dot. by aurelia vitals
dot. by aurelia vitals
reimagining cycle tracking apps through seamless integration with wearable health tech
reimagining cycle tracking apps through seamless integration with wearable health tech
ROLE
Product Design Intern
ROLE
Product Design Intern
TEAM
1 Product Manager 4 Designers
TEAM
1 Product Manager 4 Designers
DURATION
15 weeks (Jan-May 2025)
DURATION
15 weeks (Jan-May 2025)
CONTEXT
Designing a data-driven cycle tracking experience with wearable tech.
I worked with the team at Aurelia Vitals, a health-tech startup, to design a companion mobile app that pairs with their wearable sensor—an earring backing that tracks vitals overnight. The app is meant to translate sensor data into clear, personalized insights.
CONTEXT
Designing a data-driven cycle tracking experience with wearable tech.
I worked with the team at Aurelia Vitals, a health-tech startup, to design a companion mobile app that pairs with their wearable sensor—an earring backing that tracks vitals overnight. The app is meant to translate sensor data into clear, personalized insights.
PROBLEM
Lack of accurate & adaptive cycle tracking in current tools.
Many cycle-tracking apps rely on averages and self-reported data, leaving predictions inaccurate and users feeling unsupported.
PROBLEM
Lack of accurate & adaptive cycle tracking in current tools.
Many cycle-tracking apps rely on averages and self-reported data, leaving predictions inaccurate and users feeling unsupported.
GOAL
Turn real-time vitals into meangingful, supportive insights that feel clear and actionable.
The question that guided our process was: How might we design a mobile experience that makes cycle tracking more accurate, personalized, and genuinely supportive using real-time health data? By making data easy to understand, the app helps users feel informed and confident—whether they’re tracking for wellness, fertility, or eventually, birth control.
GOAL
Turn real-time vitals into meangingful, supportive insights that feel clear and actionable.
The question that guided our process was: How might we design a mobile experience that makes cycle tracking more accurate, personalized, and genuinely supportive using real-time health data? By making data easy to understand, the app helps users feel informed and confident—whether they’re tracking for wellness, fertility, or eventually, birth control.
COMPARATIVE RESEARCH
Most cycle-tracking apps rely heavily on self-reported data.
Exploring existing tools revealed a focus on symptom logging and education. While users appreciated these features, there was a clear opportunity to improve accuracy by integrating real-time vitals from the client’s wearable device, while still preserving flexibility users value.
COMPARATIVE RESEARCH
Most cycle-tracking apps rely heavily on self-reported data.
Exploring existing tools revealed a focus on symptom logging and education. While users appreciated these features, there was a clear opportunity to improve accuracy by integrating real-time vitals from the client’s wearable device, while still preserving flexibility users value.
USER RESEARCH
Trust, simplicity, and support matter most in cycle tracking.
Through 11 user interviews, I learned people track cycles to prepare for events, monitor fertility, and manage symptoms—but often find apps inaccurate, overly complex, or impersonal. Key needs included accuracy, privacy, transparency, and inclusivity, especially for users with irregular cycles.
USER RESEARCH
Trust, simplicity, and support matter most in cycle tracking.
Through 11 user interviews, I learned people track cycles to prepare for events, monitor fertility, and manage symptoms—but often find apps inaccurate, overly complex, or impersonal. Key needs included accuracy, privacy, transparency, and inclusivity, especially for users with irregular cycles.
Who is going to use the app?
Who is going to use the app?
How are users going to use the app?
How are users going to use the app?
What do users value in a cycle tracking app?
What do users value in a cycle tracking app?
Cycle Predictions & Prep:
To avoid surprises or to prep for events/travel
Cycle Predictions & Prep:
To avoid surprises or to prep for events/travel
Monitor Sexual Health:
To understand fertility windows and avoid pregnancy
Monitor Sexual Health:
To understand fertility windows and avoid pregnancy
Symptom Tracking:
To identify trends like breakouts, cramping, and fatigue
Symptom Tracking:
To identify trends like breakouts, cramping, and fatigue
Most users track flow during their period—short blurts of engagement
Most users track flow during their period—short blurts of engagement
Use of wearable tech (e.g. Apple Watch, Oura Ring) was explored by 3 users, but not deemed essential
Use of wearable tech (e.g. Apple Watch, Oura Ring) was explored by 3 users, but not deemed essential
55%
55%
of users interviewed have irregular periods and want more accurate predictions
of users interviewed have irregular periods and want more accurate predictions
Both sexually active and inactive users use cycle apps for health awareness, mood tracking, and pregnancy prevention
Both sexually active and inactive users use cycle apps for health awareness, mood tracking, and pregnancy prevention
Top priorities:
Top priorities:
Accuracy, Simplicity, Privacy, and Educative
Accuracy, Simplicity, Privacy, and Educative
Top Features:
Top Features:
Adaptive Cycle Predictions
Symptom Logging
Data Privacy Options
Insights into symptoms
Educational Resources
Adaptive Cycle Predictions
Symptom Logging
Data Privacy Options
Insights into symptoms
Educational Resources
IDENTIFYING USERS
Figuring out who we’re designing for and what they actually need
I mapped user characteristics across sexual activity, pregnancy-related goals, and period patterns to better understand our audience. Since the goal was to eventually tailor the app experience based on these different needs, it was important to first identify the most common use cases through research and interviews. For our MVP, we focused on one key persona with the clearest need—while acknowledging that other user groups are also important and would be considered in future iterations!
