Overview
Solace is a wellness and recovery app designed for ironworkers facing long hours, physical strain, and mental fatigue. The app combines AI-driven recovery plans with gamification and an evolving mascot to help users replace short-term coping habits with consistent, effective recovery routines.
Challenge
User research revealed that ironworkers often lack recovery tools that feel relevant, efficient, and sustainable. Existing solutions tend to be generic, time-consuming, or disconnected from real job conditions. Workers needed recovery routines that were simple, personalized, and motivating enough to maintain after physically demanding workdays.
Solution
Solace delivers personalized physical and mental recovery through AI-generated routines, a gamified XP and streak system, and a mascot that reflects the user's well-being in real time.
Key features include:
• Mascot System: A character that visually represents physical and mental strain and evolves based on completed exercises and streaks. Includes AI-powered speech bubbles for contextual motivation.
• Personalized Daily Checklist: AI adapts exercises based on work type, intensity, and pain areas.
• Exercise Catalogue: A broader library of recovery exercises accessible beyond the daily checklist.
• Mental Recovery Tools: Breathing exercises and white noise to support stress management and mental resilience.
• XP & Streak System: Rewards consistency, maintains engagement, and visually strengthens the mascot as users progress.
My Role & Contributions
As Lead Developer, I owned the technical foundation of the project and coordinated development across the team. My responsibilities included:
• Selecting the development framework and UI libraries
• Connecting the application to AI-powered systems for personalization and feedback
• Leading development of the onboarding flow to ensure a clear and intuitive first-time user experience
• Delegating tasks to other developers and managing development priorities
• Acting as the bridge between designers and developers to translate design intent into technically feasible solutions
• Contributed to the development of the progress blog
I also contributed to user research, analysis, and persona creation to ensure technical decisions were grounded in real user needs.
Outcome
Solace demonstrates how thoughtful technical leadership and cross-disciplinary collaboration can turn complex ideas into a cohesive, user-centered product. By aligning AI, gamification, and accessible UX, the project presents a scalable recovery solution tailored to physically demanding professions.
The project was developed for the BCIT D3 FSWD Annual Showcase, where it was presented as a polished, end-to-end product concept and earned 2nd place overall.