Therapy Beagle
TherapyBeagle challenges the productivity-first model of AI by introducing emotional slowness and care into digital interactions. Built entirely locally using LLaMA 3 (via Ollama), the chatbot invites users to breathe, reflect, and feel — not just respond. Note: This is not a therapeutic replacement, but rather a speculative design tool for emotional expression and companionship
Challenge
Many students and creatives feel emotionally fatigued, isolated, or anxious, yet find digital tools too clinical or transactional to use meaningfully. Most journaling apps and mental-health chatbots chase efficiency, overlooking the warmth and slowness genuine reflection requires.
Results
Post-redesign, user engagement significantly increased with a 25% reduction in task completion time and a 30% decrease in user error rates. User satisfaction ratings improved from 3.2 to 4.6 stars. The streamlined workflows and modern interface resulted in a 20% increase in new subscriptions within the first six months of the launch.
Process
Research & Analysis
I spoke with peers, gathered informal feedback, and reviewed existing tools to understand where people felt digital companions often fell short. I also looked at patterns in wellness and companion apps to identify gaps around trust, pacing, and emotional presence.
Information Architecture
From these insights, I mapped out a simple, intuitive structure that prioritized calm interaction over efficiency. The goal was to reduce friction and make conversations feel natural rather than task-driven.
Wireframing & Prototyping
I sketched out early flows and low-fidelity wireframes to explore different ways a “gentle companion” could respond. These were gradually refined into a high-fidelity prototype, focusing on tone, pacing, and emotional resonance rather than just functionality.
Usability Testing
I shared the prototype with a small group of students and creatives, observing how they engaged and where the design fell short. Their feedback highlighted the importance of memory and continuity, which led to key adjustments in how the system responded.
Visual Design & Style Guide
I created a minimal, calming visual language with soft colors, gentle animations, and clear typography to support a slower, more thoughtful experience. A lightweight style guide was developed to ensure future updates carried the same tone of care and consistency.
Conclusion
TherapyBeagle showed me that compassion can be intentionally designed into digital experiences, not only through functionality but also through the way an interface communicates, the pacing of interactions, and the sense of trust it builds.
This project reinforced my belief that emotionally intelligent tools require more than polished visuals; they must be supported by systems that convey care and respect. It also deepened my interest in exploring offline-first, privacy-centered, and emotionally aware approaches to building digital products.