Conexión
Pregnancy is a transformative time—exciting, emotional, and often overwhelming. Conexión is a lifestyle concept designed to support expectant couples in strengthening their emotional bond during this life-changing experience. By encouraging small acts of care and meaningful communication, the project empowers partners to express love, navigate stress, and grow together. More than just a product, Conexión offers tools and rituals that help turn everyday moments into shared joy, deepening connection when it matters most.
Year
2024
Category
UI/UX Design
Role
Lead Designer (UI/UX, Branding, and Visual Design)
Winning Awards
Red Dot Design Award
IDA Design Awards
Muse Design Awards
LICC (London International Creative Competition)
Background
Pregnancy is a life-changing journey—physically, emotionally, and relationally. While it brings joy and anticipation, it can also introduce tension and misunderstanding between couples as they navigate new roles, changing routines, and emotional highs and lows. We started Conexión to address these quiet struggles and help couples stay emotionally connected during this pivotal time.
Problem
Statement
Many expecting couples face communication breakdowns and emotional distance during pregnancy, often due to stress, hormonal shifts, and the challenge of adapting to new responsibilities.
These issues can lead to frequent arguments and feelings of isolation, weakening their bond when they need each other most.
How to
Make a Difference?
Conexión bridges emotional and physical care through a smart device and companion app that detects health patterns and encourages daily acts of connection. By transforming personal data into shared insights, it offers guided interactions, reminders for care gestures, and memory-sharing features—empowering couples to support each other, celebrate small wins, and build emotional resilience together.
Research &
Insights
We conducted a mix of interviews, surveys, and observations with expecting couples to better understand their emotional and relational needs during pregnancy. Patterns emerged around communication breakdowns, emotional distance, and the need for small shared moments. These findings shaped Conexión into a supportive, empathy-driven experience designed to strengthen connection and ease stress.
Key Insights (Pain Points)
Emotional Intensity
We love each other more than ever, but we argue more too." — Alex, 33
Confusion in Medication Order
“Doing small things together helps us reconnect after a rough day.” — Maya, 29
Small Joys, Big Impact
“Doing small things together helps us reconnect after a rough day.” — Maya, 29
Inexperience = Mistakes
“The tiny happy moments keep us going—it doesn’t have to be big.” — Leo, 36
Needing a Pause
“Sometimes I wish something would just stop us in the middle of a fight.” — Rachel, 32
Health & Anxiety
“When I feel physically okay, I’m less overwhelmed.” — Omar, 35
Understanding Hormones
“I know she’s emotional, but I don’t always know what to do or say.” — Daniel, 34
User
Analysis
We created user personas and journey maps to better understand the emotional needs, daily routines, and pain points of expecting couples. These tools helped us visualize their experiences and identify opportunities where Conexión could meaningfully support connection, communication, and emotional well-being throughout the pregnancy journey.
Usability Testing
& Iterations
We conducted usability testing with 4 expecting couples, focusing on key tasks:
• Onboarding flow
• Daily check-in experience
• Interaction with shared activity prompts
• Viewing and responding to emotional state feedback
What We Learned from Our Users
"The app feels calming, but I was confused on what to do first." — Alex, 33
"I love the little reminders—it made me want to do something nice for my partner." — Rachel, 29
"I didn’t really understand the color indicators until the second day." — Daniel, 34
Key Takeaways & Iterations
Platform Shift:
Embracing Familiar Technology
Transitioned from a custom wristband to Apple Watch integration to reduce learning curve and align with users’ daily routines.
Guided Start:
Building Confidence from Day One
Redesigned the onboarding flow with simple, step-by-step guidance to help users feel supported and in control.
Emotional Expression:
Making Feelings Visible
Transitioned from a custom wristband to Apple Watch integration to reduce learning curve and align with users’ daily routines.
Everyday Encouragement:
Prompting Connection
Enhanced the home screen with gentle nudges and clear activity prompts to inspire daily interaction and care.
Clarity in Communication:
Making Feedback Actionable
Added tooltips and real-time stats to help users better understand emotional signals and engagement patterns with their partner.
Design
Assets
Impact &
Reflection
What’s improved?
Conexión empowers couples to stay emotionally attuned through daily rituals, shared understanding, and health awareness. It not only helps prevent emotional disconnection but also builds long-term emotional resilience during pregnancy.