IDENTIFYING USERS
Figuring out who we’re designing for and what they actually need
I mapped user characteristics across sexual activity, pregnancy-related goals, and period patterns to better understand our audience. Since the goal was to eventually tailor the app experience based on these different needs, it was important to first identify the most common use cases through research and interviews. For our MVP, we focused on one key persona with the clearest need—while acknowledging that other user groups are also important and would be considered in future iterations!
Sexual Activity Status
Sexual Activity Status
Pregnancy-Related Goals
Pregnancy-Related Goals
Period Pattern
Period Pattern
Sexually Active
Sexually Active
Sexually Inactive
Sexually Inactive
Trying to get pregnant
Trying to get pregnant
No pregnancy goals
No pregnancy goals
Actively avoiding pregnancy
Actively avoiding pregnancy
Regular
Regular
Irregular
Irregular
Primary MVP User Persona
Primary MVP User Persona
USER FLOW
Mapping the journey helped simplify and personalize the experience.
I outlined the flow—from onboarding to daily use—to spot key moments where design could reduce friction, support different goals, and make the app feel more intuitive!
USER FLOW
Mapping the journey helped simplify and personalize the experience.
I outlined the flow—from onboarding to daily use—to spot key moments where design could reduce friction, support different goals, and make the app feel more intuitive!
INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE
Organizing features around core tasks to reduce cognitive load.
By prioritizing logging periods and symptoms on the Home tab, I ensured essential tasks were always accessible while leaving room for future features to scale seamlessly.
INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE
Organizing features around core tasks to reduce cognitive load.
By prioritizing logging periods and symptoms on the Home tab, I ensured essential tasks were always accessible while leaving room for future features to scale seamlessly.
IDEATION
Initial Feature Exploration
Sketching out lo-fi screens helped me quickly test ideas, spot confusing flows, and identify missing touchpoints before diving deeper. It also reminded me how helpful lo-fi concepts are for communicating options to the client, validating ideas early, and keeping the design grounded in user research and real needs.
IDEATION
Initial Feature Exploration
Sketching out lo-fi screens helped me quickly test ideas, spot confusing flows, and identify missing touchpoints before diving deeper. It also reminded me how helpful lo-fi concepts are for communicating options to the client, validating ideas early, and keeping the design grounded in user research and real needs.
Device Pairing Screen
Device Pairing Screen
Home
Home
Device Connecting
Device Connecting
Device Metrics
Device Metrics
Personal Info
Personal Info
Log Cycle Information
Log Cycle Information
Goals
Goals
What vitals data will the device actually be collecting, and how can we visualize it in a way that is easily accessible to the user?
What vitals data will the device actually be collecting, and how can we visualize it in a way that is easily accessible to the user?
Early iteration of AV’s device
(meant to be worn as an ear backing)
Early iteration of AV’s device
(meant to be worn as an ear backing)
Preview of calendar (will allow user to see at a glance what their cycle looks like
Preview of calendar (will allow user to see at a glance what their cycle looks like
Additional details related to the user’s specific goal with using the app and data obtained from device
Additional details related to the user’s specific goal with using the app and data obtained from device
Persistent button to access Log (determined to be most important MVP feature through our research)
Persistent button to access Log (determined to be most important MVP feature through our research)
What specific questions/info do we need from the users that don’t negatively impact their comfort levels and take into account user concerns over privacy?
What specific questions/info do we need from the users that don’t negatively impact their comfort levels and take into account user concerns over privacy?
