DI: What is the main principle, idea and inspiration behind your design?
CO : The core idea behind Restful was to design a mobile experience that holistically supports mental and emotional well-being through sleep. It was inspired by behavioral psychology, meditation practices, and therapeutic sleep techniques. The inspiration stemmed from a personal understanding of how poor sleep impacts mental health, and the belief that digital tools can be used not just for productivity, but also for healing. I sought to build a tool that could serve both adults and children, especially those with cognitive or sensory sensitivities.
DI: What has been your main focus in designing this work? Especially what did you want to achieve?
CO : My focus was to create an inclusive, calming, and intuitive sleep wellness app that prioritizes accessibility and personalized care. I wanted to ensure that users, regardless of age or neurodivergence, could interact with the app effortlessly and benefit from tailored, guided relaxation content that promotes long-term sleep health and emotional balance.
DI: What are your future plans for this award winning design?
CO : I intend to collaborate with healthcare professionals and digital health companies to integrate Restful into broader mental health support systems. Also, there is an opportunity to enhance the app with AI-driven content personalization, expand language offerings, and partner with schools or pediatric healthcare institutions to support child sleep hygiene.
DI: How long did it take you to design this particular concept?
CO : The full design process took about 5 months from conceptualization to final prototype. This included user research, ideation, prototyping, multiple rounds of usability testing, accessibility considerations, and design iterations.
DI: Why did you design this particular concept? Was this design commissioned or did you decide to pursuit an inspiration?
CO : This design was not commissioned, it was entirely self-initiated, inspired by a personal and professional realization of how underserved the sleep wellness space is for individuals and families. As someone working in UX and accessibility, I saw the need for a digital product that doesn't just promote sleep but does so inclusively. I wanted to create a meaningful design that could empower users to take control of their sleep health in a way that respected their diverse sensory and cognitive needs.
DI: Is your design being produced or used by another company, or do you plan to sell or lease the production rights or do you intent to produce your work yourself?
CO : Currently, the design exists as a high-fidelity prototype. I'm open to collaboration with healthcare institutions, wellness startups, and digital health companies that align with the values of accessibility and user-centered design. The goal is to bring Restful to life while ensuring its mission of inclusive wellness remains intact.
DI: What made you design this particular type of work?
CO : As a designer focused on user experience and digital accessibility, I wanted to work on something that addressed a universal yet underserved need: better sleep. Many sleep apps exist, but few are designed with accessibility, sensory inclusion, and cross-generational usability in mind.
DI: Where there any other designs and/or designers that helped the influence the design of your work?
CO : Yeah, there were a couple of designs I drew inspiration from, especially in their use of audio and minimalist design. However, their lack of built-in accessibility features made me realize a major gap in the market. I extended the concept by embedding accessibility principles from the outset which set Restful apart from existing models.
DI: Who is the target customer for his design?
CO : The app targets adults, parents, and children seeking improved sleep routines and emotional balance. Special attention is given to neurodivergent users, children with sensory sensitivities, and families trying to cultivate better bedtime habits together.
DI: What sets this design apart from other similar or resembling concepts?
CO : Restful uniquely merges therapeutic content with inclusive UX and accessibility. Its interface is designed with cognitive simplicity, color contrast, voice assistance, and symbol-based navigation. It also personalizes user experience based on mood, age, and time of day.
DI: How did you come up with the name for this design? What does it mean?
CO : The name "Restful" conveys peace, calm, and restoration, and that's the very outcome the app seeks to offer. It is simple, memorable.
DI: Which design tools did you use when you were working on this project?
CO : I used Figma for wireframing and high-fidelity UI design.
DI: What is the most unique aspect of your design?
CO : The most unique aspect is the adaptive interface that adjusts based on the time of the day. The other aspect includes haptic feedback controls, visual minimization for overstimulated users, and narrated bedtime stories tailored to user mood.
DI: Who did you collaborate with for this design? Did you work with people with technical / specialized skills?
CO : I did not work with anyone with technical or specialized skill. While the concept and design were primarily led by me, I drew inspiration from what is existing coupled with my early research. These inputs were invaluable, especially in understanding how sleep and sensory needs differ across user groups.
DI: What is the role of technology in this particular design?
CO : Technology is at the core here, by enabling customization, multi-sensory engagement, and data-driven wellness recommendations. Also, through embedded AI, the app learns from user feedback and usage patterns to optimize content delivery.
DI: Is your design influenced by data or analytical research in any way? What kind of research did you conduct for making this design?
CO : Yes, I conducted surveys and interviews with parents, educators, and students. I also analyzed sleep studies and accessibility reports to understand the intersection between digital design and sleep wellness.
DI: What are some of the challenges you faced during the design/realization of your concept?
CO : Designing for both children and adults, while ensuring a seamless and inclusive user interface, was challenging. Also, simplifying the UI without compromising functionality, required multiple iterations.
DI: How did you decide to submit your design to an international design competition?
CO : Well, I submitted it to an international competition because I believed it tackled a global need; rest and mental wellness, through an inclusive, human-centered lens. The A' Design Award is known for its rigorous evaluation and international visibility, and I wanted the design to be assessed by professionals across disciplines.
DI: What did you learn or how did you improve yourself during the designing of this work?
CO : Well, this project deepened my skills in accessible design and reinforced the value of empathy in digital product development. I learned to design not just for the average user but for everyone, including those often left out of mainstream tech solutions.
DI: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
CO : I believe Restful represents the future of digital wellness design; empathetic, inclusive, and rooted in real human needs. It’s not just an app; it's a commitment to designing technology that heals rather than overwhelms.
