ripple process

Ripple

product design

mobile app

UI/UX design

human centered design

mental health

overview

process

future

We followed a 4-step process utilizing human-centered design principles—research, synthesis, ideation, and iteration—to produce an impactful and intentional solution.

fung fellowship health + innovation track

october 2024 - december 2024

team: rachel skwersky, maryum syed, irene song

role → lead visual and experience designer

figma, adobe creative suite, womp

01. overview

Youth mental health is a serious problem.

Half of all lifetime cases of diagnosable mental illness begin by age 14, and 75% begin by age 24. In California, there are over 284,000 youth that cope with major depression. 66% of them did not receive treatment. In 2021, one-third of youth expressed significant psychological distress. Suicide rates for kids ages 10-18 increased 20% between 2019-2020.

In 2022, Governor Newsom announced a Master Plan for Kids’ Mental Health and committed $4.7 billion to address the youth mental health crisis in California. Autumn Boylan from DHCS shared four strategic areas where the State wants to develop innovative solutions to solve the youth mental health crisis:

healthcare settings🩻

→ expanding the behavioral health workforce
→ increasing access to services
→ supporting non-specialist care providers

schools & colleges ✏️

→ bringing wellness to the classroom
→ nurturing a supportive campus culture
→ expanding access to school-linked care

home and communities 🏠

→ enhancing community resilience
→ building a community-based workforce

digital environment 📱

→ bringing behavioral health services online
→ building the next generation of digital support

Seeking innovative solutions in the digital environment, the DCHS partnered with the Fung Fellowship Health + Innovation Track though a design challenge to elicit innovative and tailored solutions from a driven, multidisciplinary cohort of students passionate about design for health and social impact.

How might we...
develop digital support tools to help solve the youth mental health crisis in California?

02. research

literature review

key areas of knowledge:

Our research led us to explore the fascinating intersection of neuroscience and mental health treatment, specifically focusing on Polyvagal Theory (PVT) and its applications for youth mental health support.

We focused on three main areas of research: stress responses through the framework of PVT, the Body-Mind Connection, and existing therapeutic techniques.

1. The Science of Stress: the Polyvagal Theory

Our deep dive into Polyvagal Theory revealed how our nervous system responds to stress through three distinct states:
→ Safety and social connection
→ Fight-or-flight response
→ Shutdown or freeze response

‍Key Insight:
Understanding these states helped us realize that effective mental health support needs to work with the body's natural regulatory system, not against it.

2. Body-Mind Connection

Research showed that the most effective therapeutic approaches:
1. Start with physical sensations
2. Create feedback loops between body and mind
3. Use intentional movement and touch to regulate emotions

‍Critical Finding:
The body's stress response system can be positively influenced through specific physical interventions, particularly through vagus nerve stimulation.

3. Therapeutic Techniques

We discovered that successful interventions share common elements:
→ Breathing regulation
→ Rhythmic movement
→ Sensory feedback
→ Social engagement

Design Implication:
This led us to explore how we could incorporate these elements into a wearable device that could provide real-time support.

This research fundamentally shaped our approach to Ripple's design, guiding our approach towards a paired app and wearable with three key requirements:

Physical Intervention

→ Research showed that touch and rhythm can help regulate the nervous system
→ Led to our development of the tapping mechanism

Real-time Support

→ Studies indicated the importance of immediate intervention during stress
→ Influenced our decision to create a wearable device

Social Connection

→ Research emphasized the role of social support in healing
→ Inspired our app's guided routine features and friendly interface design

competitive analysis

Our research into Polyvagal Theory and somatic interventions revealed a promising direction: physical feedback could help regulate emotional states.

But before diving into design, we needed to understand: what physical and therapeutic solutions already existed, and were they effectively applying these principles?

