(Abrazo Means "hug" in Spanish)
Abrazo is a mental health solution that offers instant support during panic attacks, helping users navigate distress while providing continuous emotional companionship for long-term well-being.
Duration
8 Weeks
My Role
UI Lead / Branding
Tools
Figma, Rhino, Keyshot, Illustrator
Team
2 other designers
The Problem
People who have panic attacks and/or extreme anxiety usually don’t have an effective way to manage their stress in the moment.
Panic attacks disproportionately affect individuals aged 16 to 30, with 11% of the U.S. population experiencing a panic attack annually and 3% suffering from panic disorder, however, only 1 in every 4 people ever seek treatment for their panic attack/anxiety disorder. It highlights the need for accessible, real-time support solution
HMW?
Create an inclusive and effective real-time strategy for individuals experiencing panic attacks to manage stress and alleviate their symptoms in the moment, empowering them to regain control.
The Solution
Create an inclusive and effective real-time strategy for individuals experiencing panic attacks to manage stress and alleviate symptoms in the moment, empowering them to regain control.
Hug is my solution, leveraging deep pressure therapy to provide individuals experiencing panic attacks with immediate relief and long-term emotional comfort, mimicking the soothing effects of a physical embrace.
Research
Quantitative Survey
20%
expressed discomfort with physical touch, such as hugging.
70%
said that hugs give them a sense of strength and comfort
80%
prefer to cope with panic on their own rather than seek help from others.
5 Themes
Accessibility and immediate reliref
Long-Term Support and Emotional Management
Physical Comfort through Tough
Privacy and Discretion
Customization and Personalization
So, people want…
4 User Needs
Immediate access to a solution that provides quick relief during panic attacks
Ongoing emotional support that helps them manage anxiety not just in the moment, but over the long term
A discreet product that allows them to manage anxiety privately, without drawing attention in public settings
Physical comfort, such as the sensation of a hug, as it helps reduce anxiety effectively through deep-pressure therapy
Qualitative Interviews
Insights from the Clinical Neurodiversity Behavioral Specialist at SCAD's Office of Neurodiversity Services
Neurodivergent individuals are highly sensitive to clothing materials, seams, and tags, which makes many existing solutions uncomfortable or unsuitable for their needs.
Current deep pressure therapy devices often feel restrictive or cause overheating, reducing comfort and long-term usability.
There is a need for a solution that effectively alleviates anxiety while ensuring comfort and ease of use, with the potential to provide long-term support for users.
Insights from 30 interviewees
People often feel comforted by the company of others during panic attacks, but they may hesitate to reach out due to feelings of being a burden or the fear of increasing anxiety if there is no response.
When experiencing a panic attack or suffering from anxiety, people prefer a smaller group of people around them.
Due to cultural differences, some people don't like a hug when they are sad.
Ideation
Target Audience
Our target audience mainly focuses on Millennials and Generation Z, as most panic attacks are felt by those aged 16 to 30. However, anxiety and panic attacks aren't limited to just those generations and ages.
Meet Nia
This journey map captures Nia's emotional highs and lows, emphasizing the critical moments during her panic episodes where targeted interventions, like Abrazo, can offer immediate relief and lasting reassurance.
Competitors
Immediate Comfort/Relif
Long-term Emotional Support
Dual Relief (Immediate & Long-term support
Portability
Tech Integration
Goals
Rea-ltime Relief
Long-Term Support
Gentle Design
Design
User Flow
User Onboarding Flow
Home dashboard
Emotions
My Abrazo
Relief
Settings
Mood tracker
Apple Health Connection
Education and resources
Close Circle
Device settings
Activation history
Device control
Guided hug sessions
Mood tracker
Guided meditation sessions
Educational resources
Apple Health Connection
Education and resources
Psychiatrist/therapist connection tool
Close Circle
Features Overview
Low-Fidelity Wireframes
Home
Emotion
Device
Relief A
Relief B
For the Relief feature, we explored two concepts. Concept A involved a more interactive experience where users could exchange hugs, while Concept B provided a more private stress relief session.
Through additional interviews and A/B testing, we found that individuals experiencing anxiety preferred a private emotional regulation experience, so we ultimately chose Concept B.
Concept A
Involved a more interactive experience where users could exchange hugs
Users can see their community to know friends' feeling and give them an "E-Hug"
Concept A
Users prefer to cope with panic on their own in a private environment.
Concept B provided a more private relief environment.
Provided a more private stress relief session
Concept B
Provided users with a private emotion journal to review their own feeling
Concept B
Mid-Fidelity Wireframes
Based on the low-fidelity design, we refined it into a mid-fidelity prototype. The core features remain unchanged, but the flow has been enhanced to ensure a more seamless user experience. We are now ready to move forward with the next phase of user testing!
User Testing
Result and feedback we got
Add a voice feature to sessions since you can't see the words after closing your eyes
First instinct to share data with mental health provider was to go into settings or profile
Reword the “Abrazo” tab to “My Abrazo” since it can be confused with the home page
Include pictures during sessions
Add a confirmation after sharing mental health data with Apple Health
On/off button on Close Circle needs more contrast
Iteration
Created a settings page with Apple Health connection option
Renamed “Abrazo” tab to “My Abrazo” for more clarity
Added a successful Apple Health connection confirmation
Final Screens
Onboarding
Create an account, complete some settings, and start the stress-relief journey!
Home
We used a mood meter to define different emotion colors. Users can slide to select their current emotion and record how they’re feeling at the moment! Additionally, based on their current mood, we have something to say to the users!
Emotion
We use different colors on the mood meter to represent various emotional states. The users can observe their cyclical emotions through the gradient chart. They can also check their emotional journey at specific points in time.
We ensure privacy while allowing users to share data with Apple Health and their close circle, providing more professional emotional guidance and closer emotional support.
Relief
In the Relief section, the users can browse different categories to find a session that can help alleviate their current emotions (meditation, mindfulness, etc.).
Here is one of the meditation sessions...
My Abrazo
Users can control their device here, check history records, and switch breathing modes...
Setting
Manage the account info, export data, cloud sync, notifications, and apple health in setting.
Product
What's Next?
We want to make Abrazo better!
User testing is crucial to ensure the effectiveness of both the product and mobile app. We will conduct additional tests to validate improvements, optimize the user experience, and ensure seamless interaction between the device and app for better anxiety management.
We want to get money
Partner with health providers and insurers to offer Abrazo as a preventative solution, cutting ER visits, lowering costs, and driving revenue through reimbursements and coverage incentives.
