MOBILE APP
GAMIFICATION
DESIGN
BLOOM
A gentle habit-building app that invites users to care for a virtual plant while cultivating mindful routines. Through soft reminders and motivational messages, it encourages growth without pressure.
2025
YEAR
Figma
PLATFORM
ROLE
Designer
SUMMARY
Bloom is a gentle habit-building app that helps users develop mindful routines through the care of a virtual plant. With soothing visuals and motivational messages, the app encourages small daily actions without guilt or pressure.
This project was completed as part of my HCI 590: Design for Startups course, where I learned how to design, test, and iterate on MVPs (Minimum Viable Products) using lean UX principles and methodologies. Through user interviews, competitive analysis, and iterative prototyping, I focused on designing an experience that prioritizes emotional resonance, simplicity, and meaningful habit formation.
Bloom reflects my exploration of emotional design, user-centered motivation, and building features with purpose and clarity.
THE PROBLEM
Building healthy habits such as drinking water, stretching, or taking screen breaks is essential to physical and mental well-being. But maintaining consistency can be difficult, especially with busy schedules, low motivation, or mental fatigue. Most existing habit- tracking apps focus on checklists, streaks, or gamified productivity systems that can feel rigid, overwhelming, or even discouraging after missed days.
There’s an opportunity to reimagine habit tracking through a gentle, emotionally supportive lens – one that visually celebrates growth and encourages self-care. Bloom is a habit- tracking app where each habit begins as a seed and grows into a thriving plant, mirroring the user’s progress and self-nurturing journey. The goal is to turn personal development into a calming and beautiful experience rather than a pressure-filled task.
BUSINESS OUTCOMES
Lean UX Technique: Outcome Hypothesis
I believe that providing a visual, plant-based habit tracker for users who feel overwhelmed by rigid productivity apps will result in increased emotional engagement and habit consistency because users will feel encouraged by seeing their progress represented through growing and nurturing digital plants.
Measurable Success Metrics
To track Bloom's effectiveness, I will measure:
Habit Retention Rate
Goal: 60% of users continue using the app to track at least 1 habit after 30 days.
This measures long-term engagement and user commitment.
Habit Completion Rate
Goal: Users complete tracked habits at least 70% of the time per week on average.
This reflects motivation and the impact of the plant-growth feedback loop.
User Emotional Response
Goal: 85% of surveyed users report that Bloom makes habit tracking feel encouraging, calming, or emotionally positive.
This is gathered through surveys and post-onboarding feedback.
Feature Engagement
Goal: 50% of users interact with their plant/garden view daily, such as watering a plant or checking visual progress.
This would indicate if the visual metaphor is successful in reinforcing habits.
Onboarding to Habit Creation Conversion
Goal: 80% of users who complete onboarding create at least one seed/habit within24 hours.
This measures usability and immediate value.
SOLUTION BRAINSTORMING
"How Might We…" Prompts
Prioritization Table
HYPOTHESES
Core Habit Growth Loop (High Priority)
I believe that visualizing habits as growing plants for users who feel stressed or discouraged by rigid productivity apps will result in higher long term engagement and improved habit consistency because users feel emotionally connected and gently rewarded for daily progress.
Non-Punitive Design (High Priority)
I believe that allowing plants to pause instead of wither when a habit is missed for users who struggle with perfectionism or burnout will result in reduced app abandonment and increased emotional resilience because users won't feel punished or guilty for being human.
Custom Plant Selection (Medium-high Priority)
I believe that letting users choose and customize their plants for creative users who crave personalization and symbolism will result in deeper emotional engagement and higher onboarding satisfaction because users see their identity reflected in their garden.
Gentle Affirmation System (Medium Priority)
I believe that offering daily soft affirmations alongside habit check-ins for users who are trying to build emotional awareness will result in increased app usage and stronger daily routines because affirmations support mood and motivation in subtle, affirming ways.
