ROLE
Lead UI/UX Designer & Researcher
TOOLS
Figma
Adobe Illustrator
Bezi
Blender
TIMELINE
Fall 2024
TEAM SIZE
Solo Project
Overview
Background
In the fall of 2024, as part of my senior capstone project at UConn, I explored how extended reality (XR) could revolutionize mental health care. Inspired by VR’s immersive potential and the growing need for accessible wellness tools, I envisioned a platform blending calming environments with interactive mindfulness exercises. Thus, Oasis XR was born—a space where users could find solace and clarity amidst the chaos of daily life.
Challenge
Mental wellness apps were not cutting through the noise
Despite growing demand for mental health support, existing mindfulness platforms missed the mark. Users downloaded apps with good intentions but abandoned them within weeks. The problem wasn’t the number of options—it was the lack of genuine connection. Traditional meditation apps offered guided sessions and calming sounds but felt flat, like following instructions from a manual. People dealing with real anxiety needed more than background noise. They needed to feel transported, engaged, and understood.
The gap between promise and experience
Competitors like Headspace and Endel were cautiously exploring XR, but the potential remained untapped. Three barriers kept surfacing in user feedback: apps felt repetitive, premium features created accessibility issues, and one-size-fits-all solutions ignored personal differences.
Discovery
Getting inside users heads (and hearts)
I started with people. Through interviews with individuals managing anxiety and stress, I found patterns that data couldn’t reveal. One participant said, “I want to escape, but these apps just remind me I’m sitting in my bedroom staring at my phone.” That stuck with me. Users craved presence—the feeling of actually being somewhere else.
What the numbers revealed
My competitive analysis showed that VR meditation experiences were often either too expensive, too sterile, or quickly lost novelty. The gap for an affordable, engaging, personalized XR wellness platform was wide open. Users emotionally connected to mindfulness practices were three times more likely to maintain them. Connection was the key.
Synthesis
Synthesizing insights into direction
Three principles guided the next phase:
Immersion over instruction — Show, don’t just tell.
Adaptation over prescription — Let users shape their own experience.
Accessibility over exclusivity — Remove barriers to entry.
Key Features
Environments that heal
Each landscape served a psychological purpose. The coastal scene grounded and opened the mind; the forest provided safety and introspection; the mountains offered perspective. Users chose based on emotional needs, not visuals.
Personalization that learns
The platform adapted to user patterns. Morning breathers saw breathing exercises surfaced first. Preferred soundscapes saved automatically. The experience became more personal with use.
Accessibility by design
No subscription tiers hid core features. Oasis XR supported affordable VR headsets and used gradual onboarding to reduce friction.
Reflection & Next Steps
What I learned about designing for wellness
Designing for mental health demands empathy that prioritizes sanctuary over engagement metrics. The best design gets out of the way and lets healing happen.