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Helping people build mindful habits with Habit Zen

Smartphone showing a habit-tracking app with a calendar and a check-in prompt.
Smartphone showing a habit-tracking app with a calendar and a check-in prompt.
Smartphone showing a habit-tracking app with a calendar and a check-in prompt.

Habit Zen is an app created by Leo Babauta, designed to help people overcome resistance, stick to habits, and improve through personalized plans.

Mindfullness & Productivity

Wireframing

UI Design

Mobile App Design

The challenge

Many people struggle to build lasting habits. They start with motivation but quickly lose momentum, lack accountability, or feel overwhelmed when tracking too many goals at once. Habit Zen set out to solve this by offering a calm, supportive tool that makes habit building easier, more sustainable, and rooted in mindfulness.

The challenge

Many people struggle to build lasting habits. They start with motivation but quickly lose momentum, lack accountability, or feel overwhelmed when tracking too many goals at once. Habit Zen set out to solve this by offering a calm, supportive tool that makes habit building easier, more sustainable, and rooted in mindfulness.

The challenge

Many people struggle to build lasting habits. They start with motivation but quickly lose momentum, lack accountability, or feel overwhelmed when tracking too many goals at once. Habit Zen set out to solve this by offering a calm, supportive tool that makes habit building easier, more sustainable, and rooted in mindfulness.

My Role

I worked closely with Leo Babauta and developers to bring his vision for the app to life. I was responsible for research, UX/UI and visual design.

My Role

I worked closely with Leo Babauta and developers to bring his vision for the app to life. I was responsible for research, UX/UI and visual design.

My Role

I worked closely with Leo Babauta and developers to bring his vision for the app to life. I was responsible for research, UX/UI and visual design.

Close-up of green fern leaves with overlapping patterns.
Close-up of green fern leaves with overlapping patterns.
Close-up of green fern leaves with overlapping patterns.
Phone screen showing habit options
Phone screen showing habit options
Phone screen showing habit options
Design process steps shown in four boxes: Research, Ideation, Delivery, Validation, overlaid on an image of a woman doing yoga on a green mat.
Design process steps shown in four boxes: Research, Ideation, Delivery, Validation, overlaid on an image of a woman doing yoga on a green mat.
Design process steps shown in four boxes: Research, Ideation, Delivery, Validation, overlaid on an image of a woman doing yoga on a green mat.

Discovery

The discovery phase involved analyzing existing user research, conducting competitive research, interviewing stakeholders, and studying habit formation to identify market gaps and user needs. User personas were then created to guide design and ensure the tool effectively meets these diverse needs.

Discovery

The discovery phase involved analyzing existing user research, conducting competitive research, interviewing stakeholders, and studying habit formation to identify market gaps and user needs. User personas were then created to guide design and ensure the tool effectively meets these diverse needs.

Discovery

The discovery phase involved analyzing existing user research, conducting competitive research, interviewing stakeholders, and studying habit formation to identify market gaps and user needs. User personas were then created to guide design and ensure the tool effectively meets these diverse needs.

Personas of John, 34, teacher, and Sarah, 30, marketing specialist, with listed goals and pains related to habit tracking.
Personas of John, 34, teacher, and Sarah, 30, marketing specialist, with listed goals and pains related to habit tracking.
Personas of John, 34, teacher, and Sarah, 30, marketing specialist, with listed goals and pains related to habit tracking.
Split image of ocean waves on the left and succulents on the right.
Split image of ocean waves on the left and succulents on the right.
Split image of ocean waves on the left and succulents on the right.
Competitive analysis table
Competitive analysis table
Competitive analysis table

User flows

User flows were crafted to streamline key interactions, such as onboarding, habit tracking, and joining support groups. These flows ensured users could easily navigate the tool, enhancing their overall experience and engagement.

User flows

User flows were crafted to streamline key interactions, such as onboarding, habit tracking, and joining support groups. These flows ensured users could easily navigate the tool, enhancing their overall experience and engagement.

User flows

User flows were crafted to streamline key interactions, such as onboarding, habit tracking, and joining support groups. These flows ensured users could easily navigate the tool, enhancing their overall experience and engagement.