Shareable Garden Snapshots (Medium Priority)
I believe that allowing users to share images of their growing plant garden for users who enjoy visually documenting their progress will result in increased word-of-mouth growth and positive user sentiment because the visuals make self-care feel beautiful and shareable.
Garden Overview Dashboard (Medium-low Priority)
I believe that showing all habit plants in a single garden view users with multiple goals will result in clearer progress tracking and more intuitive navigation because the garden becomes a visual map of self care.
RISKEST ASSUMPTIONS
Hypothesis: Visualizing habits as plants will increase habit consistency for users discouraged by traditional productivity tools.
Assumption: Users will feel emotionally motivated by plant growth and find the metaphor engaging.
Risk: If users don't care about the visual metaphor or find it too "gimmicky," they may lose interest quickly.
Invalidation: Low engagement after onboarding or feedback that the plant system doesn't feel meaningful or motivating.
Non-Punitive Design
Hypothesis: Not punishing users for missed days will result in higher retention and less guilt-driven abandonment.
Assumption: Users prefer soft, forgiving process systems over streak-based accountability.
Risk: If users are more motivated by challenge or strict systems, they may not feel "motivated enough" by Bloom's softer approach.
Invalidation: Users stop using the app because they don't feel enough urgency or structure to stick to habits.
Custom Plant Selection (Medium-high Priority)
Hypothesis: Customizing plants increase emotional connection and satisfaction during onboarding.
Assumption: Users want symbolic or aesthetic control over how their habit is represented.
Risk: If customization feels overwhelming, unimportant, or unrelated to goals, it could distract from core functionality.
Invalidation: Users skip or ignore customization features entirely or say it doesn't enhance their experience.
Gentle Affirmation System (Medium Priority)
Hypothesis: Affirmations improve daily engagement and user mood.
Assumption: Users value and are positively affected by soft, reflective messages during habit tracking.
Risk: If affirmations are seen as cheesy, repetitive, or tone-deaf, users may mute or ignore them.
Invalidation: Users turn off notifications or report that affirmations feel inauthentic or unhelpful.
Shareable Garden Snapshots (Medium Priority)
Hypothesis: Letting users share visuals of their progress will increase positive sentiment and organic growth.
Assumption: Users enjoy documenting progress in a visual way and want to share it with others.
Risk: If users feel uncomfortable sharing personal habits publicly or don't find the visuals impressive enough, this feature might fail.
Invalidation: Low usage of share features, no measurable impact on referral traffic or user acquisition.
Garden Overview Dashboard (Medium-low Priority)
Hypothesis: Seeing all habits as plants in one view will help users feel organized and in control.
Assumption: Users want to track multiple habits at once and enjoy visual overviews.
Risk: If users prefer to focus on one habit at a time, the dashboard might feel cluttered or irrelevant.
Invalidation: Users report feeling overwhelmed or confused by the garden view and avoid using it.
VALUE PROPOSITION VALIDATION
What I Tested (the Assumption): Users will feel emotionally connected and more motivated to build habits if they can nurture a digital plant that grows with their progress.
To test this assumption, I created simple, low-fidelity prototype using Figma that illustrated a seed growing into a plant as users completed their daily habits. The prototype showed different stages of growth: a seed, a small sprout, and a thriving plant depending on how consistently the user checked in. I conducted five short user interviews paired with paired with observations. Participants were asked to explore the prototype while thinking aloud, then reflect on how the experience made them feel and whether they'd be likely to use an app with this feature.
What was I trying to learn from my MVP(s)?
I wanted to learn if visualizing habit progress as plant growth could create a stronger emotional reward than traditional trackers, and if that reward would encourage users to maintain consistency. I was also curious to see whether users would respond positively or negatively to pauses in growth when habits were missed, and how forgiving the interaction felt.
