🧭 BROAD OVERVIEW
🧭 BROAD OVERVIEW
People often wake from dreams in a foggy mental state, which makes traditional journaling methods slow, clunky, or easily skipped. While existing dream apps offer basic note-taking, they fail to address the urgency, emotional nuance, and long-term reflection users desire. Users need a smooth, emotion-aware, and smart way to log and understand their dreams before the memories slip away.
People often wake from dreams in a foggy mental state, which makes traditional journaling methods slow, clunky, or easily skipped. While existing dream apps offer basic note-taking, they fail to address the urgency, emotional nuance, and long-term reflection users desire. Users need a smooth, emotion-aware, and smart way to log and understand their dreams before the memories slip away.
🔭 RESEARCH: HYPOTHESIS
🔭 RESEARCH: HYPOTHESIS
Casting the net of my research
Casting the net of my research
Casting the net of my research
I pored through Reddit forums on dreams and dream journaling along with some Medium articles to find the best dream journaling app that accommodate the user’s needs and concluded on these hypotheses:
I pored through Reddit forums on dreams and dream journaling along with some Medium articles to find the best dream journaling app that accommodate the user’s needs and concluded on these hypotheses:
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Users want to record their dreams quickly before they forget the dream.
Users want to record their dreams quickly before they forget the dream.
Users want to record their dreams quickly before they forget the dream.
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The user also wants to log details of the dream and their mood after they wake up.
The user also wants to log details of the dream and their mood after they wake up.
The user also wants to log details of the dream and their mood after they wake up.
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The user wants to be able to draw parallels between current and past dreams.
The user wants to be able to draw parallels between current and past dreams.
The user wants to be able to draw parallels between current and past dreams.
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The user wants to be able to see trends based on statistics from data they’ve logged over time.
The user wants to be able to see trends based on statistics from data they’ve logged over time.
The user wants to be able to see trends based on statistics from data they’ve logged over time.
🔭 RESEARCH:
DISCOVERY
🔭 RESEARCH: DISCOVERY
Validating the research
Validating the research
Validating the research
After that, I conducted research with 20 participants who actively log their dreams. I needed to know if the pain-points and challenges faced matched those from the forums.
After that, I conducted research with 20 participants who actively log their dreams. I needed to know if the pain-points and challenges faced matched those from the forums.
95% of users confirmed that speed of logging was an important factor as they forgot dreams quickly after waking.
95% of users confirmed that speed of logging was an important factor as they forgot dreams quickly after waking.
75% of users wanted a way to see recurring themes and symbols with 65% expressing interest in AI in helping surface insights.
75% of users wanted a way to see recurring themes and symbols with 65% expressing interest in AI in helping surface insights.
60% said they would journal more consistently if they could visualize dream history and moods over time.
60% said they would journal more consistently if they could visualize dream history and moods over time.
80% of users reported mental fog upon waking which makes typing and structured logging a barrier.
80% of users reported mental fog upon waking which makes typing and structured logging a barrier.
80% wanted to log emotions or mood alongside the dream.
80% wanted to log emotions or mood alongside the dream.
70% felt the emotional tone was more memorable than the dream’s visuals.
70% felt the emotional tone was more memorable than the dream’s visuals.
🎯 USER GOALS
🎯 USER GOALS
Based on the hypothesis and research, the core goals of the user are:
Based on the hypothesis and research, the core goals of the user are:
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To record their dreams quickly and effortlessly before they fade.
To record their dreams quickly and effortlessly before they fade.
To record their dreams quickly and effortlessly before they fade.
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To log all details associated with the dream and their mood right after they wake up.
To log all details associated with the dream and their mood right after they wake up.
To log all details associated with the dream and their mood right after they wake up.
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To draw parallels between current and past dreams.
To draw parallels between current and past dreams.
To draw parallels between current and past dreams.
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To see trends based on statistics from data they’ve logged over time
To see trends based on statistics from data they’ve logged over time
To see trends based on statistics from data they’ve logged over time
🎯 USER STORIES
🎯 USER STORIES
To guide the design process, I created user stories that reflect the needs identified in the research:
To guide the design process, I created user stories that reflect the needs identified in the research:
To guide the design process, I created user stories that reflect the needs identified in the research:
As a user, I want to log my dream as soon as I wake up using voice or quick-entry options, so I don’t forget it.
