Monami

PRODUCT DESIGN

Monami is a self-care app where the user takes care of a virtual pet that actively reminds them to take care of themself as well. It is designed to keep the user engaged enough to keep using the app so that they can better manage their time and feel motivated to live better and happier. As the user levels up, older pets grow up and move out, and new pets in need of a home are unlocked, so that the user can continue using it to have more order in their own lives.

Monami is a self-care app where the user takes care of a virtual pet that actively reminds them to take care of themself as well. It is designed to keep the user engaged enough to keep using the app so that they can better manage their time and feel motivated to live better and happier.
As the user levels up, older pets grow up and move out, and new pets in need of a home are unlocked, so that the user can continue using it to have more order in their own lives.

ROLE

Research, Conception, Branding, Illustration, Prototyoing

Research, Conception, Branding,
Illustration, Prototyoing

TOOLS

Illustrator, Figma, Photoshop, Sketch

DURATION

4 months

PROBLEM

The Problem with Self Care Apps

Within the past few years there's been a huge trend in using “self care” apps. They’re designed to help users with mental health problems or anyone with a stressful life to get into a more ordered and healthier lifestyle. These apps remind users to take meals, medication, drink more water, tidy up, and overall helps people try to understand their daily needs as a human to survive. Some will also help improve the user’s mood by encouraging them to be more positive and help motivate them to live better. People have mentioned how much these apps have helped them become more positive and feel better about themselves. However, as great as self care apps can be, not everyone can stick with them and they get deleted soon after.

SOLUTION

Gamified Selfcare

I decided to design a gamified self care app, called monami. It will act primarily as a virtual pet app, but will also double as a self care app. The user, runs a foster house for animals, and they’re presented with a set of 4 animals to choose from to take care of during the beginning. Once a pet has been fostered, the player will level up and more animals will be introduced to them to choose from. There will be a maximum limit of 2 pets at a time, so that they don’t overwhelm themselves with too many pets. Every time the user logs in they will be given funds to be used for the pets expenses, such as buying food, clothes, their favourite home decor or toys to play with.

As the user takes care of their pet, they will be encouraged to take care of themselves. All the animals are positive, happy and will often try to crack jokes so that the user can have a worthwhile experience. The intentions for the app is to make the user reflect on how important it really is to take care of someone, and how they are also deserve that same type of love and attention. It’s not easy to start paying attention to one’s well being, but with small steps and with the friendly environment set up by the game, I hope monami will help shift the user’s perspective on their life a little bit.

I decided to design a gamified self care app, called monami. It will act primarily as a virtual pet app, but will also double as a self care app. The user, runs a foster house for animals, and they’re presented with a set of 4 animals to choose from to take care of during the beginning. Once a pet has been fostered, the player will level up and more animals will be introduced to them to choose from. There will be a maximum limit of 2 pets at a time, so that they don’t overwhelm themselves with too many pets. Every time the user logs in they will be given funds to be used for the pets expenses, such as buying food, clothes, their favourite home decor or toys to play with.

As the user takes care of their pet, they will be encouraged to take care of themselves. All the animals are positive, happy and will often try to crack jokes so that the user can have a worthwhile experience. The intentions for the app is to make the user reflect on how important it really is to take care of someone, and how they are also deserve that same type of love and attention. It’s not easy to start paying attention to one’s well being, but with small steps and with the friendly environment set up by the game, I hope monami will help shift the user’s perspective on their life a little bit.

I decided to design a gamified self care app, called monami. It will act primarily as a virtual pet app, but will also double as a self care app. The user, runs a foster house for animals, and they’re presented with a set of 4 animals to choose from to take care of during the beginning. Once a pet has been fostered, the player will level up and more animals will be introduced to them to choose from. There will be a maximum limit of 2 pets at a time, so that they don’t overwhelm themselves with too many pets. Every time the user logs in they will be given funds to be used for the pets expenses, such as buying food, clothes, their favourite home decor or toys
to play with.

As the user takes care of their pet, they will be encouraged to take care of themselves. All the animals are positive, happy and will often try to crack jokes so that the user can have a worthwhile experience. The intentions for the app is to make the user reflect on how important it really is to take care of someone, and how they are also deserve that same type of love and attention. It’s not easy to start paying attention to one’s well being, but with small steps and with the friendly environment set up by the game, I hope monami will help shift the user’s perspective on their life a little bit.

RESEARCH

Exploring Ideas

I really wanted push the idea of how we should be investing our time and energy in taking care of ourselves, like we would do for a loved one, such as a pet, a friend or a child. I considered the potential pets that could be featured and the type of self care activities I should include. After highlighting the core aspects of what I wanted with the app, I moved on to researching on potential users, and also looked at other apps in the self care market and virtual pet realm.

RESEARCH

User Scenarios

The personas feature a younger target market, since this app would be beneficial and eyecatching to them the most. Older users are always welcome to use it however they might feel disinterested in the virtual pet concept. Over here we look at a university student and a 5th grader, and see how they might benefit from using monami.

