| July - August 2020
Exploratory research
Problem identification
Conceptualisation
User Interface Design
Usability testing
CONTRIBUTION
Worked alongside an engineering student during the research phase
I led the design process, facilitating research and independently creating the designs
ROLE
Paper was selected for Poster Presentation at IndiaHCI 2020
COLLABORATION
Moodtrail - an app to recognise and support mental
well-being
The Problem
The most significant barrier lies in the initial stage of any mental illness, as there is a considerable lack of self-awareness among individuals, resulting in judgment and stigma associated with seeking therapy. Overcoming this stigma and encouraging early intervention is critical for improving mental health outcomes.
Moodtrail is a smartwatch and mobile app that tracks emotional patterns using ECG sensors. It monitors atypical emotional and behavioral patterns to guide users toward proactive measures when signs of mental health issues arise.
The Solution
As the pandemic forced us into isolation, we were all sent home from college, and many of us felt disconnected—not just from peers but from our own mental well-being. In the context of this virtual new normal, we identified a need for an initiatives that could address these challenges.
Overview
The mental health crisis is a significant issue in India, especially the COVID-19 only made it worse. Stigma, lack of awareness, normalisation and hesitation to seek help remain major barriers. Wanting to make a difference, we decided to take action. The upcoming IndiaHCI conference further inspired us to address this issue and prepare a submission.
Implementation process
How We Got There…
Collaborated with stakeholders across product and engineering teams to identify key features, understand user needs, and define the project scope.
Requirement Gathering
Created wireframes and prototypes to visualise the user interface and conducted usability testing to gather feedback for improvements.
Design Iterations
Worked with engineering teams to implement SNMP integration features and ensured with QA team to validate functionality before deployment.
Final Development
The customer previously relied on Watch4net for SNMP integration, but since it’s being discontinued, they needed SNMP integration to be built directly into TCSA. This would allow users to monitor and manage network operations while seamlessly integrating SNMP functionality into a simple, unified interface.
The existing SNMP integration in TCSA was highly manual and tedious—users had to create a collector, manually add devices and masks for each integration, and couldn’t access or modify previously configured parameters.
The Requirement
Design process
How We Got There…
Literature Review
User Research
Expert Interview
Journey Map
Research
Affinity Map
How Might We
Start at the End
Defining Brief
Analysis
Ideation
Storyboard
Wireframes & UI Design
User testing
conceptualisation
1. EXPLORE
Implementation process
How We Got There…
Collaborated with stakeholders across product and engineering teams to identify key features, understand user needs, and define the project scope.
Requirement Gathering
Created wireframes and prototypes to visualise the user interface and conducted usability testing to gather feedback for improvements.
Design Iterations
Worked with engineering teams to implement SNMP integration features and ensured with QA team to validate functionality before deployment.
Final Development
The customer previously relied on Watch4net for SNMP integration, but since it’s being discontinued, they needed SNMP integration to be built directly into TCSA. This would allow users to monitor and manage network operations while seamlessly integrating SNMP functionality into a simple, unified interface.
The existing SNMP integration in TCSA was highly manual and tedious—users had to create a collector, manually add devices and masks for each integration, and couldn’t access or modify previously configured parameters.
The Requirement
Literature Review
Understanding the mental health landscape in India
Due to lack of awareness, people have a problem with distinguishing depression or anxiety from usual emotions sadness, stress
People mostly blame themselves and their lack of competence for the symptoms.
Second highest deaths are caused among the age group of 15-30 due to suicide
People are frequently unwilling to recognize mental illness.
People often feel humiliating and feel the stigma that I have to get a mental checkup done. Absence of effective, affordable and available services is the major barrier.
There is gross discrimination against people with mental illness in all spheres of life like job, housing, marriage, immigration.
Mental health literacy includes the ability to recognise specific disorders or psychological distress and knowledge and beliefs about professional help available.
Implementation process
How We Got There…
Collaborated with stakeholders across product and engineering teams to identify key features, understand user needs, and define the project scope.
Requirement Gathering
Created wireframes and prototypes to visualise the user interface and conducted usability testing to gather feedback for improvements.
Design Iterations
Worked with engineering teams to implement SNMP integration features and ensured with QA team to validate functionality before deployment.