Wearables

TouchPoint ($160-200)

✓ Stress-reduction through vibration
✓ Wearable form factor
× Limited personalization
× Expensive and bulky

Apollo Neuro ($350)

✓ Evidence-based stress management
✓ App integration
× High price point
× Complex for daily use

Muse ($250-400)

✓ Meditation guidance
✓ Clear feedback system
× Requires dedicated practice time
× Not discreet

Mobile Apps

HeadSpace ($12.99/mo)

✓ Stress-reduction through vibration
✓ Wearable form factor
× Limited personalization
× Expensive and bulky

Calm ($14.99/mo)

✓ Evidence-based stress management
✓ App integration
× High price point
× Complex for daily use

BetterHelp ($240/mo)

✓ Meditation guidance
✓ Clear feedback system
× Requires dedicated practice time
× Not discreet

Gap analysis: identifying unmet needs

High price point, inaccessible to youth

Lacking integration for daily use

Too general, only focused on wellness

the opportunity: research-backed somatic techniques for emotional regulation

user research

We conducted in-depth interviews with 5 college students to understand their mental health experiences, challenges, and needs. Our participants included students with diagnosed conditions (PTSD, BDD, anxiety) and those dealing with general stress management.

Key quotes:

📚

"The biggest challenge is consistency—assignments, exams, and social activities often get in the way, making it hard to stick to a routine."

🧠

"I'd prefer something lowkey, especially because I don't always feel comfortable talking about my mental health openly."

🪞

"I practice mindfulness, avoid mirrors as much as possible, and try to engage in activities that don't focus on appearance."

Pain Points:

🫀Internal

⚡️
low impact

Stress Responses

- Constant "fight-or-flight" state
- Physical symptoms (headaches, fatigue)
- Sleep disruption
- Digestive issues from anxiety

Strategic Challenges

- Inconsistent wellness routines
- Difficulty maintaining habits
- Overwhelming # of tasks
- Trouble remembering therapeutic techniques

Technical Limitations

- Many separate apps/devices
- Complex setup requirements
- Lack of personalization
- Poor integration with daily life

Personal Barriers

- Stigma around mental health
- Self-consciousness in public
- Fear of drawing attention
- Academic and social pressures

💥
high impact

👥 external

User Needs:

Must Have

Discretion

‍I'd want the device to be pretty discreet, something that blends with my everyday style

→ Subtle design
→ Non-medical appearance
→ Comfortable in public

Real-Time Support

"Having someone who understands what I'm going through is really grounding"

→ Immediate support
→ Quick access to coping tools
→ In-the-moment guidance

Consistency

"Having someone who understands what I'm going through is really grounding"

→ Gentle reminders
→ Low-effort maintenance
→ Seamless daily integration

Should Have

Easy Integration

"If it's easy to use, especially during high-stress times like finals, I'd likely build it into my daily routine"

→ Minimal setup required
→ Fits existing habits

Personalization

"I'd be more likely to use it if it had features like mood tracking, breathing exercises, and reminders"

→ Customizable settings
→ Personal preferences

Physical Comfort

"Style matters, but I'd mostly prefer something subtle. I don't want to feel self-conscious about it"
→ Lightweight design
→Non-irritating materials
→ Comfortable

Nice to Have

Progress Tracking

"A feature to track my stress responses throughout the day could help me identify patterns"
→ Pattern recognition
→ Habit tracking
→ Progress visualization

Community

"Sometimes talking with a friend or even just stepping outside can make a big difference"
→ Optional social features
→ Resource sharing

App Integration

"Integration with other health and wellness apps I already use would also be helpful"
→ Cross-platform compatibility
→ Data synchronization

User Insights

Seamless Integration is Critical
‍
‍Users won't adopt solutions that add complexity to their already overwhelming routines.

Privacy Drives Adoption

The more discreet the solution, the more likely users are to consistently use it.

Physical-Mental Connection
‍
Users regularly experience physical symptoms of stress, suggesting the need for somatic interventions.

Support Preference Spectrum

While some users prefer complete privacy, others value community support - suggesting the need for flexible support options.

03. synthesis

persona spectrum analysis

To design our solution, we honed in on the inclusive design principle: design for the individual who experiences the most mismatches with a solution, and extend that across a spectrum of people excluded on a temporary or situational basis.

We began by focusing on users with diagnosed PTSD, who experience the most significant barriers to mental health support. Their needs revealed opportunities that would benefit users across the spectrum.