The personas feature a younger target market, since this app would be beneficial and eyecatching to them the most. Older users are always welcome to use it however they might feel disinterested in the virtual pet concept. Over here we look at a university student and a 5th
grader, and see how they might benefit
from using monami.

GRAPHIC ASSETS

Sketches and Assets

I went for a cartoony look with the bold black strokes, instead of a flat one, so that the characters would pop against the background. The main colour palette of the user interface features subtle tones that are easy on the eye and the icons clearly communicate their purpose with the user. The characters all have their own unique features that help them stand out. Overall the game has a cute and warm atmosphere to it, that should make the user feel at home while using it.

I went for a cartoony look with the bold black strokes, instead of a flat one, so that the characters would pop against the background. The main colour palette of the user interface features subtle tones that are easy on the
eye and the icons clearly communicate their purpose with the user. The characters all have their own unique features that help them stand out. Overall the game has a cute and warm atmosphere to it, that should make
the user feel at home while using it.

THE APP

The Final Prototype

The prototype feature's the onboarding process, the core functions and also some additional scenes the user might get while playing monami. Everyday the user will have to take a few minutes to interact with their pets to log their self care activities, whether it's eating with the pet, studying with them or doing any other kind of activities the user has set up. Wireframes and screens can be viewed through the links provided below.

View prototype and view screens.

Onboarding

Say hello to your very first monami pet, as they take you through the onboarding process. At the start of the game you can only get to choose one pet, but don't worry all the pets will be available later as you keep making progress.

Say hello to your very first monami pet, as they take you through the onboarding process. At the start of the game you can only get to choose one pet, but don't worry all the pets will be available later as you keep making progress.

Setting Up

Once you're done picking a pet, they'll help you set up your daily schedule, so that you can both care for each other at the same time. You can also add in your birthday so that you can get a special birthday present from them!

Once you're done picking a pet, they'll help you set up your daily schedule, so that you can both care for each other at the same time.
You can also add in your birthday so that you can get
a special birthday present from them!

Once you're done picking a pet, they'll help you set up your daily schedule, so that you can both care for each other at the same time. You can also add in your birthday so that you can get a special birthday present from them!

Inventory, Shopping
& Friends Catalog

Inventory, Shopping &
Friends Catalog

Check your inventory to see what's in stock, to place decor to make your home look cozy, to lay out toys for the pets, and to change your pet's outfit! If you need to buy anything, just check what's available at the shop. You can also take a look at your friend log to see how many pet's you've befriended.

Check your inventory to see what's in stock, to place decor to make your home look cozy, to lay out toys for the pets, and to change your pet's outfit! If you need to buy anything, just check what's available at the shop. You can also take a look at your friend log to see how many pet's you've befriended.

Study, Workout, Eat & Talk to Your Pet

Study, Workout, Eat and Talk to Your Pet

Study, Workout, Eat &
Converse with Them

Study, Workout, Eat &
Talk to Your Pet

Your pet will notify you to study, eat and workout at the times youve set up for those tasks. When your pet asks to workout with you, they will often know that you've already worked out if you have the Health app synced with monami. When there aren't any activities to do, you can simply talk to your pet. They'll usually make a joke, ask you questions, or give pep talks.

Your pet will notify you to study, eat and workout at the times youve set up for those tasks. When your pet asks to workout with you, they will often know that you've already worked out if you have the Health app synced with monami. When there aren't any activities to do, you can simply talk to your pet. They'll usually make a joke, ask you questions, or give pep talks.

Shower, Brush
and Sleep

Shower, Brush and Sleep

Shower, Brush & Sleep

Help your pet get cleaned up before you go shower, and brush your teeth together before going to bed and after waking up. Your pet will go to bed 15 minutes before your own bedtime. There's an optional bedtime story option where you can read a small story, but that depends on the type of pet you choose, because some just want to go to bed immediately. Be sure to not stay up late and disturb your pet.

Help your pet get cleaned up before you go shower, and brush your teeth together before going to bed and after waking up. Your pet will go to bed 15 minutes before your own bedtime. There's an optional bedtime story option where you can read a small story, but that depends on the type of pet you choose, because some just want to go to bed immediately. Be sure to not stay up late and disturb your pet.

Grow with Them,
Or Ghost Them

Grow with Them, Or Ghost Them

If you keep taking care of your pet, you will keep leveling up and your pet will grow up eventually. Once your pet has grown up, they will venture into the wild to experience the world out there, and you'll get to foster a new pet. If you don't take care of them, they will turn into a ghost and haunt you! Fear not, there is a way to resurrect them later!

If you keep taking care of your pet, you will keep leveling up and your pet will grow up eventually. Once your pet has grown up, they will venture into the wild to experience the world out there, and you'll get to foster a new pet. If you don't take care of them, they will turn into a ghost
and haunt you! Fear not, there is a way
to resurrect them later!

WORK.NABILA@GMAIL.COM

NABILA.PINK 2021