Menspace
Menspace
Providing support, a community and safe space for men.
Providing support, a community and safe space for men.
Tools
Figma, Miro
Timeline
14 Weeks (2023)
Team
Solo
My Role
End to End UX/UI Process
Organisation
University Project
“…how might I help young men communicate their emotions, be vulnerable and support each other?”
“…how might I help young men communicate their emotions, be vulnerable and support each other?”
Accessible Personalised Support
The majority of users accessing the app are looking for help; oftentimes they will be emotional or frustrated. To offer optimal support, a personalised AI app guide lets you vent and express whatever is on your mind. After understanding your needs the guide then creates a personalised pathway leading you to the most suitable resources and sections within the app.
The majority of users accessing the app are looking for help; oftentimes they will be emotional or frustrated. To offer optimal support, a personalised AI app guide lets you vent and express whatever is on your mind. After understanding your needs the guide then creates a personalised pathway leading you to the most suitable resources and sections within the app.
Learn to Have Vulnerable Conversations
Whether you are struggling or someone else, not knowing how to have a conversation about it, is the main obstacle. This platform helps you learn and practice these skills in a clear, supportive and interactive way.
Whether you are struggling or someone else, not knowing how to have a conversation about it, is the main obstacle. This platform helps you learn and practice these skills in a clear, supportive and interactive way.
Resource Portal & Daily Structure
Users have diverse needs, which is why the resource section is ideal: A portal facilitating access to other resources to foster inclusivity.
I found that daily structure is an effective method to improve mental clarity and stress for my audience. Paired with guided journaling, helping one self-reflect men are given a powerful system for self-improvement and mindful living.
Users have diverse needs, which is why the resource section is ideal: A portal facilitating access to other resources to foster inclusivity.
I found that daily structure is an effective method to improve mental clarity and stress for my audience. Paired with guided journaling, helping one self-reflect men are given a powerful system for self-improvement and mindful living.
My Design Process
My Design Process
~6-8 min skim or deeper read
SECONDARY RESEARCH
3/4 Suicides in the UK involve men
3/4 Suicides in the UK involve men
Men aren't encouraged to speak up enough. A survey on 1000 men in the UK showed that 40%. have never spoken to anyone about they're mental health. Why don't they speak up? Most say they've learnt to deal with their issues themselves or don't want to be a burden. nearly 30% feel embarrassed and 20% feel that there's a negative stigma around this. (Priory, 2021)
Men aren't encouraged to speak up enough. A survey on 1000 men in the UK showed that 40%. have never spoken to anyone about they're mental health. Why don't they speak up? Most say they've learnt to deal with their issues themselves or don't want to be a burden. nearly 30% feel embarrassed and 20% feel that there's a negative stigma around this. (Priory, 2021)
Suppressing emotions has consequences
Suppressing emotions has consequences
Consequences of suppressing emotions involve depression, anxiety, and especially for men it can increase their risk of suicide.
How to be more vulnerable? Some starting points are to practice self-reflection, talking to someone trusted or seeking a therapist, doing therapeutic hobbies to reflect on your feelings and journaling can be a safe space to express yourself freely. (Dekin 2020)
Consequences of suppressing emotions involve depression, anxiety, and especially for men it can increase their risk of suicide.
How to be more vulnerable? Some starting points are to practice self-reflection, talking to someone trusted or seeking a therapist, doing therapeutic hobbies to reflect on your feelings and journaling can be a safe space to express yourself freely. (Dekin 2020)
ANALYSIS - AFFINITY DIAGRAM
I organised and categorised all data into 6 groups:
What didn't help users improve their mental wellbeing.
Methods that did work.
Avoidance Patterns
Present stigma: Men aren't allowed to show emotions.
Impacts of stress and pressure.
Communication struggles.
I organised and categorised all data into 6 groups:
What didn't help users improve their mental wellbeing.
Methods that did work.
Avoidance Patterns
Present stigma: Men aren't allowed to show emotions.
Impacts of stress and pressure.
Communication struggles.
USER PERSONAS
Th user personas capture different emotional states, communication patterns, and coping behaviours rather than demographic differences. They represent recurring challenges users face when navigating personal relationships, emotional expression, and self-regulation.
Each persona helped ground design decisions in real emotional contexts, ensuring the experience addressed users’ needs with sensitivity and clarity.
Th user personas capture different emotional states, communication patterns, and coping behaviours rather than demographic differences. They represent recurring challenges users face when navigating personal relationships, emotional expression, and self-regulation.
Each persona helped ground design decisions in real emotional contexts, ensuring the experience addressed users’ needs with sensitivity and clarity.
Th user personas capture different emotional states, communication patterns, and coping behaviours rather than demographic differences. They represent recurring challenges users face when navigating personal relationships, emotional expression, and self-regulation.
