Man Therapy: A New Take on Men’s Mental Health
UX/UI, Branding, Web Design
the BRIEF
Man Therapy is a web-based therapy platform geared towards working-aged men. It aims to de-stigmatize men’s mental health by approaching the topic in a nonclinical way, using humor and sports references to ease visitors into serious subject matter. After conducting user testing for a class assignment, I was brought on as a contractor to explore an updated look for the Man Therapy website while building on its unique, established brand.
Man Therapy’s approach is working. The findings from a $1.2 million CDC study spanning 4 years indicate that Man Therapy not only contributes to a reduction in depression, suicide risk, and instances of poor mental health days, but it also enhances the inclination of working-aged men to seek assistance for their well-being. My goal was to maintain the brand elements and overall feel, but discover how to breathe in new life with new imagery and updated UX elements.
Duration
6 Weeks
Type
Contract
Tools
the PROCESS
GAINING PERSPECTIVE
Since I’m not part of the target audience for this website, I asked several men in my life to interact with Man Therapy and provide their insights. Many of the comments they made were similar to my own thoughts, including the site feeling a bit dated and cluttered, but they also responded to the site’s humor in a way I hadn’t.
EXISTING IMAGERY
Without a full inventory of Man Therapy’s UI/brand elements, it was hard to know what exactly needed to evolve to create a modern experience. I compiled the graphics and imagery being used on the website to have a clear understanding of where the brand currently stands.
MOOD BOARD
Next, I collected inspiration photos to explore new directions with imagery, color, and layout.
DESIGN EXPLORATION
Using the inspiration from my mood board, I began to explore new styles by creating different versions of individual pages.
Original Design: Sleep Topic Page
New Page Designs: Sleep Topic Page
Evolved Page Designs
Original Design: Mental Health Tip Pages
Updated Design
The updated design features a full-width header of the video, with the title and description that slide off screen when you play the video, creating a more modern experience.
Previous Iterations
Original Design
Mental Health Assessment Landing Page
Assessment Questions
Updated Design Iterations
Existing Quote Graphics
New Retro-Inspired Quote Graphics
the OUTCOME
This work was presented along with a wider project scope of updating the Man Therapy website, including UX improvements and reorganizing content. The new directions for the Man Therapy brand were well-received by its stakeholders, who hope to launch the updated website by the end of 2023. I’m really proud of how the designs evolved while still capturing the spirit of Man Therapy, and look forward to seeing them implemented!
