based on feedback.
THE PROCESS
WEEK 1
WEEK 2
WEEK 3
UNDERSTAND
Secondary Research
Assumptions Grid
Customer Interviews
Empathy Map
IDEATE
Crazy 8s
Solution Sketching
PROTOTYPE
Mid-Fi Prototype
Usability Testing
DEFINE
HMW Statements
Problem Statement
DECIDE
Lo-Fi Prototype
A/B Testing
VALIDATE
Hi-Fi Prototype
Usability Testing
Lessons Learned
UNDERSTANDING THE USER
SECONDARY RESEARCH
Conducted secondary research to gain comprehensive insights into the meditation app market landscape and began delineating its user demographics.
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Assessed other meditation apps in comparison to Headspace to determine their respective strengths and weaknesses.
Documented the content and features offered by Headspace to discern its unique value propositions.
Method
Conduct thorough Google searches on reputable websites and delve into case studies concerning Calm and Headspace.
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Perform a competitive analysis by downloading Headspace and similar meditation apps to scrutinize their features and functionalities.
Takeaways
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Meditation apps are forging contracts with health insurance providers to establish credibility as alternative treatment options.
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Strategic partnerships with major companies like Spotify and Netflix have significantly boosted the popularity of mindfulness apps.
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Headspace employs playful graphics to soften the seriousness of meditation, aiming to appear more approachable.
Assumptions Grid Artifact
Visualizing assumptions into ‘certain’ and ‘uncertain’ categories from collection of secondary research.
Empathy Map Artifact
Created an empathy map for users of Headspace and Calm based on insights gathered from interviews.
CUSTOMER INTERVIEWS
Compared user assumptions from secondary research.
Gathered qualitative and quantitative data from current Headspace users and visualized user journeys.
Identified types of users to empathize with and generated personas.
Method
I conducted three (3) interviews of current Headspace users. Each user described their browsing habits, identifying their wants and pain points with the app.
Takeaways
All interviewees used app primarily to meditate rather than sleep.
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Interviewees use Headspace 3 to 5 times a week, ranging from 5-30 min.
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Use of app is typically stressful and largely task driven days.
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Users want ability to:
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Schedule mediations sessions in advance
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View favorited meditations easier
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Build custom “playlist” of searched content
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Synchronize app with smart wearables
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Monitor their mood after session
DEFINING THE USER AND THE PROBLEM
PERSONA
In crafting a user persona, I focus on someone who embodies the pain points and potential UX challenges uncovered through secondary research and user interviews.
Meet Alvin, an artist based in San Diego, whose morning routine includes stretches and meditation as he waits for his coffee to brew. As a single gay man, Alvin relies on mindfulness apps like Headspace to navigate life's complexities, especially during demanding workdays.
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While analyzing Alvin's persona, I identified key pain points and potential UX challenges. Alvin's desire to create custom playlists for his meditation sessions, the need for personalized content on his profile tab, and the wish for features like a mood tracker and easy access to saved videos surfaced prominently. These insights, gleaned from both research and user interviews, enabled me to distill a concise problem statement that encapsulates Alvin's struggles within the Headspace platform.
Method
Created persona from Customer Interviews and Empathy map.
Morning Meditator Persona Artifact
Articulated pain points from interviews and incorporated into persona.
PROBLEM STATEMENT
Headspace users seek custom controls that can adapt and improve their ability to roadmap their meditation session(s) and schedule ahead of time if needed, reducing the stress of searching/ browsing between sessions.
HOW MIGHT WE...
Create a tailored experience for users who want to build a custom meditation session?
Armed with Alvin's persona and the problem statement as a compass, I embarked on the next phase of the design process. Leveraging these insights, I generated a series of "How Might We" statements for ideation. These statements served as springboards for brainstorming innovative solutions to address Alvin's pain points and enhance the overall user experience of Headspace.
IDEATING SOLUTIONS
CRAZY 8S
SOLUTION SKETCHING
I opted for the Crazy 8s ideation method as it provided a rapid technique for pinpointing potential problem-solving features, determining which concepts had the most impact on users, and utilizing sketches as an additional reference point during comparable features analysis.
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This lead me to I decided to move forward with
Solution Sketching following the Crazy 8s.
I wanted to leverage the findings from comparable features analysis to explore the feasibility of implementing certain features into the Headspace mobile app. By generating sketches that illustrate these potential implementations, I aimed to evaluate their compatibility with the existing platform and assess their potential impact on the user experience.
