Zenro
Stress Hormone Tracking and Recommendations
ROLE
User Experience Design, Human Interface Design, Interaction Design, User Research
TOOLS
Figma
Adobe Creative Cloud
TIMELINE
May - August 2024 (4 months)
INTRODUCTION
Tracking Stress for Mental Wellness
Stress management often stops at mood tracking, but real insight comes from understanding what’s happening biochemically. Over a four-month contract, I designed the interaction system and user interface for a mobile app that works with PimaSens sensors to track cortisol and adrenaline levels in real time. The system translates this data into meaningful trends and personalized recommendations, helping users take a more informed, proactive approach to mental well-being.
Stress management often stops at mood tracking, but real insight comes from understanding what’s happening biochemically. Over a four-month contract, I designed the interaction system and user interface for a mobile app that works with PimaSens sensors to track cortisol and adrenaline levels in real time. The system translates this data into meaningful trends and personalized recommendations, helping users take a more informed, proactive approach to mental well-being.
Stress management often stops at mood tracking, but real insight comes from understanding what’s happening biochemically. Over a four-month contract, I designed the interaction system and user interface for a mobile app that works with PimaSens sensors to track cortisol and adrenaline levels in real time. The system translates this data into meaningful trends and personalized recommendations, helping users take a more informed, proactive approach to mental well-being.
PROBLEM SPACE
Most stress management tools rely on subjective input, offering limited insight into real physiological responses. There is a need for a more objective, data-driven system that empowers individuals to understand and manage their mental well-being through measurable biomarkers like cortisol and adrenaline.
Most stress management tools rely on subjective input, offering limited insight into real physiological responses. There is a need for a more objective, data-driven system that empowers individuals to understand and manage their mental well-being through measurable biomarkers like cortisol and adrenaline.
Most stress management tools rely on subjective input, offering limited insight into real physiological responses. There is a need for a more objective, data-driven system that empowers individuals to understand and manage their mental well-being through measurable biomarkers like cortisol and adrenaline.
PROCESS
DESIGN PROCESS
Following the double-diamond, from ideation to protoype
Following the double-diamond, from ideation to protoype
Following the double-diamond, from ideation to protoype
Research
KEY FINDINGS
The purpose of the secondary research was to gain a broad understanding of how stress hormones impact well-being and identify key problem spaces to address in the solution. I identified 4 main points:
The purpose of the secondary research was to gain a broad understanding of how stress hormones impact well-being and identify key problem spaces to address in the solution. I identified 4 main points:
The purpose of the secondary research was to gain a broad understanding of how stress hormones impact well-being and identify key problem spaces to address in the solution. I identified 4 main points:
CORTISOL IMPACT ON HEALTH
Elevated cortisol impacts mental health, increasing anxiety, burnout, and depression risk. Chronic stress weakens immunity, raises cardiovascular risks, and impairs memory and cognition
HORMONE TRACKING BARRIERS
Users lack real-time access to cortisol and adrenaline data, often relying on lengthy appointments and lab tests. This delay hinders timely stress management and significantly increases health risks.
UNAWARE OF IMPACTS
Many are unaware of the role stress hormones play in health, leading to delayed action and misattributing stress symptoms to external factors instead of hormonal imbalances.
TECHNOLOGY ACCESS GAP
Not all users have access to wearables or devices that monitor physiological signals, creating disparities in stress management tools across income levels and/or different regions.
cOrtisol impact on health
Elevated cortisol impacts mental health, increasing anxiety, burnout, and depression risk. Chronic stress weakens immunity, raises cardiovascular risks, and impairs memory and cognition.
Hormone Tracking Barriers
Biomarker levels (e.g., optimal, high, low) are displayed along with recommendations, such as exercises or lifestyle adjustments.
Technology Access Gap
Not all users have access to wearables or devices that monitor physiological signals, creating disparities in stress management tools across income levels and/or different regions.
uNaware of impacts
Many are unaware of the role stress hormones play in health, leading to delayed action and misattributing stress symptoms to external factors instead of hormonal imbalances.
SYNTHESIS
TASK Flow (HIGHLEVEL)
Based on the secondary research and co-design session, the following user journey was created to guide the ideation process, helping to determine the basic steps and screens needed at a foundational level.
Based on the secondary research and co-design session, the following user journey was created to guide the ideation process, helping to determine the basic steps and screens needed at a foundational level.
Based on the secondary research and co-design session, the following user journey was created to guide the ideation process, helping to determine the basic steps and screens needed at a foundational level.
IDEATION
LOW FIDELITY
Sketching allowed me to better understand and map out key needs based on insights uncovered during research and synthesis.
Sketching allowed me to better understand and map out key needs based on insights uncovered during research and synthesis.
Sketching allowed me to better understand and map out key needs based on insights uncovered during research and synthesis.
SOLUTION
FINAL DESIGN
Real-time cortisol results are displayed with a circular range indicator, showing where levels fall—from low to critical. Color-coded zones provide quick visual feedback, while labels like “Normal,” “Moderate,” or “High” highlight the current state. Each result includes a timestamp, sensor ID, and a tailored recommendation with suggested actions based on severity.
Real-time cortisol results are displayed with a circular range indicator, showing where levels fall—from low to critical. Color-coded zones provide quick visual feedback, while labels like “Normal,” “Moderate,” or “High” highlight the current state. Each result includes a timestamp, sensor ID, and a tailored recommendation with suggested actions based on severity.
Real-time cortisol results are displayed with a circular range indicator, showing where levels fall—from low to critical. Color-coded zones provide quick visual feedback, while labels like “Normal,” “Moderate,” or “High” highlight the current state. Each result includes a timestamp, sensor ID, and a tailored recommendation with suggested actions based on severity.
Choose the stress hormone to test—cortisol or adrenaline—view recent or pinned results, and start a new test with a single tap.
Choose the stress hormone to test—cortisol or adrenaline—view recent or pinned results, and start a new test with a single tap.
Choose the stress hormone to test—cortisol or adrenaline—view recent or pinned results, and start a new test with a single tap.
Insights offers a deeper look into stress data through visual trends, showing patterns across time and daily cycles. Users can browse all tests, filter by recent or priority results, and track hormone fluctuations with clear status indicators.
Insights offers a deeper look into stress data through visual trends, showing patterns across time and daily cycles. Users can browse all tests, filter by recent or priority results, and track hormone fluctuations with clear status indicators.
Insights offers a deeper look into stress data through visual trends, showing patterns across time and daily cycles. Users can browse all tests, filter by recent or priority results, and track hormone fluctuations with clear status indicators.