🔄 permanent

⏳ temporary

💡 situational

Diagnosed PTSD

Daily triggers

Chronic anxiety

Exam stress

Deadline pressure

Seasonal depression

Public speaking

Social events

Travel anxiety

human motivations

connection

→ community
→ support
→ understanding

independence

→ privacy
→ control
→ autonomy

creation

→ growth
→ expression
→ discovery

By solving for the most challenging use case, we created a solution that:

1. Removes barriers for all users
2. Provides scalable support
3. Maintains dignity and privacy
4. Offers universal benefits

04. ideation

RestTap → Ripple

Initial Direction: RestTap

Our journey began with a clear understanding of our users' needs for discrete, immediate anxiety relief. The initial concept started with RestTap, focusing on:

1. EFT Tapping Integration

2. Wearable Form Factor

3. Digital Companion

- Evidence-based technique
- Physical relief mechanism
- Self-administered therapy

  - Discrete design
  - Always accessible
  - Body-responsive

- Guided exercises
- Progress tracking
- Personalized support

Everything changed during a routine walk across campus.

A simple storm drain cover caught my attention – its concentric circles creating a mesmerizing pattern that reminded me of water ripples. This moment sparked a complete reimagining of our concept.

Concentric Circles → Visual calm → Expanding impact→ Natural rhythm → Water Metaphor → Fluidity of emotion → Gentle movement → Natural healing

black boots pointing towards a storm drain cover with a textured concentric circle pattern

The Ripple Effect 🌀

This new direction transformed our thinking about emotional impact:

Visual Language
🪷

Brand Story 🌱

Design Philosophy 💧

From clinical → natural
From utility → poetry
From device → companion

Small actions → wider impact
Individual → community
Moment → journey

Biomimicry in form
Nature-inspired interaction
Organic user experience

This evolution wasn't just about aesthetics – it represented a fundamental shift in how we approached the entire user experience. By embracing natural patterns and rhythms, we created a solution that felt less like a medical device and more like a natural extension of the self.

visual identity & branding

We developed a cohesive visual language that embodies Ripple's core values of serenity, empathy, approachability, and adaptability.

Brand Values

☁️ Serene: Peaceful, calming presence

💗 Empathetic: Understanding, supportive approach

🤝 Approachable: Welcoming, non-clinical feel

🌊 Adaptable: Flexible to user needs

color palette

primary colors

secondary colors

typography

Seasummer VTWC

Fig Grotesk Book

Organic, fluid forms
Used for headlines and branding

Clean, accessible
Used for interface and content

user interaction mapping

A diagram that demonstrates the flow of the app's landing page, tutorial, home screen, and session page

prototyping

mobile app

app features

personalized dashboard 🎯

guided sessions 🧘‍♀️

progress insights 📊

→ Mood tracking
→ Activity recommendations
→ Progress visualization

→ Custom routines
→ Timer integration
→ Voice-guided exercises

→ Mood patterns
→ Session history
→ Achievement tracking

wearable prototype

charging station

The ripple device on the lilypad charging pad. It is a clay conceptual prototype and is painted with vibrant blues and greens.

A 3D render of the lily pad charging pad and ripple device on a tan desk.

device specs

sustainable materials ♻️

medical-grade adhesives ⚕️

responsive controls 📱

→ Durable and rigid core structure made of recycled aluminum
→ Medical-Grade Silicone outer cover for design & user comfort

→ Biodegradable natural rubber
→ Hypoallergenic coating to minimize irritants and allergens
→ Inclusive shade range

→ Touch-sensitive surface
→ Adjustable intensity
→ Haptic feedback

05. Iteration

user testing timeline

Internal Testing
→ Usability testing with team and stakeholders
→ Preliminary data collection
→ Core functionality validation

External Beta
→ Tang Center Partnership
→ eating disorder treatment cohort
→ campus ambassador program

Staged Rollout Expansion
→ PTSD & anxiety support
→ Local school and clinic partnerships

A/B Testing & Optimization
‍
→ Feature effectiveness comparison
→ Mental health outcome tracking
→ Continuous improvement cycles

key performance metrics

engagement rate 📈

health impact 💗

growth & retention 🌱

→ Daily active users
→ Session duration
→ Feature adoption

→ Symptom improvement
→ Coping skill development
→ Mental state indicators

→ User satisfaction
→ Long-term adoption
→ Community feedback

06. impact

🏆 Awarded First Place for Innovation in Health by Fung Fellowship at UC Berkeley

Our innovative approach to mental health support was recognized for user-centered design, sustainability and feasibility, evidence-based intervention, and scalable impact potential.

Our success in this design challenge validates our mission to transform mental health support through innovative technology. This recognition fuels our commitment to making mental health support more accessible, engaging, and effective for young adults.

the team :)