Final Development
The customer previously relied on Watch4net for SNMP integration, but since it’s being discontinued, they needed SNMP integration to be built directly into TCSA. This would allow users to monitor and manage network operations while seamlessly integrating SNMP functionality into a simple, unified interface.
The existing SNMP integration in TCSA was highly manual and tedious—users had to create a collector, manually add devices and masks for each integration, and couldn’t access or modify previously configured parameters.
The Requirement
Expert Interview Insights
What do the professionals say ?
To gain expert perspectives on our findings, we consulted two mental health professionals, to understand the frequency and intensity of the pain points and following insights were gathered
1/ Early Diagnosis, Faster Recovery
Mental illness can be cured faster if diagnosed early with the right medicine at the right time, but stigma interferes at every stage—diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation.
2/ Delay makes it worse
Most mental illnesses don't improve on their own may get worse over time and cause serious problems if untreated.
3/ Seeking help
Many patients stay in denial and lack insight into what they are going through, delaying necessary intervention. But seeking help is crucial if symptoms persist for two weeks continuously.
4/ Experts Know Best
Proper diagnosis and therapy should always be conducted by a professional.
1. Defining the Problem
Areas of Intervention
Major themes shaping the problem
All the insights generated from research were grouped according to affinity and following areas of intervention were narrowed down. We proceeded further with the third area for intervention.
There is a huge stigma in India about mental illness and seeking help. Mental illness is seen as black or white, as a weakness and untreatable.
Besides biological, psycho-social factors like trauma, hostility in childhood could be a reason for increasing mental illnesses. So how to prepare Gen Z to have stable emotional intelligence.
There is a lack of self -awareness, mental health literacy among the people. So they tend to normalize their symptoms as emotions that are felt by everyone.
There is a gap between parents and children in Indian society. So, how to help parents to empathize and be aware of the child's emotional well-being.
Implementation process
How We Got There…
Collaborated with stakeholders across product and engineering teams to identify key features, understand user needs, and define the project scope.
Requirement Gathering
Created wireframes and prototypes to visualise the user interface and conducted usability testing to gather feedback for improvements.
Design Iterations
Worked with engineering teams to implement SNMP integration features and ensured with QA team to validate functionality before deployment.
Final Development
The customer previously relied on Watch4net for SNMP integration, but since it’s being discontinued, they needed SNMP integration to be built directly into TCSA. This would allow users to monitor and manage network operations while seamlessly integrating SNMP functionality into a simple, unified interface.
The existing SNMP integration in TCSA was highly manual and tedious—users had to create a collector, manually add devices and masks for each integration, and couldn’t access or modify previously configured parameters.
The Requirement
Approaching a therapist should be easy
People are unwilling to recognize mental illness
Diagnosis at an early stage could have helped me
It took time to acknowledge that something is wrong
symptoms were out of control
Not sure when normal stress became illness
Something that could have told me earlier
I had normalized depression as sadness
Some people don’t realize that they have illness
It happens gradually and suddenly you realized you have changed totally
Didn't realize was having panic attacks
It is very difficult to focus and meditate
I thought Everyone feels this way
What stood out from their stories…
Implementation process
How We Got There…
Collaborated with stakeholders across product and engineering teams to identify key features, understand user needs, and define the project scope.
Requirement Gathering
Created wireframes and prototypes to visualise the user interface and conducted usability testing to gather feedback for improvements.
Design Iterations
Worked with engineering teams to implement SNMP integration features and ensured with QA team to validate functionality before deployment.
Final Development
The customer previously relied on Watch4net for SNMP integration, but since it’s being discontinued, they needed SNMP integration to be built directly into TCSA. This would allow users to monitor and manage network operations while seamlessly integrating SNMP functionality into a simple, unified interface.
The existing SNMP integration in TCSA was highly manual and tedious—users had to create a collector, manually add devices and masks for each integration, and couldn’t access or modify previously configured parameters.
The Requirement
Journey Map
Finding the right moments for intervention
We created a journey map to pinpoint the exact area of intervention. The consolidated journey map illustrated the experiences of individuals navigating a mental health crisis:
Exposure to Trauma/ Hostile environment
Triggering events
Gradual show of symptoms
Normalization of symptoms
Coping mechanism
Exploration
Losing life control
Self-diagnosis
Seeking help
Diagnosis and treatment
Suicide
Implementation process
How We Got There…
Collaborated with stakeholders across product and engineering teams to identify key features, understand user needs, and define the project scope.