As a user, I want to log my dream as soon as I wake up using voice or quick-entry options, so I don’t forget it.
As a user, I want to log my dream as soon as I wake up using voice or quick-entry options, so I don’t forget it.
As a user, I want to include emotional and contextual information (e.g., mood, dream type, symbols) so I can better understand my state of mind
As a user, I want to include emotional and contextual information (e.g., mood, dream type, symbols) so I can better understand my state of mind
As a user, I want to recognize recurring elements or symbols across multiple dreams, so I can spot meaningful patterns.
As a user, I want to recognize recurring elements or symbols across multiple dreams, so I can spot meaningful patterns.
As a user, I want to view statistics or trends about my dreams and moods over time, so I can reflect on how my subconscious shifts.
As a user, I want to view statistics or trends about my dreams and moods over time, so I can reflect on how my subconscious shifts.
Enter 🌌Dreamnote
Enter 🌌Dreamnote
Enter 🌌Dreamnote
Dreamnote is an AI-assisted dream journaling app designed to help users log their dreams quickly and contextually, before the memory fades.
The app solves the common problem of dream recall loss by enabling voice-to-text entry, mood and emotion tagging, and AI-generated insights around recurring dream symbols and themes.
Dreamnote is an AI-assisted dream journaling app designed to help users log their dreams quickly and contextually, before the memory fades.
The app solves the common problem of dream recall loss by enabling voice-to-text entry, mood and emotion tagging, and AI-generated insights around recurring dream symbols and themes.
Dreamnote is an AI-assisted dream journaling app designed to help users log their dreams quickly and contextually, before the memory fades.
The app solves the common problem of dream recall loss by enabling voice-to-text entry, mood and emotion tagging, and AI-generated insights around recurring dream symbols and themes.
Voice-to-text entry
Voice-to-text entry
Mood & Emotion Tagging
Mood & Emotion Tagging
AI-generated Insights
AI-generated Insights
Home Screen
Home Screen
Home Screen
The home screen displays a personalized welcome message alongside a prominent, illuminated microphone button that users can tap to record their dreams through voice dictation. For users who prefer typing, a text input field provides an alternative method for entering dream content.
The home screen displays a personalized welcome message alongside a prominent, illuminated microphone button that users can tap to record their dreams through voice dictation. For users who prefer typing, a text input field provides an alternative method for entering dream content.
The home screen displays a personalized welcome message alongside a prominent, illuminated microphone button that users can tap to record their dreams through voice dictation. For users who prefer typing, a text input field provides an alternative method for entering dream content.
Journal Input
Journal Input
Journal Input
The dream journal interface captures comprehensive dream data through an intelligent input system. Users begin by describing their dream in the main text field, after which the AI automatically analyzes the content and populates the categorization fields below.
The dream journal interface captures comprehensive dream data through an intelligent input system. Users begin by describing their dream in the main text field, after which the AI automatically analyzes the content and populates the categorization fields below.
While the AI handles initial categorization, users retain full control to edit and refine all selections, ensuring accurate dream documentation. The clean, dark interface design promotes a calming nighttime journaling experience.
While the AI handles initial categorization, users retain full control to edit and refine all selections, ensuring accurate dream documentation. The clean, dark interface design promotes a calming nighttime journaling experience.
Single Journal Entry
Single Journal Entry
Single Journal Entry
This screen displays individual dream entries with AI-enhanced features for deeper analysis. The interface shows an AI-generated title that captures the essence of the dream, while highlighted keywords throughout the text indicate significant symbols and themes. Users can access an AI-translation feature that clarifies the dream for better understanding.
This screen displays individual dream entries with AI-enhanced features for deeper analysis. The interface shows an AI-generated title that captures the essence of the dream, while highlighted keywords throughout the text indicate significant symbols and themes. Users can access an AI-translation feature that clarifies the dream for better understanding.
