Background
Mirror was designed to turn journaling from an intimidating blank page into a guided product experience. Built for teens and young adults, the app creates a private space to check in, express what you’re feeling, recognise patterns, and return with more self-understanding.
As Design Director, I worked across product strategy, UX/UI, prototyping, user testing, visual identity, website design and launch storytelling — helping define a product experience that felt private, supportive, credible and easy to return to.
Product Strategy
The product challenge was centred on the behaviour of how do you help young people start journaling or switching to us, how do we keep them returning, and how do we make them feel safe enough to be honest?
We designed Mirror around a guided reflection loop. Mood check-ins gave people a lightweight way in. Prompts reduced the pressure of starting from nothing while encouraging to go deeper. Flexible entry formats let people write, speak or record depending on how they felt. Personalised summaries and emotional patterns helped turn individual entries into longer-term self-understanding.
Experience Design
Across onboarding, journal entry creation, prompts, check-ins, and insights, the experience focused on reducing friction and building confidence.
The interface was intentionally calm and direct, keeping the product focused on reflection. Rather than Mirror's brand being felt everywhere, we opted for people to see more of themselves in the app, and when Mirror did show up, it was in supportive moments like within the guided prompts section. AI, privacy and support resources were designed as quiet layers within the experience, allowing people to freely express their feelings knowing if they need it those added support layers are there when needed. This decision along with other micro visual decisions made the product intentionally feel less like a clinical help tool, and more like someones personal journal.
Components
UX Flow
Onboarding
Imapct
Mirror launched as a free journaling app for teens and young adults in California and wider United States, being available in English and Spanish.
The product has been trusted by more than 100,000 journalers, helping young people build a private habit of reflection through guided prompts, mood tracking, flexible journaling formats and personalised insights.