MVP WALKTHROUGHS
Screenshots of MVP(s):
Brief Explanation of How Each One Worked
Welcome Screen/ Personalized Onboarding
Users are greeted with a warm, calming welcome message. They're prompted to select a type of plant they'd like to grow an give it a name. This sets a personalized and emotionally engaging tone.
Daily Habit Check In
Users see their selected plant in its current growth stage. Below the plant is a single habit or small list. When a user completes a habit, they tap the checkmark button which triggers a subtle animation and visual plant growth.
Growth Feedback Screen
After a habit is completed, the plant visually evolves- e.g., the seed becomes a sprout, a sprout becomes a bud. This immediate feedback connects the user's action to progress in a gentle, emotionally rewarding way.
Pause State/ Missed Day Design
If users misses a day, the plant enters a soft pause state. The plant doesn't wither or die but looks like it's resting. Text offers encouragement, e.g., "Your plant is waiting for you." This avoids punishment and supports a forgiving, self-compassionate user experience.
USER TESTING EXECUTION
To evaluate the effectiveness of Bloom, I conducted a test with 5 participant across two rounds. Each participant represented the target demographic of busy individuals interested in self-improvement and mindful living. The testing sessions were conducted remotely via Zoom, with each lasting about 20 minutes. Participants were encouraged to think-aloud while navigating the prototype. Based on the feedback received, the prototype was iterated, and a second round of testing was conducted.
USER FEEDBACK
Most users had a noticeably positive response to the concept:
4 out of 5 participants expressed delight of surprise when they saw the plant grow after a check in.
3 participants described the interaction as "cute," "encouraging," and "surprisingly motivating."
One participant said, "It's such a small thing, but seeing the plant grows makes me want to keep going."
Another commented, "It feels like I'm taking care of something that I don't want to let down."
None of the participants felt punished when they saw that the plant stopped growing after a missed day. Instead they expressed curiosity or calmness. One said, "Oh, it just waits? That's kind of nice that the plant doesn't die."
ITERATION
What Did You Change and Why?
One of the changes I made was pause-state design for the plants when users missed a day. The previous prototype simply stopped growth if a user skipped a habit, but there was no visual feedback or emotional reinforcement. I wanted to create a gentler, more forgiving experience. To support this, I added a visual state where it looks like the plant is patiently waiting with a soft cloudy background paired with messages like "Your plant is resting and waiting for you."
Another change was the addition of personalized onboarding flow where users could select and name their seed at the beginning. Previously, the app randomly assigns a plant without any context or user involvement. After receiving feedback, I created a simple screen where users could pick a plant type and give it a name before starting their habit. This allowed users to express themselves and form a bond with their digital plant.
How Did the Changes Impact User Reaction?
Users reacted positively to the first change. During the second round of testing, the participants describe the feature as understanding and realistic. One participant said, “It’s comforting to know the app won’t guilt trip me. My life isn’t perfect, and it feels okay to miss a day with punishment.” This reaction validated the emotional safety I was trying to build into the user experience and demonstrated that a non-punitive system could increase resilience and long-term habit engagement.
Users also reacted positively to the second change. The participants referred to their plants more aNectionately and with a sense of ownership. One participant said, “I named my plant Daisy and now I feel like I’m taking care of something that’s important to me.” By giving users a small sense of creative control, the app became more personal and makes the habit journey to feel more meaningful.
REFLECTIONS
What Did You Learn Overall?
Through this experiment, I learned that tying habit progress to visible plant growth created a strong emotional connection for users. Most participants described the experience as rewarding, motivating, and even “cute,” showing that the visual feedback of the plant’s growth was more meaningful than traditional progress tracker. The emotional reward tied to nurturing the plant validated one of Bloom’s core experience ideas.
Do Users Love It?
Yes. The concept resonated with the test group. They described the experience as emotionally supportive, visually pleasant, and motivating.
What Needs More Work?
Clarity around habit tracking logic: Some users weren't sure how often they needed to check in for the plant to grow.
