Industry: Health & Wellness Role: UX Strategy, UI Design, Visual Design
 Tools Used: Figma Year: 2025

Denovo is a mobile app created to support individuals on their journey to overcome alcohol addiction. The app combines behavior tracking, emotional support, and peer connection to guide users step by step — helping them take control of their habits and build a healthier, more intentional lifestyle.

I was brought on to lead the product design for Denovo from the ground up — shaping everything from the onboarding experience to the daily dashboard, forum, and personal insights.

Breaking free from alcohol dependency is rarely a linear path. It’s filled with emotional highs and lows, moments of self-doubt, and an overwhelming amount of conflicting information. Most recovery apps tend to be either too data-driven or too general — lacking personalization and emotional depth.

With Denovo, the goal was to create a recovery experience that feels structured but not rigid, supportive but never judgmental, and deeply personal from the very first interaction.

The app was designed to solve three key problems:

Help users take small, trackable steps away from alcohol dependency.

Provide 24/7 access to emotional support and community interaction.

Celebrate progress in a way that builds confidence and long-term momentum.

We started by mapping the emotional realities of someone trying to quit alcohol — including triggers, self-sabotage loops, and motivational dips. Every feature and flow in the app was designed to meet the user where they are, and gently help them move forward.

Key stages in the app’s design:

Personalized Onboarding — understanding the user's background, motivations, and goals.

Progress Dashboard — showcasing streaks, daily tasks, and motivational content.

Community Forum — a space to share stories, struggles, and support.

Craving Toolkit — quick-access techniques and strategies for moments of temptation.

Insights — mood logs, journal reflections, and visual progress over time.

Each section was built to feel like a calm, consistent companion — whether the user is having a strong day or a challenging one.

Flow: Discovery → Empathy Mapping → Wireframes → UI Design → Prototyping → Refinement

Denovo’s onboarding experience asks thoughtful questions about the user’s drinking patterns, motivation to quit, and emotional triggers. This helps the app tailor reminders, content, and goals that feel relevant and achievable.

The home screen helps users stay grounded. It highlights streaks (days without alcohol), daily motivational goals, and recommended readings — all designed to keep them focused without pressure.

Connection is a powerful motivator in recovery. The Forum is a space for users to share their journey, offer support, and hear from others walking a similar path. Whether posting or just reading, it builds a sense of belonging.

In moments of craving, users can open the Toolkit — a curated set of grounding techniques, breathing exercises, distraction prompts, and a personalized Craving Plan built during onboarding.

Users can log their moods, journal entries, and reflect on their progress visually over time. Rather than fixating on data, this section focuses on emotional growth and positive change — helping users see how far they’ve come.

Denovo was built to meet users at one of the most difficult moments in their lives and guide them gently forward. By balancing empathy and functionality, it offers real tools for recovery while never losing sight of the emotional human behind the habit.

The final app experience feels calm, supportive, and smart, a digital companion for users trying to break free from alcohol, one day at a time.

For me as a designer, Denovo was both a creative and deeply personal project. It taught me how to design not just for usability, but for vulnerability, and how even small design decisions can have a massive emotional impact. It’s a piece of work I’ll carry forward with pride.

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