SKINNECT
Empowering those with visible skin disorders
Breaking the stigma
Skinnect is an app I designed to empower individuals with skin disorders by fostering self-love, acceptance, and a sense of community through shared stories. Many face isolation and low self-esteem, impacting their mental health, and Skinnect aims to break that cycle. By providing a supportive space, valuable resources, and a platform to connect, it helps individuals embrace their unique beauty and transform the way we approach skin and mental well-being, ultimately promoting confidence and self-acceptance.
01
DISCOVER
Challenge
Individuals with visible skin conditions, such as severe eczema, vitiligo, and acne, often face social stigma, isolation, anxiety, and emotional distress that negatively impact their self-esteem and overall mental well-being.
How Might We
create a safe inclusive community space for sharing experiences and building confidence?
How Might We
design an intuitive journaling tool that helps users track their emotional journey and celebrate progress in self-care?
How Might We
help users with visible skin conditions feel understood and supported?
The emotional problems due to skin disease include shame, poor self-image, and low self-esteem. (Link)
Competitive Analysis
My research included competitive analysis and in-depth user interviews. I spent time studying apps in competing spaces by examining various mental health apps and reading reviews on both the Play Store and App Store. This analysis helped me understand what is out there and what features are working or not, while the interviews provided deeper insights into my target audience's needs and preferences.
STRENGHTS
Extensive Professional Network
Offers access to a large pool of licensed therapists, which ensures professional support for a wide range of mental health issues.
Flexible Communication
Provides therapy via video, phone, and messaging, making it convenient for users with different schedules.
User-Friendly Interface
Easy-to-use interface that simplifies booking and managing therapy sessions.
WEAKNESSES
Generic Focus
Not tailored to specific challenges like skin condition–related self-esteem issues; the approach is broad and not niche-specific.
Cost Considerations
Can be expensive over time, which might deter younger users or those seeking low-cost self-help tools.
Lack of Peer Community
Focuses on one-to-one therapy rather than fostering a community or peer support network.
STRENGHTS
Simplicity
A straightforward mood-tracking and journaling app that is easy to navigate and use daily.
Customizable Entries
Users can tailor entries to capture specific moods or events, making it useful for identifying emotional patterns.
Visual Analytics
Provides charts and statistics that help users understand their mood trends over time.
WEAKNESSES
Limited Depth
Primarily focused on mood tracking rather than offering comprehensive journaling or therapeutic exercises.
Lack of Community Features
Does not include forums or social spaces for users to connect and share experiences.
Not Niche-Focused
Offers no specialized content or support for those dealing with the psychological impact of visible skin conditions.
STRENGHTS
Engaging Journaling Experience
Provides an intuitive and visually appealing interface that encourages daily journaling and self-reflection.
AI-Driven Insights
Uses artificial intelligence to offer mood tracking and personal insights, helping users identify trends over time.
Youth-Friendly Design
Its modern aesthetic resonates well with younger users who appreciate a sleek, minimalistic design.
WEAKNESSES
No Social Component
Lacks features for community interaction or shared support experiences, which is central to Skinnect’s mission.
Generalized Content
Does not offer specialized educational resources or content tailored to skin-related self-esteem challenges.
Absence of Professional Support
Focuses on self-guided reflection without direct access to professional mental health advice.
02
DEFINE
The goal of the interviews was to validate assumptions, pinpoint pain points, and identify desired features to guide my design decisions.
TARGET AUDIENCE
Designed for individuals (18-32) who are sensitive to appearance-related pressures. It is designed to be inclusive and beneficial for all genders having various skin disorders.
Conducted user interviews to understand how individuals with visible skin conditions manage their mental health and low self-esteem.
The participants were asked about the impact of their condition on their social lives, the support systems they currently use, the influence of social media on their self-image, and whether they rely on any existing apps.
Sharing personal information
I also explored their privacy concerns when sharing personal experiences online, what motivates them to seek support, and how they engage with online communities.
Insights
Isolation and Social Stigma
A large portion of users with visible skin conditions experience feelings of isolation and social stigma.
Value of Reflective Journaling
Regular self-reflection through journaling can help users process their emotions and build self-awareness.
Power of Community Support
Robust online communities provide essential emotional support, reduce loneliness, and validate personal experiences.
Accessibility and Mobile-First Design
Users value on-the-go support, making an accessible, mobile-friendly interface critical for engagement.
03
DESIGN
04
REFLECT
Empathy Vs Biases
Having personally experienced the sting of low self-esteem and the constant self-consciousness brought on by severe hormonal acne, I can truly relate to the struggles my users face. This connection allowed me to empathize deeply with them, while also reminding me to set aside my own biases and opinions and listen intently to diverse user stories so that the final design could address a broad range of needs without being overly influenced by my personal journey.
Approaching Sensitive Topics
Physical appearance can deeply influence one’s confidence, and when combined with visible skin conditions, it often leads to feelings of isolation, unhealthy comparisons, and even depression or anxiety. While conducting interviews, I made it a priority to approach these sensitive subjects with compassion and care, ensuring that I asked the right questions in a way that avoided triggering emotional distress while still gathering the insights needed to drive my design decisions.
Balancing Functionality with Aesthetic Appeal
Striking the right balance between usability and visual appeal was crucial. I focused on creating an interface that is not only functional and user-friendly but also visually inviting, inspiring confidence and a sense of belonging in every interaction.