Customization desire: A couple of users asked, "Can I pick what kind of plant I get?" suggesting a need for more personalization features.
Habit flexibility: There were questions about how flexible the app would be for people with different kinds of goals (e.g., weekly vis. daily habits).
What Questions Remain Unanswered?
Will users remain emotionally engaged after using the app for weeks or months?
Does this metaphor scale well when managing multiple habits at once?
How might plant growth affect users with inconsistent schedules or chronic health conditions?
KEY SCENARIOS
Starting a New Habit (Planting a Seed)
When a user opens the app for the first time or wants to begin a new habit, they are guided through a gentle onboarding process that asks them what habit they want to build (e.g., drinking water, taking walks, or stretching). They select a "seed" that represents their habit, customize it, and set their preferred check-in schedule. This scenario helps users emotionally connect with their goal by planting a seed that will grow with care and consistency.
Daily Habit Check-In (Nurturing the Plant)
Each day (or according to the user's schedule), the app prompts the user to reflect on their habit progress with a soft and encouraging message. When they check-in, their plant visually grows from a sprout to a blooming flower and offer a sense of rewarding and gentle momentum. This core interaction reinforces consistency and emotional satisfaction without presence.
Rest and Recovery (When a Day is Missed)
If the user misses a check-in, the plant doesn't wither or die. Instead, it rests in a peaceful "sleeping" state, signaling that progress cause pause without punishment. When the user returns, they are welcomed back with encouragement, reinforcing the idea that self-care is ongoing and non-linear. This scenario supports users through real-life interruption and helps them sustain habits without guilt.
PROTOTYPE WALKTHROUGH
DESIGN RATIONALE
The core design of Bloom was shaped by the hypothesis that users would feel more emotionally connected and motivated to build habits if their progress nurtured a growing digital plant. Early user feedback supported the assumption that participants described the prototype as “cute,” “motivating,” and “gentle.” This emotional response led us to prioritize a visual habit growth loop where each check-in visibly contributes to a plant’s development.
I also learned from users that many habit trackers feel rigid or judgmental. To address this, I introduced a non-punitive rest state: when a check-in is missed, the plant sleeps rather than withers. This reflects real users’ needs for flexibility and compassion in self-care tools. One user noted, “It’s so nice that it waits for me. There’s no pressure and it doesn’t feel like I failed,” which confirmed that grace and gentleness are critical to engagement and long- term use.
To further reduce friction, I designed the onboarding flow to feel calm and personal. Instead of jumping straight into task-setting, users are invited to plant a seed, choose a habit, and set a reflection schedule that fits their life. Each of these flows is structured to encourage user autonomy and emotional ownership, which were consistent themes in user feedback. Finally, I prioritized visual clarity and a soft aesthetic across the experience. The check-in flow includes encouraging language, subtle animations, and progress indicators that support mood and motivation. These choices reflect our insight that users want habit tracking to feel uplifting, not clinical or pressuring. Together, these decisions support Bloom’s value proposition: helping users grow meaningful habits with kindness, beauty, and emotional connection.
NEXT USABILITY TESTING PHASE
In the upcoming usability testing phase, I plan to evaluate how intuitive and engaging the full check-in and habit-tracking experience is across different types of users. While initial feedback validated the emotional appeal of the plant growth mechanic, several important questions remain.
Key Questions to Test:
Do users understand how to start and maintain a habit using the plant system?
Is the onboarding flow clear and emotionally resonant, or does it require simplification?
Are the check-in reminders and scheduling tools helpful or overwhelming?
Do users find the plant's resting state intuitive and reassuring, or confusing?
How do users react to setting their own check-in frequency and habit goal?
Unvalidated/ Risky Areas:
Reminder system and user scheduling preferences: I still need to know if users remember or want to return based on the visual countdown and gentle nudges.
Habit flexibility and universality: While I aimed to keep phrasing broad and inclusive, I want to see if users with very different goals (e.g., hydration vs. journaling) still feel supported.
