March 2025 (2 weeks)
Android App
Self-Reflection
Journaling
10kdesigners Assignment
I designed Memoirly as part of a 10kdesigners Startup Simulator assignment. The challenge was to design an Android journaling app that helps users capture thoughts, understand emotions, and stick with the habit, all while working with limited time. I focused on getting the core experience right rather than building everything, using Material Design guidelines throughout and AI as a research and ideation tool.
A journaling app designed to help users document their thoughts, memories, and experiences, and generate insights from AI. Focused on mindfulness, self-reflection, and personal growth.
Understanding the assignment
I broke down the brief to understand what was actually being asked. Then I did light research on journaling behavior and AI-powered apps to get context for the problem space.
User research & personas
I created two main personas, Emily, a student who wants quick journaling but worries about privacy, and Mark, a busy parent who needs real value. These helped me stay focused on actual user needs.
Competitor research
I explored several journaling and wellness apps to understand what works and what does not. The key insight was that most apps tried to do too much when people really wanted simplicity.
MVP focus
With limited time, I prioritized core features and focused on essential user flows instead of building everything.
Wireframes
I started with hand-drawn wireframes to test ideas quickly, then moved to mid-fidelity designs to validate layouts before adding visuals.
Design assets
Before high-fidelity, I built design assets, logo, color palette, typography, and icon library. I used Material Theme Builder and Material Design guidelines to make sure it felt native to Android.
High-fidelity design
I designed screens for homepage, entries list with calendar, search, new journal entry options, insights dashboard, and AI chat. I made quick iterations to focus on core experience over perfection.
AI as a tool
I used AI for research synthesis, ideation, and content creation, not to replace thinking but to move faster and explore more options within my time limit.
Homepage with personalized greeting, calendar, AI-generated prompt, and memory highlights. Entries list with calendar navigation. Search with keyword and tag filters. Multi-modal entry (text, voice, photos, emoji mood tags). Insights dashboard showing emotion breakdown and mood trends. AI chat with supportive personas for deeper reflection.
Homepage with personalized greeting, calendar, AI-generated prompt, and memory highlights. Entries list with calendar navigation. Search with keyword and tag filters. Multi-modal entry (text, voice, photos, emoji mood tags). Insights dashboard showing emotion breakdown and mood trends. AI chat with supportive personas for deeper reflection.
Constraints force better decisions. Time pressure meant I had to cut scope ruthlessly and focus on what actually mattered. Research saves time. Understanding competitors and user behavior upfront meant fewer dead ends during design. Material Design guidelines work. Following them made the app feel native to Android and easy to use. Simple takes work. Every pixel had to earn its place because I didn’t have time for nice-to-haves.