LePal.ai
Timeline
August 2024 - December 2024
Roles
UX Designer Lead Intern
UX Research Intern
Usability Testing
Tools
Figma
Miroboard
Conversational AI
Mental health is a growing concern among college students as they face academic pressure, social challenges, and personal growth. As a startup, LePal.ai aims to offer a Gen Z-focused mental health and lifestyle app with personalized, self-guided tools like journaling, AI therapy chats, and digital companions to support emotional well-being. As part of my internship at LePal.ai, I explored how design can better support emotional health and self-reflection through digital interaction.
To evaluate overall usability, I conducted remote tests on core features including AI interactions, reflection tools, customization, and session history. Users found the AI conversations unnatural, struggled to customize their experience, and had difficulty locating certain reflection tools due to unclear layout and labeling.
I created a user persona to highlight the type of student who would benefit most from LePal. Kennedy, a senior transitioning into the workforce, struggles to balance her responsibilities with her self-care needs. Without personalized support, she lacks the guidance and resources to feel supported in her wellness journey.
Before starting design work, I reviewed the existing Friends page to understand where it was falling short. Designing from our user persona, we found the add-friend flow was confusing and relied on guesswork, making it hard for users to complete successfully. The page also offered little value beyond a static pet image, giving users no meaningful way to understand or engage with their friends
With feedback from stakeholders and potential users, we refined our mid-fi into a more polished Friends page. I improved accessibility through better color contrast and introduced a tabbed layout for clearer navigation. I also added a referral page that encourages new users to join while rewarding existing users with customization options, adding a gamified touch to the experience.
Continuing from our earlier work, our team was tasked with developing a B2C subscription model our team dubbed "LePal+" that supported a more customizable user experience. We introduced two premium options: a full-access subscription and a flexible one-time purchase model of specific features. Giving users control over how they unlock and personalize premium features.
I refined our mid-fi into a more simplified and intentional final design. Through this refinement, the subscription model began to feel premium from the very first screen. By removing redundant text while keeping the most important information, users could clearly understand what upgraded features offered beyond the base plan. The bold and colorful visual approach helped draw users in and reinforced the value of exploring everything LePal+ has to offer.
With well received feedback from the general public, LePal's redesign positioned itself as a leader with AI in mental health. Paving a pathway for users to have accessible mental health care in a vulnerable and often inaccessible space.
"to be very honest - your sense is exceptional... 90% aligned with the leadership vision and product positioning"
-Rob Z - CEO & Founder
Throughout this project, I had the opportunity to independently research and lead a talented team of designers in exploring a problem space that is often overlooked in mental health. It was incredibly rewarding to work on something with real potential for impact, especially knowing our designs could support users in vulnerable and deeply personal moments of their lives. This was also my first experience working with AI-driven tools, which challenged me to think critically about how technology can responsibly support mental wellness without overstepping emotional boundaries.
Overall, my time working on LePal.ai deepened my appreciation for user-centered design, collaborative leadership, and the careful balance between innovation and responsibility in the mental health tech space. I’m proud of what we built and hopeful for how it can support students and others in need of a safe, encouraging space to seek help.