Requirement Gathering
Created wireframes and prototypes to visualise the user interface and conducted usability testing to gather feedback for improvements.
Design Iterations
Worked with engineering teams to implement SNMP integration features and ensured with QA team to validate functionality before deployment.
Final Development
The customer previously relied on Watch4net for SNMP integration, but since it’s being discontinued, they needed SNMP integration to be built directly into TCSA. This would allow users to monitor and manage network operations while seamlessly integrating SNMP functionality into a simple, unified interface.
The existing SNMP integration in TCSA was highly manual and tedious—users had to create a collector, manually add devices and masks for each integration, and couldn’t access or modify previously configured parameters.
The Requirement
Framing the Challenge
Conceptualisation
Implementation process
How We Got There…
Collaborated with stakeholders across product and engineering teams to identify key features, understand user needs, and define the project scope.
Requirement Gathering
Created wireframes and prototypes to visualise the user interface and conducted usability testing to gather feedback for improvements.
Design Iterations
Worked with engineering teams to implement SNMP integration features and ensured with QA team to validate functionality before deployment.
Final Development
The customer previously relied on Watch4net for SNMP integration, but since it’s being discontinued, they needed SNMP integration to be built directly into TCSA. This would allow users to monitor and manage network operations while seamlessly integrating SNMP functionality into a simple, unified interface.
The existing SNMP integration in TCSA was highly manual and tedious—users had to create a collector, manually add devices and masks for each integration, and couldn’t access or modify previously configured parameters.
The Requirement
Start at the End
Flipping perspectives to find the right direction
Next, we used an exercise called "Start at the End" to explore both optimistic and pessimistic perspectives, helping us define possible directions for a solution.
The ideal future we want to create
The worst-case outcome we need to avoid
The Design
Quick ideas that shaped our solution
With no constraints outlined in the competition brief, we aimed for innovation. We drew inspiration from mental health innovations at the time. We started with the Crazy 8s ideation method to generate solutions and developed four concepts. Lightning demos further shaped our feature ideas. After iterating on features, we arrived at the following concepts:
It is difficult to understand when the emotions become illness
Problem
A lamp that will change its color when the users start showing symptoms
Solution
Mental illness is black and white, stigma about illness and realization
Problem
A platform to record journals, which will be used to track mental well-being.
Solution
These are general emotions felt by everyone, Self-stigma about sharing
Problem
A tinder for people with mental health issues, chat between individuals and communities
Solution
These is a sign of weakness and no one will understand this.
Problem
A social media where people can post and comment on the mental health issues.
Solution
The Solution
Implementation process
How We Got There…
Collaborated with stakeholders across product and engineering teams to identify key features, understand user needs, and define the project scope.
Requirement Gathering
Created wireframes and prototypes to visualise the user interface and conducted usability testing to gather feedback for improvements.
Design Iterations
Worked with engineering teams to implement SNMP integration features and ensured with QA team to validate functionality before deployment.
Final Development
The customer previously relied on Watch4net for SNMP integration, but since it’s being discontinued, they needed SNMP integration to be built directly into TCSA. This would allow users to monitor and manage network operations while seamlessly integrating SNMP functionality into a simple, unified interface.
The existing SNMP integration in TCSA was highly manual and tedious—users had to create a collector, manually add devices and masks for each integration, and couldn’t access or modify previously configured parameters.
The Requirement
Wireframes & User testing
What worked? what didn't?
After rounds of ideation and sketching, I put together these low-fidelity wireframes for a mental well-being app. After the design phase, I conducted a cognitive walkthrough with five participants and gathered insights:
The blue screen notification would distract and distance the users from atypical emotions. Although, it might act as a trigger for intermittent users.
‘Assist’ button perceived as a call button.
Users associated blue colour with healthy emotions like calm, happy and peach colour with discomforting mood like irritation, agitation.
Emotion timeline will help users distance from their emotions.
Visualization seems of states of mood helpful to be more aware of a general trigger.
Pie chart may pressurize a novice user to behave better rather than making them aware of any issues.
