UX / Behavioural Design
Somnus - designing better sleep habits
Research · Interaction design · Prototype
Problem
Sleep apps track data. None change behaviour.
Approach
Research → personas → competitive audit → prototype.
Outcome
High-fidelity concept with smart environment integration.
The problem
Poor sleep carries serious consequences, cognitive decline, cardiovascular risk, weakened immunity, yet the apps meant to help do little more than log data. There’s a clear gap between knowing you sleep badly and actually changing the habits that cause it.
What I did
I conducted user research and competitive benchmarking to understand why existing apps fail at behaviour change. A primary persona, Thomas, a stressed urban professional who can’t control his sleep environment, grounded every design decision.
From there, I moved through wireframing to a high-fidelity prototype, designing a personal wind-down ritual builder, adaptive sleep coaching, and smart environment controls (lighting, sound, thermostat). Gamification was introduced to sustain long-term engagement. Swipe-card micro-interactions keep the experience immersive without adding cognitive load at bedtime.
Key features designed
Wind-down ritual builder
Live sleep coaching
Smart lighting & soundscapes
Sleep persona insights
Emotional sleep feedback
Adaptive, swipe-card personalisation
Result
A fully prototyped sleep app concept that shifts the category from passive tracking to active habit formation, targeting urban professionals aged 25–45 in the growing sleep economy, with a premium subscription model and a clear path to smart-home integration.
UI kit & components
High-fidelity prototype
Homescreen
Micro interactions add delight and are among the many features that make the app feel alive and engaging,
Personalisation
Bite-sized chunks of information on how sleep affects your life in different categories, which adapt to the person’s sleep pattern. Presented in swipe cards, making it an immersive experience.