Designers
Jaylee Lambino, Gianna Dimperio, Noella Hirwa, Riley Nguyen, Gabriela Iturralde, Marisol Contreras, Averie Kiesewetter, Quinn De Leon, Ashani Peissigma, Jenny Nellis, Areanna Whittington
Year
2025
Category
New Talent
Country
United States
School
Columbia College Chicago
Teacher
Jo-Nell Sieren

Three questions to the project team
What was the particular challenge of the project from a UX point of view?
The main UX challenge was creating a calming, adaptive experience that meets the emotional needs of tech-native 18 to 25 year-olds. Vitality had to deliver science-backed wellbeing support through an immersive, biophilic interface without overwhelming users. Designing intuitive, emotionally intelligent interactions that use passive sensor data while remaining non-judgmental and inclusive required a careful balance of minimalism, personalization, and accessibility to sustain engagement and promote lasting wellbeing.
What was your personal highlight in the development process? Was there an aha!-moment, was there a low point?
A personal highlight was witnessing our student team grow into a unified, mission-driven force—from early user testing through UI design to developing a sophisticated brand identity. Each stage was a collaborative breakthrough: translating user insights into inclusive design choices; refining interactions to reflect emotional intelligence; and ultimately crafting a brand that extends beyond the app to define Vitality’s voice and values. Seeing users connect with what we created affirmed that we weren’t just building an app—we were shaping impact.
Where do you see yourself and the project in the next five years?
Most of our student team will has graduated, but we hope Vitality continues to grow with the founders and between Loyolla University and Columbia College Chicago—with new teams building on our foundation to extend its impact. We envision the app being available to users, actively supporting emotional wellbeing through personalized, science-based strategies. Collaborating as students with a real client to create something so meaningful was a rare and powerful experience. We’re proud to have built a product that has the potential to truly improve lives and inspire future innovation in wellbeing.


