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ReLine, Rethinking Student Mental Health Support

  • Writer: Skylir
    Skylir
  • Nov 10, 2023
  • 2 min read

Updated: Apr 5

ReLine is a mobile app designed as a capstone project (Aug – Nov 2023) to reimagine student mental health support through ethical, human-centred UX.


🔗 View Prototype — The ReLine Experience


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Project Brief


Design a mental health solution that empowers university students to independently manage their wellbeing while offering seamless access to professional support. The experience needed to be inclusive, intuitive, and culturally sensitive — bridging digital and real-world care.



The Objective


To create an integrated support system combining self-guided wellness tools with clinical services, grounded in ethical design and shaped by diverse student needs.



My Role


Sole designer and strategist, responsible for:


  • Framing the problem and defining success metrics

  • Leading primary and secondary research

  • Stakeholder mapping and persona development

  • UX/UI design, information architecture, and brand identity

  • Building and testing the high-fidelity prototype



Challenge


University mental health services are often difficult to access, not culturally adaptive, and lack integration across digital tools and in-person care. ReLine addresses these gaps by designing for trust, inclusivity, and immediacy — especially for students who may be navigating complex emotional, cultural, or systemic barriers.



Solution Overview


ReLine offers a hybrid ecosystem of features supporting both self-help and clinical access:

Feature

Purpose

📝 Journaling

A private space for emotional reflection and mood tracking

🧘 VR Meditation

Immersive mindfulness experiences using Google Cardboard

🚨 Crisis Support

One-tap access to emergency helplines and crisis resources

🩺 GP Scheduling

Direct booking system with on-campus health professionals

All features are informed by student voices and framed with cultural sensitivity, privacy, and emotional safety in mind.



Approach & Methodology


1. Frameworks Applied

  • Double Diamond – to guide problem definition and iterative development

  • Hautū Waka Framework – to embed Indigenous values of reflection, reciprocity, and ethical positioning


2. Research & Development

  • Evaluated 6+ global wellness platforms (e.g. Headspace, Sonder, Talkspace)

  • Developed 8 diverse personas based on interviews and secondary insights

  • Used Mendelow’s Matrix to prioritise stakeholders by influence and interest

  • Designed and tested full user flows, wireframes, and UI components through a 5-phase process: Prepare → Discover → Define → Develop → Deliver



Brand Identity


The name ReLine symbolises the journey of realignment — returning to one’s centre. The visual identity reflects themes of compassion, fluidity, and restoration, evolving through rapid sketching and iterative refinement.



Solution Impact

Area

Highlights

🧪 Evidence-Based Design

All features grounded in user testing, academic research, and case studies

📱 Tech as Enabler

Showcased the value of VR in emotional regulation and mobile UX for access equity

🌏 User-Centred Ethics

Prioritised inclusivity, data privacy, and cultural competence

🚀 Scalability Vision

Conceptual scope includes applications in corporate wellness, education, and telehealth


Next Steps


  • Conduct formal usability testing and cross-platform validation

  • Partner with mental health organisations and tertiary providers

  • Seek funding for ethical development, scale, and pilot implementation



Reflection


This project taught me how to balance empathy with execution. It strengthened my ability to lead transformation through research-led design, and reaffirmed my belief in design as a tool for systems change — especially in complex, sensitive domains like mental health.



🔗 Learn more from the concept video below



🔗 Explore the full design process documentation


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