Hiker.bg

UX/UI Redesign Case Study

Project Overview

Project type: Freelance UX/UI redesign
Client: Hiker.bg - a hiking app for mountain trails and huts in Bulgaria
My role: UX/UI Designer
Tools: Figma

My Role

UX/UI Design (end-to-end)
Design systems & components
Journey mapping
High-fidelity wireframes & prototyping
Collaboration with developers for implementation

Goal

improving the usability, navigation, and visual consistency of the app.
introducing new features
creating a desktop version of the app
redesigning the current website.

The Challenge

The current app lacks a clear information structure.
Key features (map tools, routes, and huts) are spread between the map and a hidden side menu.
Inconsistent visual language and outdated UI.
No existing Figma file or design system.

Main tasks

Redesign the experience to make navigation intuitive,
Simplify access to main functions
Create a unified design system for future scalability.

3. Research

Methods:

UX audit of the current app (navigation, visual hierarchy, interactions).
Competitive analysis of similar apps (Komoot, AllTrails, Mapy).
User interviews with 3–5 hikers to understand how they use Hiker and what frustrates them most.

Key insights:

Users rely mostly on the map and want all main features accessible from it.
The side menu feels hidden and confusing.
They need quick access to route planning and danger reporting.
Many open the app mainly to check huts or plan routes before a trip.

Design System & Brand Guidelines:

I created a calming, minimalistic visual identity to reflect the therapeutic nature of the platform. Colors, typography, and layout choices were made to reduce cognitive load, support emotional regulation, and create a sense of trust and warmth. The brand needed to feel clinical but compassionate.

Sentur Health Purple gradient background with white text that says 'Design Toolkit'.

A color palette guide titled 'Accent Colour' featuring a large sage green circle with hex code #8DAC5B. Text explains that this color complements primary purple and adds harmony and tranquility, suitable for calming, supportive design elements.

Three-panel infographic. First panel shows a woman with curly red hair waving at a laptop, facing right, with message to tailor approach to individual needs. Second panel displays a purple semicircular graphic with '92%' and a silhouette of two peopl

Side-by-side comparison of a photograph of a woman jumping outdoors, with image adjustments for contrast, showing before and after versions. The photograph features a woman in a white jacket and maroon pants, with mountains in the background. The rig

Guide page titled 'Style and Tone' with sections on 'Warm and Inviting', 'Authentic and Genuine', and 'Optimistic and Empowering'. Contains two photos: one of a group of women sitting on the grass outdoors, smiling and laughing; the other of a person

A style guide page showing font types, headline sizes, body text sizes, button sizes, and field sizes for desktop and mobile versions.

Design layout with different sections showing list component styles and options, including compact, standard, and accordion variations, with placeholders for labels and icons.

Wireframe of a chat interface design with various component variations, including message bubbles, input fields, and suggested answers, all utilizing purple, black, and white color schemes.

Screenshot of a user interface showcasing different button styles, states, and icons, with examples of primary, secondary, and disabled buttons, as well as navigation and thumb icons, mainly in purple, gray, and black colors.

Color palette and usage guide with primary colors: purple, white, black, sage green, and negative red, along with their hex codes and descriptions for design elements.

Consistency Across Platforms:

Both the app and dashboard share a cohesive design language to reinforce brand identity and reduce learning curves between tools. This helps facilities onboard new users more easily while maintaining a high level of trust and professionalism.

Hand-drawn sketch of a user interface for a list management app, showing different pages with lists, options to add, edit, or view items, and notes on zooming and screen views.

A sketch of a mobile app interface with multiple screens and design notes, including menu options, buttons, and navigation icons.

App Design

The design of Sentur focused on creating a safe, soothing space for inner work. I led the UI/UX design of the mobile app, where patients engage in parts-based self-reflection and emotional check-ins. Every detail was intentional—from the color palette to the gentle animations and conversational tone.

Why I Designed It This Way:

Emotional Safety First: Users come to Sentur in vulnerable moments. I used soft typography, spacious layouts, and calming visuals to reduce overwhelm and invite trust.
Guided Healing: The app needed to feel like a companion, not a tool. I crafted conversational flows and iconography that guide users through complex emotional territory without feeling clinical.
Personalization: Patients see reflections tailored to their own emotional journey. I designed dynamic interfaces that adapt based on user inputs—creating space for real growth.
Consistency with Brand: I created the design system and visual guidelines to ensure that every interaction—across mobile and desktop—feels coherent and grounded in the same philosophy.

My goal was to help users feel held—not just seen. Every screen is designed to mirror back inner clarity.

Mobile app screen for creating an account with fields for name, phone, and email, and a submit button at the bottom.

Mobile app home screen greeting Michael with a start button in the center, weekly progress bar indicating 230 points, options to continue session and assessment with 60 points each, and navigation icons at the bottom for Home, Explore, Tools, and Con

Screenshot of a conversation with a virtual assistant named Sofia on a smartphone. The assistant greets Michael, asks how it can help, and Michael responds that he's doing great.

Mobile app screen showing user progress with weekly progress bar at 230, total 550 stars earned, 20 sessions since August 1st, and an E-Gift Card progress of 4,500 out of 5,000 points.

Mobile app screen showing a reward of 100 stars with celebration confetti and a treasure chest illustration.

Mobile app screen showing progress in different categories like Awareness, Regulation, Assessment, and Relationship, with numbered circles, a star icon, and navigation menu at the bottom.

A mobile app screen showing a welcome message to Michael. Two options labeled 'Evening Senturing' with a moon icon and 'Afternoon Senturing' with a sun icon, each with a placeholder paragraph. Navigation menu at the bottom with icons for Home, Explor

A smartphone screen displaying a meditation or sleep app. The screen shows a moon and clouds icon, with the title 'Evening Senturing,' by Sarah Houy. A progress bar and playback controls are at the bottom.

A mobile app screen displaying a patient health questionnaire with a green heart and hands icon at the top, followed by questions and purple and white response buttons.

Screenshot of a mobile app displaying calendar events and support community information related to sobriety and recovery programs.

Screenshot of a calendar with a scheduled therapy session on June 26, 2024, from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM, recurring weekly.

Screenshot of a mobile app chat with a virtual assistant named Sofia. The conversation is about scheduling a 10-minute session, with options to have it before or after dinner. The user selects 'After,' and Sofia confirms a 30-minute reminder at 8 pm.

Dashboard for Clinicians:

The dashboard was designed to surface key patient insights quickly. I prioritized clarity and efficiency—giving clinicians at-a-glance access to check-in data, safety alerts, and therapy milestones. This helps them better prepare for sessions, spot concerning trends, and focus more on care, less on admin.

Login page for Sentur Recovery with a photo of four diverse people celebrating inside a graphic circle on the right side of the page.

Mental health professional dashboard displaying patient names, last update times, tool usage, and suicidal ideation alerts. It includes a sidebar menu with options such as Dashboard, Patients, Outcomes, Satisfaction, Facility Report, and Staff Engage

Screenshot of a mental health tracking app interface showing a client named Michael's session updates, goals, challenges, keys, assessments, and progress, with purple and white color scheme.

Final Thoughts

Designing Sentur Recovery was more than creating an app—it was about building a space where healing can begin. This project brought together my passion for emotional wellbeing, thoughtful storytelling, and intentional design.

Working closely with developers and therapists, I translated deep therapeutic principles into an experience that feels personal, safe, and empowering—for both patients and practitioners. From user journeys to brand direction, every decision was rooted in clarity, compassion, and care.

This wasn’t just a product. It was a shared vision.