4 Critical Elements in Mindful Product Design
There are hundreds of mindful apps and websites to choose from. We decided to test out a few of the highest rated, and some not-so highly rated ones, to determine if there were any themes to good mindful product design. Here’s what we’ve uncovered:
1. The Beginning — Notifications
The moments in your life where you could really benefit from guided meditation or breathing exercises are not the moments you are receptive to distracting notifications. So many apps (Calm, Apple Watch Breathe, Headspace to name a few) rely on time-based notifications. I think Spire is on to something. Its tracker monitors your breathing and recommends a mindful break when it senses you need one.
2. Visuals and Motion
Many mindful apps rely on cliché “forest during a rainstorm” or “empty beach at sunset” imagery. The trouble is that everyone’s version of relaxation is different. I appreciate a more abstract approach. While SoundToCalm has many shortcomings, I do love its color morphing background (best viewed on Chrome). Speed and motion are essential principles to consider. The visuals of Calm’s breathing exercise slowly and subtly extend each breath, subconsciously nudging to the user to do the same.
3. Focused and Ambient Sounds
Sound design is an important component for most apps, but it is an absolutely vital element for products that encourage users to close their eyes. The best use a mix of focused and ambient sounds. Focused sounds include a voice that guides you through meditation or soft bells that indicate whether you should be inhaling or exhaling. Ambient sounds are just as important. They can help to mask the user’s environment and keep them immersed in the mindful experience.
4. The End
The end of an experience solidifies how the user will remember your product. After a session of meditation or breathing exercises, many apps kick you to progress bars, personal stats, and encourage you to unlock (i.e. pay for) the next level. Can you imagine leaving a spa treatment and being overwhelmed with a chatty salesperson “here’s how you’re doing and what you can do next”? If your product has done its job to relax and focus your user, continue that feeling through to the end.