The journal also displays similar past dreams, creating patterns in recurring themes over time. It also provides access to symbol interpretation through external links. For users who originally recorded their dreams using voice input, an audio playback feature allows them to listen to their original recording.
The journal also displays similar past dreams, creating patterns in recurring themes over time. It also provides access to symbol interpretation through external links. For users who originally recorded their dreams using voice input, an audio playback feature allows them to listen to their original recording.
Journal List
Journal List
Journal List
This screen provides a view of all dream journal entries, with an expandable dropdown for easy navigation. Each entry displays the AI-generated title, a preview of the dream content, and the date and time it was recorded.
This screen provides a view of all dream journal entries, with an expandable dropdown for easy navigation. Each entry displays the AI-generated title, a preview of the dream content, and the date and time it was recorded.
It also includes intelligent tagging that automatically identifies and highlights recurring dreams with purple badges, so the user is able to quickly spot repeated themes in their dream history.
It also includes intelligent tagging that automatically identifies and highlights recurring dreams with purple badges, so the user is able to quickly spot repeated themes in their dream history.
Statistics Page
Statistics Page
Statistics Page
This screen provides users with visualizations of their dream patterns and trends. It features a calendar with purple dots indicating days where dreams were logged. It also shows frequently occurring dream symbols through ranked charts and provides personalized insights about recurring themes.
This screen provides users with visualizations of their dream patterns and trends. It features a calendar with purple dots indicating days where dreams were logged. It also shows frequently occurring dream symbols through ranked charts and provides personalized insights about recurring themes.
A mood analysis chart tracks emotional patterns over time, complemented by dream type distribution via donut chart and scenery analysis. This data-driven interface helps users identify subconscious patterns and gain insights into their dream life.
A mood analysis chart tracks emotional patterns over time, complemented by dream type distribution via donut chart and scenery analysis. This data-driven interface helps users identify subconscious patterns and gain insights into their dream life.
Visual Design
Visual Design
Visual Design
The background color (#16161D) matches what we see when we close our eyes, so it won't be harsh or bright when users wake up to record their dreams. The entire app uses dark mode to be gentle on the eyes during nighttime or early morning use, helping users stay relaxed while capturing their dreams. I chose purple because it is associated with magic, mystery, and wisdom - concepts that people already connect with dreaming.
The background color (#16161D) matches what we see when we close our eyes, so it won't be harsh or bright when users wake up to record their dreams. The entire app uses dark mode to be gentle on the eyes during nighttime or early morning use, helping users stay relaxed while capturing their dreams. I chose purple because it is associated with magic, mystery, and wisdom - concepts that people already connect with dreaming.
#16161D
I also wanted the app to feel like a real journal. I incorporated elements like lined paper pages and folder inspired cards for the journal list.
I also wanted the app to feel like a real journal. I incorporated elements like lined paper pages and folder inspired cards for the journal list.
The 'DM Mono' typeface was also chosen for the real journal feel as it mimics handwriting, while 'Instrument Serif' was used for headings. The rest of the app uses ‘SF Pro Display’ which blends seamlessly with the overall design.
The 'DM Mono' typeface was also chosen for the real journal feel as it mimics handwriting, while 'Instrument Serif' was used for headings. The rest of the app uses ‘SF Pro Display’ which blends seamlessly with the overall design.
What I Learnt
What I Learnt
I learned a lot about clearly explaining and documenting my design process while working on this project. It was especially enjoyable because I'm fascinated by dreams and dream symbolism (bonus Netflix recommendation: The Sandman). If I had more time, I would add a feature to make dreams public anonymously, so users could see how many people worldwide are having similar dreams.
I learned a lot about clearly explaining and documenting my design process while working on this project. It was especially enjoyable because I'm fascinated by dreams and dream symbolism (bonus Netflix recommendation: The Sandman). If I had more time, I would add a feature to make dreams public anonymously, so users could see how many people worldwide are having similar dreams.
LET'S DESIGN SOMETHING
reachsinmi@gmail.com
LET'S DESIGN SOMETHING
LET'S DESIGN SOMETHING
reachsinmi@gmail.com