Emily is based on what people told me. They forget, and most reminder apps feel too strict.
Emily Watts
- A consistent nightly flossing routine
- Guidance on proper technique
- Streaks to stay motivated
- Easily forgets to floss at night
- Current reminder apps feel rigid
- Progress tracking is unclear or cumbersome
"I feel better knowing I didn't skip tonight. My streak keeps me on track."
From soft lavender to Mint Thread.
The first version was pastel lavender on white. It looked like every other wellness app. So I switched to the color of a floss spool, green, with coral for highlights.
Most people know they should floss.
Most people forget.
I designed Flosser to make flossing feel easy and rewarding, so it turns into a habit.
It's built on the cue, routine, reward loop from The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg.
Real bathroom moments in natural light.
Green
Coral
Tint
Green
No red. I didn't want anything in the app to look like you failed.
Round shapes everywhere, so the app feels friendly.
Chip's smile, the streak dots, and the timer ring all use the same curves. There are no sharp corners.
Violet on white looked like every other wellness app. I dropped it.
Sampled from the original prototype.
Three screens, one loop.
Opens straight to Chip and today's streak, no setup screen in the way.
A two-minute timer so you don't rush, guide open the whole time.
See how friends are keeping up with their streaks, so you can hold each other accountable.
I added four features. A reminder, so you don't forget. A timer, so you don't rush. Friends, so you don't want to be the one who skipped. And Chip, a mascot who gives you a reason to come back tomorrow.
From early prototype to final design.
The first version worked, but nobody would want to open it. Pick a screen and drag to compare.
img/flosser_home.png
img/flosser_before_home.pngDrag to compare
Hamburger → tab bar
Four sections used in a two-minute session shouldn't hide behind a menu icon.
One screen → two
Progress and Friends got split into their own tabs instead of competing for space.
No mascot → Chip
The reward part of the habit loop needed a face, so I made Chip.
Generic violet → warm palette
Purple looked like every other wellness app. Cream, mint, and coral feel friendlier.
Flat stats → stakes
"4/7 days" became "a few days behind, Snaggle's creeping in", so you can tell when a friend is falling behind.
Routine list → Chip-first
The old home screen was a routine picker with a guide. The new one opens on Chip, so you want to press start.
Meet
Snaggle.
Jealous of every smile that isn't his. Snaggle spreads grime whenever Chip is left unguarded, but consistency is his weakness. Every flossing session pushes him back.
The mascots are the brand.
Flosser's brand is two characters. Chip never blames you, and Snaggle takes the blame.
Reacts. Never blames.
He dulls when the habit slips and brightens when it returns. He never reports a number and never asks where you've been.
Takes the blame. Always.
Skipping a day lets Snaggle in. His grime shows up on Chip, so you see it instead of reading a scolding message.
The app never scolds you in words. Chip just gets grimy.
6 months later
Flosser is a concept project, so this is the outcome the design is built to produce, not a measured result.
Emily flosses most nights now, without thinking about it.
- • The reminder lands right when her workday ends.
- • A missed night doesn't reset her streak, so she keeps going.
- • Chip is thriving, and Snaggle hasn't shown up in weeks.
- • Her friends' streaks give her one more reason to show up.
User Scenario · Emily