MILES

Challenge

Create a digital tool that can support suicidal outpatients without overwhelming them, providing intuitive access to coping strategies, professional resources, and personal reflections. The app needed to be empathetic, easy to use in critical moments, and capable of guiding users toward long-term recovery.

1. Research & Understanding the User:

• Conducted extensive desk research on existing suicide-prevention apps and therapeutic tools
• Carried out primary research including expert interviews, caregiver input, and conversations with suicidal outpatients and those affected by suicide
• Designed and facilitated trigger interviews to uncover sensitive insights around fear of judgment, isolation, and coping mechanisms
• Synthesized findings into 10 key user insights around accessibility, trust, early warning signs, and healing practices
• Created a visual summary; as an empathy map in order to uderstand the target group better

2. Design Direction:
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• Defined clear problem statement: build trust, reduce fear, and support users in both daily life and crisis
• Shaped a design statement: empower outpatients through empathetic communication and accessible support
• Translated insights into three focus areas:High-risk interventions (direct contact, safety plans)Healing journey (grounding exercises, mindfulness, progress tracking)Accessibility & trust (empathetic, minimal, user-first design)
• Used HMWs, brain dumps, and journey mapping to shape the user journey and feature set: 
  Created a mind map outlining the entire experience and grouping the main issue points together to establish the design direction.

3. Prototyping and Testing:

• Built lo-fi prototypes for smartwatch + companion phone app
• Tested with peers and target users to evaluate mood tracking and grounding exercises
• Iterated based on feedback: clearer navigation, more supportive tone, improved flow in high-risk situations
• Delivered a hi-fi prototype that balances usability with emotional reassurance