Designing a Safe Space for Mental Well Being

Range the Brand is an early stage startup offering affordable, eco-friendly products that promote mental health. As the sole UX/UI designer, I led the end-to-end design of their MVP mobile app focused on mood tracking, journaling, and community support.

Many people facing anxiety, stress, or depression hesitate to open up or seek help because they fear judgment, lack a safe space, or feel overwhelmed by complex tools. The challenge was to design an app that feels like a calm, non-judgmental companion one that guides users gently, helps them track their feelings, and offers supportive community interactions without pressure.

I led the end-to-end UX/UI design for the MVP, including:

Research & empathy-driven design decisions.

User flows, wireframes, and high-fidelity prototypes.

Usability testing and iteration.

Collaboration with PMs, developers, and a licensed therapist.

6 in-depth interviews with people actively managing stress, anxiety, or burnout.

Conversations with a licensed therapist to ensure the app uses safe, non triggering language.

Key takeaway: Users needed emotional safety first, functionality second.

“I just need a space that doesn’t make me feel like something is wrong with me.” “If it’s too complicated, I’ll probably close it and never come back.”

My focus was on creating calm through design:

Tone of voice: empathetic and reassuring, avoiding clinical or heavy language.

Navigation: simple, predictable flows to reduce mental load.

Visuals: soft color palettes, minimal distractions, and clear CTAs.

Purpose: Make users feel safe, welcome, and understood right away. Design Decisions:

Step by step intro with minimal text.

Soft transitions and reassuring microcopy like “You’re in a safe place.”

Animated messages when users select preferences, reinforcing safety and warmth.

Option to skip non-essential steps.

Purpose: Give users a safe outlet to express themselves. Design Decisions:

Auto-save drafts to prevent loss.

Text or voice input options.

Integrated mood tracker analyzes tone of entries.

Endless AI-generated prompts users can switch anytime for inspiration.

AI sends calming, supportive messages based on input.

Suggests other in-app tools like Self-Help Plans and Resources to improve mood.

Purpose: A place to connect with people who truly get what you’re going through. Design Decisions:

Group chats tailored to what users are facing, whether it’s anxiety, burnout, depression or grief.

Clear community guidelines and simple rules to keep everyone safe and respected.

Friendly moderators who step in and flag sensitive messages when needed.

Option to reach out privately to someone for a one-on-one chat.

Designing Range The Brand wasn’t just about building features, it was about creating a space where people feel seen, safe, and supported on their mental health journey. Every design choice, from the tone of the copy to the structure of the community, was made with empathy at its core. The end result is more than an app, it’s a gentle companion for anyone going through a difficult time, and a reminder that they’re not alone.