Never Alone Recovery had a vision for a mobile app that would serve as a digital companion for those in recovery. The app would provide tools to enhance accountability and support, including the sobriety tracker feature that tracks milestones with personalized affirmations and insights (e.g. ’90 days clean—you’ve saved X on alcohol’). Additional features included a support group finder.

Check out the app in soft launch now:

The primary audience for the Never Alone Recovery app included men and women under the age of 55, a demographic more likely to be tech-savvy and comfortable with digital solutions.

These are individuals who own and are very comfortable using smartphones, making them more receptive to the idea of a new digital companion to support their recovery journey.

In addition, we prioritized individuals who valued personalization, real-time support, and the convenience of technology in creating structure and accountability in their lives.

The ability of the app to track sobriety milestones hinges on the user providing certain details, such as the date they became sober. To minimize friction during onboarding, we designed the onboarding flow to be conversational, asking for critical information at key moments.

To ensure users didn’t feel restricted, we also explored ways to let them experience key parts of the app even if they chose to skip certain steps during onboarding. For example, users could access general features or receive reminders to complete their profile later, allowing them to familiarize themselves with the app before fully committing. 

A progressive onboarding approach allowed users to ease into the experience while still capturing the essential information required for more personalized functionality.

To create an accountability system, we started by looking at some of the top-used apps with features tied to tracking user data.

• Neutral colors paired with dark navy evoke professionalism, experience, and reassurance.
• Soothing rounded shapes instead of harsh corners and jagged lines.
• Minimal material design with a splash of glassmorphism to create a modern, sleek look.

• Application Dashboard: Featuring a persistent bottom navigation bar for easy access to core functionalities, this bottom dock remains fixed, overlaying all content within the app to ensure constant accessibility for the user.
• Slide-Out Navigation Drawer: A secondary menu accessible through a top-right icon, designed to overlay the main content and bottom dock, highlighting its importance when engaged.

• By the client’s request, Montserrat was the chosen as the display font for headings as well as most UI elements.
• Selected Fira Sans for body text.

Wireframes and mockups were created to visualize the app’s structure and flow. Interactive prototypes were developed to test and refine the user experience.

The app is designed as an on-demand source of innovative tools capable of supporting individuals as they transition from addiction or mental health challenges to sustainable health and well-being.

Given that relapse/recidivism is often a result of insufficient support, the app could help individuals to persevere through those difficult times. Or as things turn around, their progress can be incentivized through gamification elements.

These features ensure that users have the resources and motivation they need to achieve and maintain their recovery goals.

Designed to support users seeking a fresh start, the app features intuitive and accessible tools for tracking and rewarding progress, and providing on-demand support in times of crisis.

A pivotal feature conceptualized as an accountability tool with personalized overviews of users’ recovery journeys. A card-based dashboard layout provides dynamically-calculated figures like total days sober, money saved, and health improvements. 

Users can then share their milestones on social media, turning raw data into motivational achievements.

Incorporating elements of gamification to encourage not only continued use and engagement with the app but should also decrease risk of relapse. 

Rewards and incentives are provided for reaching milestones, fostering a sense of accomplishment and motivation.

The app I designed for Never Alone Recovery will provide comprehensive support for individuals on their recovery journeys. Through careful planning, design, and development, the app will provide users with an intuitive, user-friendly experience with features that empowers them to track their progress and stay motivated.

This case study, though still a work-in-progress, breaks down some of my process and dedication involved in creating a tool that aims to make a meaningful impact on mental health and recovery.