CalmIllini
CalmIllini is an all-in-one mental wellness platform, designed as a digital hub that combines journaling, meditation, and peer support, specifically tailored for UIUC students managing stress and anxiety.
Problem
College students face academic pressure, inconsistent resource access, and difficulty maintaining healthy coping strategies.
Solution
A one-stop hub making mental health resources visible, accessible, and personalized for students.
Role
UX Designer + Researcher
Team
Aishi D, Sophie N, Steph R, Vikas S
Tools
Miro, Figma, Canva, Google Slides/Forms
Timeline
August 2024 – December 2024
Understanding the User
User Segmentation
We narrowed our focus from general college students to specifically target UIUC students dealing with academic anxiety and stress who have an interest in journaling and meditation.
Journey & Empathy Maps
Key Insights
- •Students use various coping techniques but struggle with consistency
- •Many are unaware of existing campus mental health resources
- •Academic stress peaks during midterms and finals seasons
- •Students prefer digital solutions they can access privately
- •Peer support is highly valued but difficult to find
- •Time constraints make lengthy programs unsustainable
- •Personalization increases engagement with wellness tools
- •Students want resources that integrate into their daily routines
“It's frustrating trying to find the resources that UIUC offers. A lot of the time I get stressed from school work, especially around finals season.”
— Interview Participant
Persona
Survey Data
24 responses collected Friday 10/18 – Wednesday 10/23, targeting 70% positive response rate.
Problem Space Survey
Competitive Analysis
We analyzed four competitors in the mental wellness space and found:
- •Two of four competitors incorporated one-to-one care
- •Journal-only or meditation-only platforms exist separately
- •Direct competitor identified as Mantra Health
- •Opportunity identified for a combined solution
Design Phase
Sketches
Prototyping
Reflection
This project was an incredible learning experience that helped me develop my skills in team communication, design thinking methodology, and empathy-centered problem-solving.
I learned the importance of conducting deep user research before jumping into solution design. Understanding our users' pain points, motivations, and behaviors was crucial in creating a product that truly addresses their needs.
Next steps: Refining the prototypes based on user feedback and moving toward the development phase.
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