Designing a Mental Health Test Anxiety Study App
Redesign and optimization of a corporate intranet to enhance usability, improve internal communication, and boost employee engagement. The project aimed to create a more interactive and user-friendly platform for employees to access company resources and collaborate effectively.
Product Designer
Mental Health Tech
Creative Director
Developers
UI Designer
Content Strategist
04/10/2021- 06/07/2022
Challenge
Many students from high school to college struggle with test anxiety, yet there is no dedicated digital solution that combines education and wellness to specifically address this issue. Conversations with students revealed a recurring problem—while resources like study guides and meditation apps exist, there was no integrated approach to help students manage anxiety while preparing for exams. The challenge was to design a mobile app that provides practical tools to alleviate test anxiety and improve academic performance.
Results
Process
Key Research & Evaluation Methods:
User interviews with students to understand their struggles with test anxiety and existing coping mechanisms.
Competitive analysis of Calm, Headspace, and Khan Academy to identify gaps in the current market.
Usability testing to assess the effectiveness of initial designs and identify areas for improvement.
A/B testing to compare design iterations and validate enhancements in navigation and accessibility.
Defining the Problem Through Metrics:
- 36+ hours of user interviews revealed a lack of digital tools specifically designed for test anxiety management.
-Analysis of competing apps showed no seamless integration of wellness techniques with structured test preparation.
-Usability testing insights highlighted pain points in navigation, with users struggling to find relevant features quickly.
Trade-offs & Constraints :
Balancing mental health support with structured test preparation required thoughtful feature prioritization. While relaxation techniques needed to feel intuitive and calming, academic tools had to be direct and structured. To avoid overwhelming users, I simplified navigation, reduced feature overload, and focused on core functionalities that directly addressed anxiety while studying. Monetization was another key constraint. While a premium model could provide sustainability, student accessibility was a priority. A freemium model with institutional partnerships was considered to balance financial viability with user inclusivity.
Considerations:
Scalability was essential to ensure future expansion beyond high school and college students, potentially integrating broader mental wellness tools. User adaptability was also a major focus—creating a design that felt both engaging and familiar, encouraging adoption without adding unnecessary cognitive load.
Conclusion
This project highlighted a critical gap in the intersection of mental health and education, proving the demand for a dedicated test anxiety support tool. Research and testing confirmed that an integrated approach improves engagement and accessibility for students who struggle with test-related stress. Moving forward, refining the business model and expansion strategy would be key to bringing this app to market.