I conducted user research using a split cohort of 5 Innerworld users and 3 non-users to better understand the target audience. Current users were asked a series of questions about their experience with Innerworld and past usage of mental health-related applications.

I used affinity mapping to look for common themes in the user feedback. There were 2 aspects that users valued most from the Innerworld experience beyond the online community.  These were the interactive Tools intended to improve mental health and the written Resources for understanding our mental framework.

I outlined 3 main personas to gain a better understanding of our target user. Personas were constructed from a combination of user interviews, survey data, and live VR sessions.

I started by laying out main user flows, ensuring that the look and feel of the mobile app was intuitive for the user, regardless of their familiarity with the Innerworld VR interface.

Using dark mode for the default UI was an intentional decision based on the interface of Innerworld VR. Keeping the design game-like and fun, I wanted to ensure the app did not have an excessively medical feel. Innerworld's pink and blue gradient offered a nice pop of color to an otherwise minimalistic color palette.

After creating an account, I included three additional onboarding questions. To provide a more personalized user experience, questions 1 and 2 were designed to identify a user's desired outcomes and learning style to provide better in-app recommendations. As for the third question, one of the company's main value propositions was to provide an affordable alternate to therapy. In the onboarding flow I decided to add the question, "Have you ever received professional care for your mental health?" Responses would provide data on the percentage of users using Innerworld as a supplement or an alternative to professional care.

I explored a number of layouts, combining frequently used tools, resources, and a daily check-in to facilitate habituation. Based on user feedback, I opted for the first version shown below.

Innerworld VR has too many interactive tools for an MVP, so I needed to pick an entry point. I selected the lifestyle balance tool due to its popularity amongst the community. The tool uses a simple slider to track daily progress, generating a long term overview of how a user prioritizes different avenues of their life. Users can see a zoomed-out view of their daily entries in the "Insights" tab.

In VR, weekly meetings help engrain a habit. On mobile, I needed a new strategy. Following the lead of other apps currently dominating the mental health niche, I landed on a daily check in. These daily journal entries can be customized with tags for better categorization.

Throughout the research phase of this project, my experience in psychology was extremely valuable in understanding the needs of the user.  For those seeking online mental health support, it is essential that the treatment strategies be both directly applicable and easily understandable.

This project taught me the true value of user feedback. When working through layouts for the lifestyle balance tool, I went through 8 iterations based on feedback from potential users and the internal team. Ultimately, the layout I reached would have never been possible without putting an early prototype in the hands of the user.