Background

This project started because I wanted to fix my ex..

I wanted to understand why that happened.

That curiosity led me to Attachment Theory—a psychological model

that explains how people bond, communicate, and protect themselves in relationships.

That curiosity led me to Attachment Theory

—a psychological model

that explains how people bond, communicate, and protect themselves in relationships.

While dating someone with a strongly avoidant attachment style, I found myself constantly

stuck in painful communication loops. It felt like we were speaking different languages.

While dating someone with a strongly avoidant attachment style, I found myself constantly

stuck in painful communication loops. It felt like we were speaking different languages.

What if we could gently practice new ways of

communicating before things fall apart?

What if we could gently practice new ways of communicating before things fall apart?

I started wondering…

The problem

Many people struggle with recurring relationship patterns but don’t have a safe space to reflect, learn, and grow.

Research

Professional Insight

At an early stage, I consulted with a licensed therapist to validate Forest’s concept and ensure it aligned with real user needs.

“ Most of the clients I see are anxious–avoidant pairings. They love each other, but their patterns are in constant conflict.”

They shared that many of their clients show signs of insecure attachment and tend to repeat the same conflict cycles without realizing why.

Because it feels safer, more private, and less clinical.

Why?

Yet, most existing apps lack the human touch that makes users feel truly supported.

What We Can Do

Practice real-life scenarios with guided support

Build confidence in emotional conversations

Make emotional growth feel rewarding and interactive

Instead of offering just mood tracking or generic advice, we can create a space where users:

Target audience

According to market data, over 70% of wellness app users are women, and in our interviews, it was women who most often expressed a desire to reflect, grow, and communicate better in relationships.

STYLE GUIDE

If we create a mental health app that provides structured, interactive guidance through emotionally intelligent AI companions, users will feel more empowered to practice communication skills in a safe, engaging environment.

Hypothesis

Usability testing + ITeration

We measured session-based progress perception.

Immediate engagement signals -> Self-Reflection Prompts at the End of the Mission & Session-Based Engagement Check.

Results (Self-Guided Format)

60%

completed all tasks

50%

felt unmotivated without structured guidance

50%

uncertain about their choices

40%

reported feeling disconnected from the experience

Switched to scenario-based voice chat with visual milestones to goal-oriented practice.

Users felt disconnected from predefined scenarios and struggled to relate to static prompts.

BEFORE

AFTER

Chat

Before

AFTER

Analog aesthetics like natural textures, hand-drawn vibes, and soft lighting were introduced to reduce digital fatigue.

63% of users found the initial static room environment uninspiring and lacking a sense of progression.

Theme

Activity

BEFORE

AFTER

Companion assigns quests(activities), boosting engagement and emotional investment.

Users lacked motivation when choosing activities on their own.

Chat

Many users didn’t know their attachment style and felt overwhelmed by generic onboarding.
This helps users discover their attachment style and match with an animal guide.

They feel emotionally seen from the start, making the experience feel safe and personal.

Personalized Onboarding

Solutions

Dynamic Gamification System

Users needed long-term motivation without making the app feel clinical or boring.

Befriend

Users complete quests from their animal friends and earn rewards to decorate their forest.
Progress feels playful and meaningful, helping users build healthy habits through emotional bonds.

Scenario-Based Role-Playing

Users often struggle with real conversations and don’t know how to start.
Step-by-step practice chats help users rehearse difficult situations, with gentle guidance and feedback.
They get feedback and daily quests to apply what they’ve learned.

Activity

Unlocked activities like mindful meditation and gratitude journaling support emotional balance.
They can explore on their own pace and reinforce what they’ve practiced.

Save

Users wanted flexible tools they could use anytime, not just during quests.

Impact

What I learned

● Recognized the value of early user testing in the design process, specifically conducting tests immediately after creating wireframes.

● Gained insight into the importance of understanding the trends and lifestyles of target users for inclusive design.

● Learned how to use MidJourney to generate necessary images, enhancing visual elements efficiently.

● AI-powered companions provide warm, authentic interactions instead of the impersonal feeling common with typical AI technology.

User Survey/ In-Depth Interviews

User Survey/

In-Depth Interviews

Through user research, we discovered that 70% of users prefer discussing relationship issues with generative AI rather than seeking professional help.

felt more engaged with an AI companion

TO-BE Usability Testing

Users felt more connected and motivated when missions were assigned by an AI companion rather than choosing exercises independently.

Results (AI-Guided Format)

80%

successfully completed the AI-guided task

90%

reported higher motivation with AI-driven missions

70%

Found the structured guide more easier to follow

85%

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