Clear onboarding with guiding instructions, need to establish trust
Clear onboarding with guiding instructions, need to establish trust
the different options will allow users to experience an interface customized to their specific use case (if not for the MVP, it will at least inform us what next steps will need to be taken to add additional customizability)
the different options will allow users to experience an interface customized to their specific use case (if not for the MVP, it will at least inform us what next steps will need to be taken to add additional customizability)
need to determine what factors users will actually want to track (in addition to vitals automatically tracked by the device)
need to determine what factors users will actually want to track (in addition to vitals automatically tracked by the device)
Where would users actually access their manually inputted data (and how can we differentiate that from the device-tracked data, while giving users a holistic view of their health insights)?
Where would users actually access their manually inputted data (and how can we differentiate that from the device-tracked data, while giving users a holistic view of their health insights)?
How can we create a seamless experience for the users using the app in conjunction with the device?
How can we create a seamless experience for the users using the app in conjunction with the device?
What verbiage can we use to be relevant to different users while balancing tone and purpose?
What verbiage can we use to be relevant to different users while balancing tone and purpose?
WIREFRAMES
Refining the design through mid- to hi-fi wireframes
I created mid- and high-fidelity wireframes to add detail to the core screens and see how well the layout, flow, and visuals worked with one another. Each iteration helped me see what felt intuitive, what needed reworking, and where things could be clearer—whether that meant layout adjustments, better visual hierarchy, or adding missing context. Additionally, regular feedback from our PM, client, and users helped shaped each round and brought us closer to a design that felt intentional, polished, and easy to use.
WIREFRAMES
Refining the design through mid- to hi-fi wireframes
I created mid- and high-fidelity wireframes to add detail to the core screens and see how well the layout, flow, and visuals worked with one another. Each iteration helped me see what felt intuitive, what needed reworking, and where things could be clearer—whether that meant layout adjustments, better visual hierarchy, or adding missing context. Additionally, regular feedback from our PM, client, and users helped shaped each round and brought us closer to a design that felt intentional, polished, and easy to use.
Onboarding — helping users get started quickly while respecting their privacy
Through our research, we learned that many users are hesitant to start using health tracking apps because of long onboarding flows and concern about data privacy. To address this, we streamlined the onboarding experience give users the flexibility to personalize their setup without sharing sensitive data.
1. Inclusive Onboarding
1. Inclusive Onboarding
Questions help personalize the app experience
Questions help personalize the app experience
Optional inputs to protect user privacy
Optional inputs to protect user privacy
Lacks a clear “skip all” option
Lacks a clear “skip all” option
2. Streamlined & Flexible
2. Streamlined & Flexible
Progress bar signals quick setup
Progress bar signals quick setup
Option to bypass personal info entirely, accommodates privacy concerns
Option to bypass personal info entirely, accommodates privacy concerns
Low-commitment entry encourages exploration
Low-commitment entry encourages exploration
Home — giving users a clear snapshot of their current cycle
We prioritized summaries that highlight the most relevant information at a glance, avoiding medical jargon and clutter.
1. Clarity vs. Connectivity Gaps
1. Clarity vs. Connectivity Gaps
Clearly sectioned information
Clearly sectioned information
No clear jargon explanation
No clear jargon explanation
No option to sync device data
No option to sync device data
2. AI & Data Integration
2. AI & Data Integration
AI-based cycle predictions provided
AI-based cycle predictions provided
Button to sync device data
Button to sync device data
Calendar layout feels space-inefficient
Calendar layout feels space-inefficient
3. Clear, Concise Health Insights
3. Clear, Concise Health Insights
Digestible summaries of health info for the day
Digestible summaries of health info for the day
Avoids confusing chance of pregnancy-related charts
Avoids confusing chance of pregnancy-related charts
Time toggles with accurate data visualization graphs
Time toggles with accurate data visualization graphs
Calendar — letting users visually track and understand their cycle patterns
Our goal was to reduce visual clutter while clearly distinguishing cycle phases. Additionally, after learning from users that they occasionally reference past cycle data during medical visits, I also proposed a Cycle History view to help users easily compare cycle lengths, period days, and ovulation windows across time.
1. Visually Cramped
1. Visually Cramped
Familiar period app color system
Familiar period app color system
Confusing indicator overlap
Confusing indicator overlap
Repetitive weekday headers, unclear layout
Repetitive weekday headers, unclear layout
2. Flexible Monthly Cycle View
2. Flexible Monthly Cycle View
Scrollable months with visual indicators
Scrollable months with visual indicators
Clear distinction between period and ovulation time periods, and logged symptoms indicators
Clear distinction between period and ovulation time periods, and logged symptoms indicators
Month/year toggle supports trend viewing
Month/year toggle supports trend viewing
Track Period / Symptoms — making daily logging fast, flexible, and personalized
Working with my teammates who designed earlier iterations of this screen, I gave feedback based on user preferences for intuitive and minimal input. We also clarified the distinction between predictive inputs (used for AI models) and personal logs.