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I recognized the importance of generating various UI design solutions to showcase how playlist and scheduling features could be effectively displayed on the screen. These features were identified as key areas of focus during the ideation sessions, and I wanted to ensure that the design solutions presented a range of options to cater to different user preferences and usage scenarios.
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By combining insights from comparable features analysis with the creative ideation facilitated by solution sketching, I aimed to develop robust design concepts that would enhance the functionality and usability of the Headspace app for its users.
Takeaways
Incorporating a playlist and scheduling feature will be the most impactful design solution to focus on.
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Additional sketches need to illustrate how users can access curated content (solution sketching).
Crazy 8s Artifact
Brainstorming method highlighting interview findings.
Solution Sketching Artifact
Several UI alternates of Headspace app were generated with Crazy 8s ideas.
DECISIONS
A/B TESTING
LO-FI PROTOTYPE
Following the ideation phase, I proceeded to conduct
A/B Testing through interviews, with a specific focus on the playlist feature. Participants were presented with two sets of screens: one featuring the Headspace Curated Playlist and the other showcasing the Build-Your-Own Meditation screens.
Method
I conducted three (3) interviews with current Headspace users, during which they were asked to express their preferences between the presented screens. Additionally, users were encouraged to provide explanations and insights to inform future revisions.
Takeaways: Playlist Screens
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Users selected both ‘B’ and ‘D’ screens.
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Interviewees like how ‘D’ displayed playlist content vertically + progress bar on left side of meditation.
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Users were unclear about function/content of “Suggested playlist.”
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Mixed feelings about having “Saved Playlist” on same page.
A/B Testing: Playlist Screens
Screens used for interviews.
Takeaways: Build-Your Own Screen
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Users selected both ‘A’ and ‘B’ screens.
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Interviewees like the ability specify time of session and schedule/ plan ahead.
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Users wanted to see the search/results screen.
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Interviewees like how ‘B’ had reminders and clean aesthetic.
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Interviewees were divided about if users should have app generate playlist or if they should search for meditations themselves.
A/B Testing: Build-Your Own Screen
Screens used for interviews.
PROTOTYPING AND TESTING
MID-FI PROTOTYPE
USER TESTING
After expanding on the insights from the A/B Testing, a second round of user testing was conducted, this time with higher fidelity screens. This allowed for a more in-depth gathering of insights. The focus of the testing remained on the Headspace Curated Playlist and the Build-Your-Own Meditation screens.
Method
I conducted one (1) usability testing interview with a former meditation app user who is also a web designer.
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Takeaways: Playlist Screens
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Interviewee questioned play button location, feeling it should be more integrated with graphic.
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Placement of “Saved playlist” and “Suggested playlists” was raised in second round of interviews.
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Agreed with placement of Build your Own Meditation button.
Playlist Screens
Mid-Fi screens used for interviews.
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Takeaways: Playlist Screens
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Rename “Playlist” to “Create” at bottom of navigation bar.
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Interviewee felt confused about how to maneuver on both screens.
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Reconsider the location/display of meditations when added to user’s playlist.
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Decided to test out users ability to add mediation through search or filters rather
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than have app generate playlist for users in next prototype.
Build-Your Own Screens
Mid-Fi screens used for interviews.
VALIDATING USER INSIGHTS
HI-FI PROTOTYPE
USER TESTING
The final round of user testing for the playlist and build-your-own meditation screens was completed, providing more insights and comments to integrate into my final prototype.
Method
I conducted one (1) usability testing interview.
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Takeaways: Playlist Screens
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Clearer understanding of content/ meditations included in playlist.
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Add number of meditations in session
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Better play button integration with graphic.
Playlist Screens
Hi-Fi screens used for interviews.
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Takeaways: Playlist Screens
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Prioritize allowing users to assemble their meditation playlist before entering specific details about the playlist.
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Consider relocating elements such as meditation names, reminders, and scheduling to a separate screen at the end of playlist creation.
Build-Your Own Screens
Hi-Fi screens used for interviews.
LESSONS LEARNED
Headspace users valued the opportunity to customize and adjust their meditation routines using playlist features.
During user interviews, favorable feedback was obtained regarding the proposed feature. All users expressed their intention to use Headspace more regularly if they could schedule their meditation sessions in advance.
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​Given additional time for further revisions, I would prioritize testing the placement of saved and suggested playlist content and gathering feedback through usability testing.
