Designing a Meditation Timer That Rewards Focus | Zenbase App

Overview

Zenbase needed a meditation timer that felt calm and easy to use — while also supporting gamified incentives and accurate tracking of meditation time. The goal was to balance focus-friendly design with reward visibility and build trust around session completion.

Outcomes

• Improved user clarity on when and how Zen Tokens are earned

• Timer feature contributed to increased session completion and streak retention

• Helped align reward UX with the core values of mindfulness and habit-building

My Approach

• Researched timer experiences across wellness and productivity apps

• Designed a minimalist, audio-first UI for distraction-free meditation

• Integrated crypto reward logic and progress visuals into the timer

• Delivered responsive mobile mockups and variants for light/dark mode

Key Design Decisions

• Minimalist UI with tactile feedback: Designed a tap-to-start experience with gentle micro interactions, encouraging daily use.

• Session-integrated rewards: Users see Zen Tokens accumulate only after uninterrupted sessions, reinforcing deep focus.

• Custom time selection: Created a scroll-based timer to let users set their own session length before starting.

• Audio-first interaction: Simplified access to ambient sound selections and guided tracks with swipe-up access.

Results & What's Next

• The redesigned timer helped clarify how Zen Tokens are earned, reducing drop-off during sessions.

• Beta testers reported higher session completion and return visits after the update.

• Future opportunities include integrating habit tracking, enhanced reward personalization, and smart reminders based on meditation patterns.