User flow
User flow
User flow

Designs

Building on the wireframes, I created high-fidelity designs that brought the concept to life with detailed visuals and interactive elements. Emphasizing Leo Babauta’s philosophy of simplicity, the designs feature a clean, minimalist interface with thoughtful color schemes, typography, and iconography. These elements create a calming, visually appealing experience. The designs ensure usability across both web and iOS platforms, providing all users with a seamless and consistent experience.

Designs

Building on the wireframes, I created high-fidelity designs that brought the concept to life with detailed visuals and interactive elements. Emphasizing Leo Babauta’s philosophy of simplicity, the designs feature a clean, minimalist interface with thoughtful color schemes, typography, and iconography. These elements create a calming, visually appealing experience. The designs ensure usability across both web and iOS platforms, providing all users with a seamless and consistent experience.

Designs

Building on the wireframes, I created high-fidelity designs that brought the concept to life with detailed visuals and interactive elements. Emphasizing Leo Babauta’s philosophy of simplicity, the designs feature a clean, minimalist interface with thoughtful color schemes, typography, and iconography. These elements create a calming, visually appealing experience. The designs ensure usability across both web and iOS platforms, providing all users with a seamless and consistent experience.

Habit-tracking dashboard on a laptop with completed and archived habits.
Habit-tracking dashboard on a laptop with completed and archived habits.
Habit-tracking dashboard on a laptop with completed and archived habits.
Dark-themed app sidebar with icons and habit menu.
Dark-themed app sidebar with icons and habit menu.
Dark-themed app sidebar with icons and habit menu.
Habit tracker app with cards for Gratitude, Meditate, and Drink smoothie.
Habit tracker app with cards for Gratitude, Meditate, and Drink smoothie.
Habit tracker app with cards for Gratitude, Meditate, and Drink smoothie.
Line chart showing check-ins count
Line chart showing check-ins count
Line chart showing check-ins count
Close-up of a green succulent plant in a spiral pattern.
Close-up of a green succulent plant in a spiral pattern.
Close-up of a green succulent plant in a spiral pattern.
Habit card titled "Gratitude" with options menu showing mark as done, set reminder, archive, postpone, and delete.
Habit card titled "Gratitude" with options menu showing mark as done, set reminder, archive, postpone, and delete.
Habit card titled "Gratitude" with options menu showing mark as done, set reminder, archive, postpone, and delete.
Laptop displaying habit tracker dashboard with gratitude habit, calendar, and progress stats.
Laptop displaying habit tracker dashboard with gratitude habit, calendar, and progress stats.
Laptop displaying habit tracker dashboard with gratitude habit, calendar, and progress stats.
Lato typeface showing headings in uppercase and text in lowercase.
Lato typeface showing headings in uppercase and text in lowercase.
Lato typeface showing headings in uppercase and text in lowercase.
Color palette with six swatches in blue, gray, and dark tones, labeled with hex codes
Color palette with six swatches in blue, gray, and dark tones, labeled with hex codes
Color palette with six swatches in blue, gray, and dark tones, labeled with hex codes
Close-up of water droplet on a stem, ocean waves, and a person in a yoga pose.
Close-up of water droplet on a stem, ocean waves, and a person in a yoga pose.
Close-up of water droplet on a stem, ocean waves, and a person in a yoga pose.

Impact

The design laid a solid foundation for the new application, aligning with Leo Babauta’s vision of simplicity and mindfulness. The Kickstarter campaign for the project successfully raised above $54,000, reflecting strong support and interest in the design and its goals. Early feedback from stakeholders and beta users has been positive, indicating strong alignment with the project’s goals and user expectations.

Impact

The design laid a solid foundation for the new application, aligning with Leo Babauta’s vision of simplicity and mindfulness. The Kickstarter campaign for the project successfully raised above $54,000, reflecting strong support and interest in the design and its goals. Early feedback from stakeholders and beta users has been positive, indicating strong alignment with the project’s goals and user expectations.

Impact

The design laid a solid foundation for the new application, aligning with Leo Babauta’s vision of simplicity and mindfulness. The Kickstarter campaign for the project successfully raised above $54,000, reflecting strong support and interest in the design and its goals. Early feedback from stakeholders and beta users has been positive, indicating strong alignment with the project’s goals and user expectations.

Two smartphones showing habit tracking app screens with habit list and calendar check-in.
Two smartphones showing habit tracking app screens with habit list and calendar check-in.
Two smartphones showing habit tracking app screens with habit list and calendar check-in.