Sobrii is a lifestyle app designed to support individuals in recovery from addiction or those choosing to live a clean and healthy lifestyle. The app can be a community platform where users with similar interests can connect, discuss shared interests, and participate in activities.
My Role
UX/UI Designer
Research, analysis, concept design, logo design, branding
Category
Lifestyle
Someone who is struggling with addiction needs a robust support system. Speaking to someone may help prevent a relapse, and it could even save the individual's life.
While conducting early interviews with potential users (individuals with varying years of sobriety), all of them expressed how important it is to have someone to speak with. Waiting for a reply or talking with someone you meet for the first time in crisis is detrimental.
Focus on the communicating with a sponsor feature. This feature allows the user to find an available sponsor and reach out to them in various ways: voice call, video call, direct messaging, and email.
I interviewed three participants who are in recovery programs and would be ideal Sobrii app users. In addition, I conducted an online survey to see how generally an app like Sobrii may be received.
Competitive Analysis
My focus was on the dynamic Lifestyle/Recovery space as I delved into the strategies of three potential competitors.
I was looking for Key Objectives, Marketing Strategy, Overall Strategy, and Bottom Line. I developed a SWOT profile for each. Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats.
None of the competitors I researched had a communicate with sponsor immediately feature.
Putting Data Together
From interviewing and researching the target market of potential users
of Sobrii, two personas were created. Meet Mike and Alice.
User Journeys
I created user journeys for Mike and Alice to identify users' pain points. These journeys empathize with how they might achieve their goals and show opportunities for improvements to the app.
Usability Testing
Bringing the sketched wireframes to a mid-fidelity level helped flesh out the elements, and I was able to make a working prototype to begin testing.
The video testing was conducted with exceptional thoroughness, allowing for later in-depth review. Having a couple of my original interview participants back for the prototype testing further reinforced our commitment to incorporating user feedback.
Methods of Communication
At first, I was curious to know if Sobrii needed all the typical communication methods. If a user is on their mobile, why won't they call that way? Or text? Or email?
The answer is security and anonymity. Individuals using Sobrii would have a one-stop shop for all their recovery/sober lifestyle needs. They don't need to go through their contacts to see who is a sponsor and who isn't. They know that all the sponsors within the app are people they can reach out to.
Learn more
Promotional Video
I produced a video to get buy-in from stakeholders and get the whole team on the same page about what the app is about. Some of the animation is stock, and a good portion of it I made. I voiced the narrator and hired actors for the other VO. Seeing it as a fully formed concept in this form brings it to life!
Reading the business requirements gave me an idea of what the Sobrii app would be like. However, I learned what was essential through user interviews and went in a different direction. I had thought that Sobrii would be a community app where users would find places to enjoy activities together without drinking and find support from one another. That is still something that needs to be developed and is valid. Research led me to the heart of the app, which is a connection with someone when needed.
Additionally, there is always more than one solution to a design problem. Guided by a user-centric design process of Empathy, Prototyping, Delineating, Testing, Ideating, and Refining, I created a design where features worked functionally, and feedback was good. I needed to change the overall look to meet accessibility standards. It was essential to think about the demographics of those using it and make changes to the colors and sizing of buttons and touch targets.
Despite the changes in the app's design and functionality, the Sobrii app remains a powerful tool. It is on track to become a vital resource for individuals in recovery, offering daily support and connection.