Free response and personalization: It's unclear if users prefer to preset habits or if the free-form entry feels more meaningful or too open-ended.
This phrase will involve scenario-based testing with a mid-fidelity prototype to gather insight into navigation, emotional tone, feature usefulness, and overall clarity. Feedback from this round will guide decisions about refining flows, simplying features, and adjusting visual or verbal cues for greater clarity and emotional alignment.
Core Tasks/ Scenarios
Scenario 1: Starting a New Habit
Task: You've just opened the app for the first time. Walk through the steps to plant your first seed and begin a habit.
Goal: Observe how easily users understand onboarding, habit selection, and the setup flow.
Scenario 2: Daily Check In and Visual Feedback
Task: Imagine it's your third day using the app. Complete your daily check in and see how your plant has grown.
Goal: Test whether the visual progression and check in process are intuitive and motivating.
Scenario 3: Missed Day
Task: You forgot to check in yesterday. Open the app today and see what it looks like and what happens.
Goal: Assess how users feel when returning after a missed day and whether the experience feels gentle and supportive.
TEST PLAN
Who Did You Test and Why?
I tested with three participants who closely reflect Bloom's target users - individuals who want to build healthy habits but often feel overwhelmed by strict of clinical habit trackers.
Participants included:
A graduate student managing academic stress alongside work and seeking more balance.
A young professional recovering from burnout and rebuilding self-care routines.
A creative freelancer who struggles with consistency.
Main Questions or Goals
Will users feel emotionally connected to the metaphor of growing a plant as they build a habit?
Does Bloom's soft visual design and encouraging tone reduce pressure or guilt?
Can users intuitively complete core tasks?
How do users react to missing a check-in?
Tasks Given to Users
Start a Habit - Choose a habit, select a plant, and set a check-in schedule.
Daily Check In - Simulate a checking in for a habit and observe how the plant grows.
Miss a Check In - Skip a day and return to the app to see how it responds.
KEY FINDINGS TABLE
INSIGHTS
One participant reacted “Aww, it grew!” out loud with delight when their plant sprouted after a habit check in. This moment validated the hypothesis that tying habit progress to plant growth creates an emotional bond. Another participant also mentioned, “It’s kind of silly but this makes me want to come back and see what happens.”
When one participant returned to the app after a missed check-in, they said “Is there something wrong with my plant?” They were momentarily unsure about what was happening. This revealed that the concept of rest is positive but needs more clarity.
Several users hesitated when setting a habit frequency. The phrases “daily for a week” or “check in at this time” were unclear to some. One participant asked “Does this mean I have to check in at exactly this time?” This suggested a need to simplify language and clarify how flexible the app is with timing.
Two users also tried tapping the plant instead of the check in button. They expected the plant to be an action item. This was an insightful pattern that aligns with users’ mental modes of direct interaction.
WHAT I LEARNED
Based on what I’ve learned from initial user testing, the next steps involve refining key interaction points and emotional cues to further support user engagement and clarity. One change I plan to make is to add an edit functionality to allow users to rename or update a habit after planting. This addresses the need for flexibility and helps users refine their goals without starting over. I also intent to keep or expand affirmations since users found them emotionally supportive. Maybe offer different themes or moods based on user preferences. Several participants were unsure of how missed days affected their plant, so I plan to clarify the resting state with gentler language and visual cues. In future iterations, I would like to explore customizable reminders, deeper habit tracking options, and more personalization in plant types. I also want to test the long-term effects of this emotional design approach—particularly whether users stay engaged after several weeks and how they respond to multiple simultaneous habits. Testing how new features like community sharing or progress journals impact motivation would also be valuable in shaping the next phase of development.
HI- FIDELITY PROTOTYPES
FINAL DESIGNS
GREAT DESIGN IS ITERATION
OF GOOD DESIGN
M. COBANLI