Visualization x Mental Health

Data goes beyond numbers, and visualization can support more than just analysis. Our work explores how visualization might foster self-understanding, metacognition, and emotional reflection, especially in the context of mental health. We’re particularly interested in how affective experiences shape and are shaped by data, and how visualization can support not only insight but also care, connection, and personal meaning-making. Through collaborations with practitioners and individuals, we reimagine visualization as a more emotionally attuned and human-centered practice.

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Happy Ivy: A Visual Self-Tracking App for Bipolar Disorder

Happy Ivy is a mobile app designed to support daily rhythm and routine for people living with bipolar disorder and beyond. Framed through a gentle plant-growing metaphor, the app uses visual feedback to encourage task completion and promote stability in everyday life. As users complete scheduled tasks, their plant grows, offering a calming, low-pressure way to visualize progress and support self-regulation.

📺 Watch the Demo

Screenshots of a mobile app interface featuring a panda character. The first screen shows a mood indicator with four stars and the panda waving. The second screen displays a calendar for January 2017 with a green dot on the 2nd and a yellow label noting 'Good' mood. The third screen has a message asking 'How can I help you?' with animated balloons labeled with activities like singing a song, playing a game, telling a joke, and chat with me, with the panda holding the balloons.

Hap App: A Visual Companion App for Depression


This project explores how animated, interactive guides can support emotional self-regulation and therapeutic experiences for people with depression. Through a mobile app featuring a virtual panda companion, users can track moods, engage in lighthearted interactions, and access calming activities like music, jokes, and games. Playful elements, such as emotion-linked selfie filters, offer a creative and approachable way to reflect on emotions and lift mood through everyday moments of joy.

📺 Watch the Demo