An app for smartwatch that will notify the user when atypical behaviour is identified
The behaviour of the user will be tracked by ECG sensors in the smartwatch. These are visualised and can be checked by the users on the mobile interface.
Users can browse through questions and answers about similar conditions. And, they can view therapists and book an appointment with them. Users can also record audio and text journal entries using mobile or smartwatch interface.
The audio, text journal entry was most liked and both options were preferred.
Questions & Answers can help since it is not contacting anyone directly.
The customer previously relied on Watch4net for SNMP integration, but since it’s being discontinued, they needed SNMP integration to be built directly into TCSA. This would allow users to monitor and manage network operations while seamlessly integrating SNMP functionality into a simple, unified interface.
The existing SNMP integration in TCSA was highly manual and tedious—users had to create a collector, manually add devices and masks for each integration, and couldn’t access or modify previously configured parameters.
The Requirement
An application for a smartwatch is designed, where any atypical behaviour will be detected by the interface and the user will be notified with the screen of the smartwatch turning blue.
The user will be alerted with Blue screen and haptic feedback in the watch.
After distracting the user from atypical emotions, a suitable exercise will be offered for temporary comfort
If the detected pattern in behaviour lasts for over two weeks, then the user will be provided with the following assist option.
After exercise, the user will be provided with an option to record a journal entry, audio on the watch or text on the mobile interface
After pressing 'Assist', the user will be provided with options to view question & answers related to their situation or list of therapists to consult
The Design
Making it Seamless
Implementation process
How We Got There…
Collaborated with stakeholders across product and engineering teams to identify key features, understand user needs, and define the project scope.
Requirement Gathering
Created wireframes and prototypes to visualise the user interface and conducted usability testing to gather feedback for improvements.
Design Iterations
Worked with engineering teams to implement SNMP integration features and ensured with QA team to validate functionality before deployment.
Final Development
The customer previously relied on Watch4net for SNMP integration, but since it’s being discontinued, they needed SNMP integration to be built directly into TCSA. This would allow users to monitor and manage network operations while seamlessly integrating SNMP functionality into a simple, unified interface.
The existing SNMP integration in TCSA was highly manual and tedious—users had to create a collector, manually add devices and masks for each integration, and couldn’t access or modify previously configured parameters.
The Requirement
Colors
I established a color convention to help users intuitively relate to and visualize emotions. Gradients represent the complexity of emotions—how every mood shift is a mix of different feelings rather than a single state. In the weekly view, these gradients and the visualisation bring awareness and clarity, making emotional patterns easier to recognize. This assists user take the first step towards mental wellbeing.
Content
Down
Panic
Frustrated
Anxiety
Stress
Excitement
Overwhelmed
How are you feeling today?
Notification for mood patterns
Users receive notifications for significant mood patterns, prompting them to check their visualized trends or log a journal entry to express their emotions.
The homepage displays a weekly mood overview, linking relevant journal entries and regulation activities tailored to emotional triggers.
Users can record or write journal entries whenever they receive a distress notification.
Community
The forum allows users to ask professionals questions, start discussions, or seek support from the community. They can also search topics related to their mood or emotions for guidance.
Insights & Activities
The Insights section reveals AI-generated patterns linking emotions to lifestyle habits, helping users track progress and see real shifts in their well-being. This clarity fosters a sense of accomplishment and motivation for better mental well-being.
The Activities section suggests practical ways to regulate emotions, like breathing exercises for stress or spending time in nature for depression—helping users navigate emotional triggers effectively.
Log your emotions
Final Thoughts
What This Project Achieved
Even though this was a passion project for the conference, getting to present it to a larger audience was a big win. It wasn’t just about the design—it was about starting conversations that raise awareness about mental health issues. While theoretical insights may not align perfectly with lived experiences, user insights resonated deeply, validating shared experiences and sparked engagement about mental wellbeing.
Leveraging constraints
Time was a major constraint, and we had to be intentional about making tough decisions—balancing critical thinking with feasibility. Setting our own boundaries helped refine the best possible direction while also collaborating with an engineer.
What I Learned
Design should have intention; we explored and planned a solid process driven by intuition while ensuring each method or step had a clear purpose informed by previous findings, ultimately defining a meaningful solution.