Each persona helped ground design decisions in real emotional contexts, ensuring the experience addressed users’ needs with sensitivity and clarity.
TRENDS FORECASTING
Safe Spaces, Routine & Structure
Safe Spaces, Routine & Structure
Trends forecasting helped me comprehend the evolving needs, preferences and behaviours of my audience, along with the wider impact of social, cultural, and technological factors. I've identified signals and drivers leading to 3 trends: The need for safe spaces, the need for incorporating daily practices and structure in life and the rising trend of sleep ecosystems. I’ve decided to focus my app on the first two of these trends.
Trends forecasting helped me comprehend the evolving needs, preferences and behaviours of my audience, along with the wider impact of social, cultural, and technological factors. I've identified signals and drivers leading to 3 trends: The need for safe spaces, the need for incorporating daily practices and structure in life and the rising trend of sleep ecosystems. I’ve decided to focus my app on the first two of these trends.
USER JOURNEY MAPPING
Two critical pain points were identified and need addressing:
Users will often enter the app feeling frustrated/emotional. Therefore, upon entry users need to be able to let off some steam and express their thoughts. Based on his this users should receive a personalised pathway through the app to feel a sense of validation.
Learning to be vulnerable and show emotions can be daunting. For maximum support and comfort information should be provided in digestible portions. Additionally, templates and assistance on how to get started when users struggle to express themselves would be helpful.
Two critical pain points were identified and need addressing:
Users will often enter the app feeling frustrated/emotional. Therefore, upon entry users need to be able to let off some steam and express their thoughts. Based on his this users should receive a personalised pathway through the app to feel a sense of validation.
Learning to be vulnerable and show emotions can be daunting. For maximum support and comfort information should be provided in digestible portions. Additionally, templates and assistance on how to get started when users struggle to express themselves would be helpful.
INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE
After brainstorming ideas and features, I focused on structuring the content to make the experience intuitive and sections findable:
COMMUNICATE: All topics including exercises around learning to have emotionally sensitive discussions are in this section as well as quick access to helplines.
PRACTICES: Involves daily practices for structure.
MENSPACE: A community space to engage, share insights and experiences anonymously. No judgement is allowed.
RESOURCES: Create and find personalised pathways and find further resources outside of the app.
INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE
After brainstorming ideas and features, I focused on structuring the content to make the experience intuitive and sections findable:
COMMUNICATE: All topics including exercises around learning to have emotionally sensitive discussions are in this section as well as quick access to helplines.
PRACTICES: Involves daily practices for structure.
MENSPACE: A community space to engage, share insights and experiences anonymously. No judgement is allowed.
RESOURCES: Create and find personalised pathways and find further resources outside of the app.
USER FLOW - 3 outflows for 3 user persona's needs
The user flow maps how each persona navigates the experience based on their emotional state, motivations, and barriers to engagement. Instead of assuming a single linear journey, the flow supports different journeys and outcomes, allowing users to progress at their own pace.
This approach ensured a more flexible and supportive experience. adaptive to user needs.
The user flow maps how each persona navigates the experience based on their emotional state, motivations, and barriers to engagement. Instead of assuming a single linear journey, the flow supports different journeys and outcomes, allowing users to progress at their own pace.
This approach ensured a more flexible and supportive experience. adaptive to user needs.
UI Design
The core message of my brand is about conveying an empowering, nurturing and safe environment that encourages men to take care of their and each others mental wellness.
The primary font Robot is modern, friendly and approachable. The secondary font Joti One feels more handwritten and personal. The colour scheme (created with the Material Design System) conveys calmness, stability, trust and positivity.
The core message of my brand is about conveying an empowering, nurturing and safe environment that encourages men to take care of their and each others mental wellness.
The primary font Robot is modern, friendly and approachable. The secondary font Jot One feels more handwritten and personal. The colour scheme (created with the Material Design System) conveys calmness, stability, trust and positivity.
Primary
Secondary
Tertiary
Error
Primary
Secondary
Tertiary
Error
Neutral
Neural
4 USER TESTINGS & IMPROVEMENTS
Helpline Access
Users wanted more direct helpline access
Ratings & Broader Resources
Users also want access to videos resources.
Add rating system.
Confusing Hierarchy
Information hierarchy suggest one can engage in a dialogue instead of being purely informative to users.
Ratings & More Resources
Users also want access to videos resources.
Add rating system.
PROTOTYPE
Let's connect, to build something great together!
Copyright
© 2025 Elisa Gruosso
All rights reserved
Contact
Become Friendly
Let's connect, to build something great together!
Copyright
© 2025 Elisa Gruosso
All rights reserved
Contact
Become Friendly
Tools
Figma, Miro
Timeline
14 Weeks (2023)
Team
Solo
My Role
End to End UX /UI Process
Organisation
University Project