Lull

Brand

Lull

Industry

Wellbeing

Application

Mobile

Year

2020

Overview

As PTSD has become increasingly more common, I wanted to take my focus within this area and drive my designs so that they would uplift to those in need; particularly today's younger audience. Lull offers mobile guidance, assessments, appropriate with resources that help users and overcome unwanted triggers and their PTSD symptoms. Although this mobile concept doesn't provide an ultimate solution for those experiencing high levels of PTSD, I hope that it may provide a safe space for those that show less severe symptoms.

Research

It should go without saying that the amount of stress that teens and young adults face today has changed and increased dramatically over the years. When individuals develop symptoms that last longer than one month, which are upsetting or interfere with their relationships and activities, they may be diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. But what about those who are unable to seek help? Left untreated, youth who experience symptoms of PTSD or high levels of psychological distress over longer periods bring about a domino effect within life which may often lead to suicide.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

PTSD symptoms often co-exist with other conditions such as substance use disorders, depression and anxiety. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder affects 3.5% of the U.S. adult population—about 8 million Americans. About 37% of those diagnosed with PTSD are classified as having severe symptoms. And women have higher rates than men.

Visual Styling

My stylistic goals for Lull was to provide a sense of calmness within its comforting yet protected environment. I found interest in trying to create a psychological connection, in which the app itself mirrored its users' projected state of tenderness. My approach to a more softened interface incorporates characteristics from nuemorphism, along with implementing subtle gradients and transparencies, playful illustrations, and micro-interactions.

Challenges

With overall mental wellness having varying levels of sensitivity depending on individual cases, careful consideration into certain aspects were approached with a focus more on user-centred design. Some of my biggest concerns early within my process evolved around the thought of users self-diagnosing to the point where it would become excessive or misaligned with medical standards. Allowing these challenges to take priority within my concepts, insuring ways in which users could receive help regarding their symptoms is what led some of my design decision. It was important to me that victims of PTSD could grow without becoming too dependent on external help over time rather than self-reflection/healing is what led some of my design decision.

Initial designs

I started this project wanting to redesign the Veterans Affairs' mobile app, PTSD Coach. I had only served four years in the Navy but could start to feel what implications longer enlistments could do, or worst, what wars could bring back with it. Up until this point though, a lot of my project had been redesigns of existing apps and websites. Earlier in my process, I began to have second thoughts about my ambitions. I didn't want to keep redesigning to no avail, as I had previously done. And although the military plated a huge role in my life, were there ways in which I could design something new? One that would have a greater and more lasting effect on a more inclusive audience?...An audience that military benefits or financial stability could offer?

Persona

"Every now and then I just need someone to talk to. It isn't that I don't have family or friends because I do. It can be hard to talk about my PTSD them because I am used to getting so much attention already. Lately, I've been so triggered by things in my childhood though. I wish I had someone who completely understands what I going through right now and isn't just there to tell me that everything is going to be alright or to calm down. "

Age

Education

High School

Career

Waitress

Other

Theatre Arts

likes

Crafting

Dislikes

Confrontation

Personality

Caring, dependable

Social

Facebook, Instagram

Final Iterations

Lacking adequate and relevant data needed while designing, a large portion of my concept has been structure around the VA's own app, PTSD Coach. Given my target demographic though and their needs, it was vital to design an app that they would be able to identify with and trust.

Suicide amongst teens and young adults

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported a 30% increase in suicides in the United States from 2000 to 2016. With this number continuing to grow, suicide is thought to be the second leading cause of death for Americans between 10 and 34.

Adolescents are of particular concern, with increases in social media use, anxiety, depression, and self-inflicted injuries. In 2017 alone, suicide claimed the lives of 5,016 males and 1,225 females between 15 and 24 in the United States, researchers reported in the Journal of the American Medical Assn.

Next steps

Going forward, I would love to resolve how Lull could be more inclusive, more personal for each user and their specific needs. As of now, Lull gathers user input mainly through touch and then visually displays system output on a given screen. Although this interaction between person and device is common practice, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is not so simple. Revisiting this project at a later date, my main focus would be to design for those who are audible/visually impaired along with others who carry their own disabilities.

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