Designing For Distressed Users: Why Mental Health Apps Shouldn’t Follow Every UI Fashion

According to Smashing Magazine, many UI design trends are built to grab attention and signal innovation—but those goals often directly conflict with what mental health apps actually need: reducing cognitive strain, building genuine trust, and providing a sense of emotional refuge. Designer Kat Homan introduces a framework to help teams evaluate whether trendy visual effects and interactions truly support vulnerable users, or if they're just stylish distractions that undermine the core purpose.

Listen to this story

Hear this and more stories in a personalized audio briefing.

Open The Chonkerton