HAPPYPILLAR NATIVE iOS APP

After two rounds of beta testing, Happypillar had gathered enough data and feedback to move forward with the design and build of the general availability version of their application. As the design lead, I cross-collaborated with stakeholders and the engineering lead to define short- and long-term product goals to inform the roadmap for the MVP.

To move from beta to GA, we needed to focus on three things: an informative onboarding experience, a straightforward recording page, and the ability for users to view short- and long-term data and growth within the app.

To begin strategizing, we revisited research conducted and gathered for beta and combined that with feedback gathered directly from beta testers. Upon reviewing the feedback, we discovered four areas of opportunity:

1. Onboarding Flow:
   • Users wanted a clearer picture of how many steps were involved in the onboarding process. They also wanted to be informed of the research and data backing Happypillar's technology before signing up.
2. Survey Design & Flow:
   • The design of the Likert scale survey was difficult to read given the amount of information on one page. The colors did not meet accessibility standards.
3. Recording Page:
   • Users felt there were unnecessary buttons and worried about pausing or stopping their session and losing data.
4. Video Content & Accessibility:
   • Users wanted to see progress bars within videos and have access to captions and alternative ways of consuming the information shared in the videos.

After reviewing beta feedback and discussing scope with the stakeholders, I created a MoSCoW chart that helped inform the creation of a product roadmap. I used Notion to create the roadmap and a system to request copy and video needs from the stakeholders. This roadmap ensured the project stayed on track and that all tasks were assigned, resulting in the MVP's timely delivery.

Through collaboration with stakeholders, the therapist-in-residence, and the engineer, we built out user flows that led to the full design of the app map. We broke the user journeys into smaller sections to ensure we captured all information and flows necessary for the MVP. By breaking the full journey into smaller flows, we were able to eventually create the app map, showcasing the entire experience within the app.

We worked with Happypillar's therapist-in-residence to create an onboarding experience that mimicked the in-person process — establishing trust and gathering the appropriate information to ensure the best possible experience for the user and their child/children while using Happypillar.

The recording page was prioritized for two rounds of usability testing given it is the core feature of the app. Testing validated the minimal, straightforward design direction — removing unnecessary buttons and keeping only vital elements such as sound haptics, the progress bar, and minimal button design addressed the key concern from beta testers about accidentally stopping a session and losing data.

A heuristic evaluation was also conducted to ensure the design used words and buttons familiar to the user, reinforcing confidence throughout the session flow.

The release of the Happypillar app directly contributed to the company achieving its mission of scalable, accessible mental health care for families.

In October 2025, Manatee — the leading virtual mental health platform for the entire family — announced its acquisition of Happypillar, combining Manatee's family-first clinical platform with Happypillar's AI-supported parent-child therapy coaching technology. Happypillar has since been rebranded as Manatee.

Manatee partners with major health plans and health systems nationwide, giving more than 20 million families in the U.S. access to care. The acquisition positioned Happypillar's technology to reach families at a scale that would not have been possible independently.