Habit Aware

Through design strategy, support was provided to HabitAware in enhancing their approach to managing body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs). The focus was on creating a holistic, user-centered design that contributes to self-care, and emotional well-being, and ultimately improves the lives of individuals affected by BFRBs.

Role: UX Strategist & Designer

  • Conducted user research, stakeholder interviews, and competitive analysis.

  • Mapped user journeys to identify pain points.

  • Rapid prototyped and tested a reimagined watch app interface in Figma.

  • Collaborated with a UX research team on broader brand strategy.

Techniques

Experience Map |Rapid Prototyping | Deep-dive Research | Design Strategy | Stakeholder Interview

Tools

Figma

challenge

HabitAware needed to better support users managing body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs) through its KeenLite Apple Watch app. Key issues included:

  • Limited functionality compared to the Keen2 bracelet.

  • User confusion due to similar product names.

  • Misaligned branding and messaging across platforms.

The KeenLite app’s interface needed some thoughtful refinement to better reflect its potential as a flagship companion app.

Key Findings

  1. User Expectations:

    • Subscribers expect an intuitive and seamless experience, especially from the Apple Watch app.

    • The app should offer similar value and functionality to the Keen2 bracelet, justifying its subscription cost.

    2. Current Challenges:

    • Limited development and unclear branding risk alienating users, potentially causing feelings of discouragement or dissatisfaction.

    • Functionality limitations should be minimal and well communicated to users.

Strategy

  1. Strategic App Integration

    • The KeenLite app, a critical component of the user experience, required specific updates to boost engagement. A more intuitive user interface, updated notifications, and improvements to personalized insights were identified as areas for strengthening the app's value.

  2. Clarifying Product and Messaging:

    • There’s a need to clearly define the brand’s value proposition, especially for the Keen bracelet and its associated apps, to improve user understanding and eliminate confusion

  3. Consistency Across Channels

    Align communication and functionality across various touchpoints (website, apps, social media) to serve a unified purpose while avoiding content overload.

Journey Map:

  • Discovery, Research, Compare, Choose, Use, and Recover It highlights user goals, actions, emotions, thoughts, and touchpoints to better understand their experience managing body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs) with HabitAware's offerings.

design process

The branding is consistent in conveying that KeenLite complements, rather than replaces, the Keen2. The messaging now emphasizes that KeenLite (renamed to KeenWatch: Companion) is part of the larger HabitAware ecosystem. I preserved the core features that fit within the constraints of the Apple Watch while enhancing the user interface to make it more intuitive and accessible, in line with users' on-the-go needs. The interface was streamlined for quicker, more efficient interactions, offering immediate visual feedback after each action. Additionally, I improved integration with the Keen phone app to ensure a seamless transition between both platforms.

solution highlights

Rebranding: Renamed KeenLite to KeenWatch: Companion to reinforce its complementary role to Keen2.

UI Redesign:

  • Simplified interface for quick, on-the-go interactions.

  • Introduced real-time visual feedback to reinforce habit tracking.

System Integration:

  • Enhanced app-to-bracelet sync for seamless behavior insights.

  • Consistent language and user expectations across web, app, and support channels.

During this project, I realized that I sometimes expanded the scope beyond what was necessary for a design strategy. While my initial goal was to develop a focused strategy for HabitAware, I occasionally found myself exploring additional features or redesign elements that were outside the project’s core objectives. This experience underscored the importance of maintaining a clear focus, particularly when working on design strategies.

key takeaways