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NESTRE

A cognitive training facility, rebuilt for your pocket

Role
Product & UX design
Discipline
Research · Strategy · UI
Platform
iOS · Android
Focus
Cognitive training
NESTRE

Introduction

Nestre translates the core principles of an in-person cognitive training facility into a professional-grade digital experience.

The app complements Nestre's on-site programs while standing on its own as an engaging adherence tool. The vision called for subtle gamification, personalization, and a scalable framework that could grow with advanced features without losing a polished, professional feel.

Problem

Challenges addressed
01

Engagement and adherence. Users needed gamified elements compelling enough to bring them back regularly.

02

On-site integration. The app had to complement in-person programs without creating confusion.

03

Scalability. The design needed a foundation ready for advanced features and future innovation.

04

Professional design. The interface had to resonate broadly — never too casual or kid-like.

Research

Understanding user needs

User interviews. Spoke with 25 people — 10 on-site participants and 15 remote users — to explore needs and expectations.

Stakeholder workshops. Worked with Nestre's team to understand their methodology and how the app should reflect it.

Market analysis + survey data. Studied top wellness apps for scalable frameworks; 300+ users prioritized professional design over playful aesthetics.

Key insights

Gamification had to be subtle yet motivating, with rewards tied to meaningful progress.

Integration with on-site programs needed clear instructions and consistent branding.

Users valued a professional, streamlined design that conveyed trust and credibility.

Design process

Empathize

Built empathy maps for two groups — on-site participants wanting supplementary tools, and independent users seeking a self-guided program.

Define

A professional, scalable, user-friendly app that supports Nestre's principles through subtle gamification and smooth integration with on-site programs.

Ideate

Level-based training with milestone badges and streaks, onboarding aligned to on-site program stages, and a modular framework ready for AI and community features.

Prototype

Interactive prototypes for the dashboard, training sessions, and progress trackers.

Solution

Features delivered
01

Engagement tools

Streaks, leaderboards, and rewards, with activity descriptions tied back to cognitive benefit.

02

On-site integration

Onboarding that mirrors the in-person program, plus QR sync for on-site users.

03

Scalable framework

A modular backend ready for AI and community tools, with adaptive layouts across devices.

04

Professional aesthetic

Minimalist design, calming color, and clean typography over cartoonish elements.

Testing & iteration

Tested with 50 users across two iterations, adjusting gamification to balance motivation with simplicity and stress-testing the framework for future features.

90%

of users found navigation smooth, and 85% said the design felt professional.

Tuned the gamification

Reward mechanics were adjusted across cycles to keep motivation high without adding complexity.

Reflection

Lessons learned

Engagement is about meaningful motivation, not flashy rewards.

A connected experience requires real alignment between the physical and digital sides.

Scalability has to be designed in from the start, never bolted on later.

Quick look

View UX artifacts
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ULTA BEAUTY
david.cervantes AI product designer & strategist
Available for select contract engagements