Case Study
HealthSum
A wellness tracking concept designed to support nutrition habits without turning eating into math. The experience prioritizes emotional safety, intuitive tracking, and clear UI.
Overview
Most food trackers measure “health” with numbers (calories, macros, streaks). For many people, that creates stress—especially when health gets tied to worth, discipline, or perfection.
HealthSum reframes tracking as a supportive routine: users check off food groups and receive gentle, encouraging feedback—without ever seeing a calorie total.
Reduce shame + cognitive load. Encourage consistency through clarity, not pressure.
The problem
Traditional food trackers emphasize calories and macros. Even when users want healthier habits, the constant exposure to numbers can trigger anxiety, fixation, or guilt—especially for people navigating complex relationships with food.
Create a tracking experience that supports healthy habits while minimizing stress and judgment.
Research
I ran quick interviews focused on how dieting and tracking apps made people feel, what “healthy eating” meant to them, and what would make a tool feel supportive instead of punishing.
What I heard
- “Healthy” was described as balanced food groups.
- People labeled certain groups (e.g., carbs) as “bad,” and sugar as “unhealthy.”
- Short-form content (TikTok-style) felt easier to learn from than dense articles.
- Processed foods were commonly viewed as “unhealthy,” whole foods as “healthy.”
- “Calories” carried negative emotion—even when tracking was used in moderation.
Design implications
- Use food groups as the primary mental model instead of numbers.
- Explain concepts with plain language and minimal reading load.
- Offer positive reinforcement that feels calm, not “gamified guilt.”
- Keep progress feedback visual and lightweight.
User snapshot
The project was guided by a user who wants structure without pressure — someone trying to build habits while managing time, energy, and emotional bandwidth.
Charlotte · 35 · Elementary School Teacher
- Feels overwhelmed by calorie tracking apps
- Associates numbers with guilt and pressure
- Has limited time to cook consistently
- Struggles with energy after long work days
- A simple way to track habits without seeing calories
- Encouragement instead of shame
- Clear visual progress indicators
- A system that fits into a busy routine
Solution ideation
1) Food group tracking
Users check off servings of fruit, vegetables, protein, grains, and dairy—without seeing calorie totals. Two variations explored
- A “+1” check-off system
- A visual pie chart system
2) Gentle reinforcement
Progress feedback uses affirming micro-interactions (e.g., friendly fruit characters + short messages) to make completion feel encouraging—not evaluative.
A lightweight “Learn” area supports long-term change with short articles like “What is Intuitive Eating?” and “5 Tips to Stay on Track,” using plain language and supportive tone.
User flow
The flow prioritizes a predictable loop: onboarding → daily tracking → gentle progress feedback → optional learning.
Design system
I defined a simple system to keep screens consistent: typography hierarchy, accessible contrast, and reusable components.
User testing
A mid-fidelity prototype was tested through informal interviews and moderated walkthroughs. Participants were college students and early-career professionals with varying familiarity with food trackers.
Results & insights
- 100% of testers said the app felt “less stressful than traditional health apps.”
- Users liked the absence of calorie data—it felt more supportive and less controlling.
- Progress visuals were clear, but some wanted more explanation of the “+1” system.
- Affirming micro-interactions made the experience feel kinder and more motivating.
Iteration opportunities
- Add a short onboarding explainer for “+1” vs. pie chart tracking.
- Clarify what “balanced” means without moralizing food groups.
- Offer customization for different dietary needs and cultural diets.
Final screens
Working prototype
Reflection
HealthSum reinforced the importance of designing for emotional safety. This wasn’t just about removing calorie numbers—it was about reimagining what “progress” can feel like for people navigating food and body relationships.
If I continued developing HealthSum, I’d run deeper testing with eating-disorder recovery communities and explore voice-based logging for users who find typing difficult or have temporary disabilities.
Developed within an academic setting. I led research synthesis, UX direction, and system thinking; collaborators contributed to wireframes and illustration work.