1. Simple, Limited Customization
1. Simple, Limited Customization
Log periods easily
Log periods easily
Cluttered by unnecessary icons
Cluttered by unnecessary icons
Few factor/symptom options available
Few factor/symptom options available
Predictive Tracking
Predictive Tracking
Track specific inputs used for period predictions
Track specific inputs used for period predictions
Simplified buttons, minimized scroll
Simplified buttons, minimized scroll
No clear divide between predictive and personal tracking
No clear divide between predictive and personal tracking
3. Input Clarity, Visual Consistency
3. Input Clarity, Visual Consistency
Option to log period independently of flow level
Option to log period independently of flow level
Clearly states which inputs after period predictions
Clearly states which inputs after period predictions
Removed header icons for consistency with overall design
Removed header icons for consistency with overall design
My Data & Trends — helping users visualize trends and build self-awareness
While the device currently only tracks temperature, we designed the page to display useful trends now and expand easily as new vitals become available. The goal is to help users understand long-term patterns, and position the app as a reliable reflection of their health over time.
1. Basic Stats with Limited Data
1. Basic Stats with Limited Data
Dedicated page for basic stats with space for future device-synced data
Dedicated page for basic stats with space for future device-synced data
Limited vitals information, device only tracks temperature currently
Limited vitals information, device only tracks temperature currently
Temperature chart is hard to read
Temperature chart is hard to read
2. Health Trends Overview
2. Health Trends Overview
View overall cycle trends at a glance
View overall cycle trends at a glance
Page filled with useful trend data while additional data tracked by device is not yet available for syncing
Page filled with useful trend data while additional data tracked by device is not yet available for syncing
Some displayed info may be redundant
Some displayed info may be redundant
3. Scalable User Data Page
3. Scalable User Data Page
Breakdown of overall relevant health trends
Breakdown of overall relevant health trends
Placeholder page for future data visualization from vitals data that is synced through the device to the app in a way that the users can understand
Placeholder page for future data visualization from vitals data that is synced through the device to the app in a way that the users can understand
Removed redundant ‘average fertile window’ column
Removed redundant ‘average fertile window’ column
VISUAL IDENTITY
Design System
VISUAL IDENTITY
Design System
Typography
Typography
DM Sans
Heading 1
Semibold 20/30px
Heading 2
Bold H2 16/21px
Paragraph 1
Regular 16/30px
Paragraph 2
Regular 14/30px
Caption
Regular 12/30px
Colors
Colors
#282F6D
#282F6D
Primary
Primary
#4589EA
#4589EA
Primary
Primary
#F1F7FF
#F1F7FF
Background
Background
#FFFFFF
#FFFFFF
Background
Background
#F9D5DB
#F9D5DB
Secondary
Secondary
#ADCBF4
#ADCBF4
Secondary
Secondary
#DFE6EE
#DFE6EE
Secondary
Secondary
#696E98
#696E98
Secondary
Secondary
#4BAAFF
#4BAAFF
Accent
Accent
#FF6277
#FF6277
Accent
Accent
#B5B2FF
#B5B2FF
Accent
Accent
Assets
Assets
DESIGN SOLUTIONS
Prototype
Video coming soon!
DESIGN SOLUTIONS
Prototype
Video coming soon!
KEY TAKEAWAYS
What did I learn from this experience?
KEY TAKEAWAYS
What did I learn from this experience?
→ Iteration is everything!
Each round of feedback—whether from users, our PM, and the client—pushed the design to be more intentional. I learned not to get attached to early ideas and to treat every iteration as a step closer to building something that actually works.
→ Words matter & providing real-time health data does not have to be overwhelming for the user
I learned a lot about what it means to visualize vitals in a way that’s easy to interpret—and also gained a better understanding of how inclusive, thoughtful language can completely shift how supported a user feels. Copy isn’t just way you say it, it’s how you say it!
→ Good UX goes beyond just digital screens
I realized that cycle tracking isn't just about the features and the way things are laid out and how they look—it's about creating a whole experience where people feel seen, supported, and confident about managing their own health!
NEXT STEPS
Next up—user testing, expand use cases, collaborate with health educators, and prep for beta launch!
NEXT STEPS