How Refusing To Compare & Despair Helped Me Build a Unique App
“We focused less on standing out, and more on what we had to offer.”
I initially didn’t love the idea: an app that livestreams meditation. My boss suggested it amidst a lunchtime brainstorm, about the intersections of the wellness and technology spaces. I questioned whether live meditation really offered something different than other meditation apps. We brushed over the idea.
It wasn’t until I coincidentally began offering an optional Friday meditation to my coworkers via conference call (most of them were remote in different parts of the US) that I began to connect the dots. The real catalyst was a feeling my coworker experienced during this weekly meditation call. As she listened in and followed my voice, she noticed that her mind was not spiraling with anxious thoughts in the same way she had experienced when listening to guided meditation alone. She explained that it felt like everyone was meditating there with her in Seattle, even though the rest of the team was actually in Brooklyn, Toronto, and Walla Walla.
I couldn’t stop thinking about it: live meditation. Hundreds of people meditating at the same time across the world. Meditating in collective energy. I was reminded of studies that showed that group meditation has had a resonant effect on surrounding areas, reducing conflict and violence. This led me to a question that many of our great thinkers have explored: is there a single unifying force that joins us all together? And if so, can we tap into it?
I went back to my boss. Luckily, exploring and investing in this idea aligned with our company mission to start creating our own digital products again.
So, we went for it.
I kicked off the process, ushering myself through the same steps I often usher clients through: research, strategy, design, build, refinement. I was confronted with a sea of well-designed meditation apps from credible meditation experts, funded by lots of capital. There was a small opening in the market: no one was offering live meditation. We also had a unique scenario rare to the “app” world, where we were our own clients. We focused less on how to stand out, and focused our effort on what would allow an authentic manifestation of this idea.
As I began digging into design, I realized that if I continued to face the challenge of designing a meditation app, it would likely look and feel similar to other apps. In order to stand out, I needed to nurture what was unique to us. How do I help people feel the presence of others? How do I create a space in which people feel a sense of community, perhaps the presence of something “bigger” than themselves, without drawing away from the meditation practice itself? We focused less on standing out, and more on what we had to offer.
I used these questions as guard-rails. Functionality, structure, and aesthetic all had to contribute to accentuating this “feeling” of calm and the collective.
We started by stripping away anything that might distract people, or feed into our familiar behaviors of consuming content. I thought about how well-established apps (Twitter, Instagram) started, and noticed that these now refined, polished products launched with a single function. A small focused product could create big impact. We removed functionality— sign-ups, likes, comments, noted meditations— and interactions — scrolling and double taps—that weren’t 100% necessary to our experience. We landed on one single UI element: a button that allows you to Tap In and listen to a live meditation.
Our meditations wouldn’t be stored. We committed whole-heartedly to the desire to bring people together at the same time. Storing meditations would mean there would be less people sitting together daily.
We used a working prototype internally for 8 weeks prior to our beta week. During that time, we learned what being live really meant. For example, while in our internal prototype phase, I led one of our first meditations using the app from my home in Brooklyn. A man, outside my window very loudly yelled “F*** you!” It was a quintessential New York moment, but not one that was conducive to meditation. Being live meant things could go wrong: teachers could cough, a fire truck could go by, a man outside the window could yell profanities. It introduced a rawness that felt uncomfortable in a digital world that obsesses over curated experiences. We’d be removing the mask of curation, revealing our imperfections. Meditation teaches us to notice all of the facets of being human, including the environments we’re in. The more we can turn into ourselves and our breath, the more we can turn down the chaos around us. With some loose guidelines in place to ensure a relaxing experience, we chose to embrace it.
The remainder was primarily aesthetic, and relied on details and metaphors. We landed on the idea of each user being represented by a light orb, rather than photos or videos. As users “Tap In,” we could create a celestial ecosystem. With a halo identifying your own orb, you flock together and shift shapes with the other meditators. We aim to accentuate the feeling of togetherness— or at least ignite the imagination. Our backgrounds are blobs of colors, with ribbon-like shapes intersecting, visualizing what energy looks like to me. They continuously undulate and shift back and forth, up and down. We created a space that users can walk into, in hopes of immediately promoting calm.
As I reflect back on the creation experience, I noticed it’s often easier to look at other products and see value in their solution, rather than mold your own unique but raw ideas. Looking out rather than in often moves us into a space of comparison instead of creation. What is it that you are really trying to solve? And how can you share your unique take on that idea. In the creation of Tap In, solving the design for the app meant borrowing deeply from meditation traditions: silencing the noise in order to stay clear and true to the pure “essence,” the seed, the soul of the idea.
Originally from Montréal, Margaux Le Pierrès works as the design director at Fictive Kin, a digital product studio, where she had lead branding & digital product design for fabulous companies like National Geographic & Kickstarter. Margaux is also a certified Reiki Master, and Akashic record practitioner, with experience working with clients one-on-one to help facilitate opportunities for people to connect to themselves more deeply, and live a more authentic life. Along with Fictive Kin, Margaux recently launched Tap In, the first live, collective meditation app.
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How to Create a Zen Meditation Space and Improve Your Career at the Same Time)
It’s all about balance.
I’m not going to lie — the first time I tried to meditate, I felt utterly ridiculous. I’d read about all of the benefits and how it was going to be “completely life-changing,” but for the most part, I just sat there with my eyes closed and worried I was doing it wrong.
No one bothered to tell me that there’s a bit of a learning curve when it comes to meditation. You can’t just plop down on a pillow and become a master in 15 minutes. Like so many things in life, it takes practice. However, once I got the hang of it, I found it to be just as cathartic as all the meditation and yoga blogs had promised.
The benefits of meditation most often touted are lowered blood pressure, more restful sleep, and stress relief. For this anxiety-ridden writer, it was the promise of reduced stress that really called to me. I hoped that by lowering my stress levels I could find a bit of peace in life — but I never expected it to have the impact it did on my career.
Meditation & Your Career
Even people that absolutely love their jobs are subject to work-related stress. And since stress can have a serious effect on our mental and physical health, it’s important we find healthy ways to deal with it. One of those ways is meditation.
When we’re under physical or mental pressure, our bodies release stress hormones (e.g. cortisol, adrenaline, norepinephrine) and go into “fight or flight” mode. However, researchers from the Benson-Henry Institute found that practicing meditation causes what they call the “relaxation response” — this is effectively the opposite of “fight or flight.” Their studies have revealed that the relaxation response not only lessens stress and anxiety, it also positively affects heart rate, blood pressure, and brain activity.
Being able to tap into meditation exercises in the office can reduce stress, help you to make better decisions, enhance your creativity, and boost your concentration. What’s more, it can give you the perspective you need to deal with workplace anxiety.
One of the nicest things about meditation is that it can be practiced almost anywhere — I’ve done it in my car and even at my desk. All it takes is five to 10 minutes of meditation during your lunch break to release tension and get some clarity. That said if you really want to make the most of your meditation, practicing for 30 minutes to an hour every day is better — especially if you have a dedicated space at home to do it in.
Designing a Summer Meditation Space at Home
While an indoor meditation space is awesome for year-round use, an outdoor area can really shake things up (in a good way!) Summer mornings and evenings are the perfect time to get outside and meditate. There’s something so soothing about meditating when surrounded by nature. You can feel the breeze on your skin, hear the birds in the trees, and smell the sweet summer air. It’s heavenly.
Here are the fundamentals you’ll need to create a zen summer meditation space:
Privacy
It’s difficult to meditate when you feel exposed. Create a feeling of safety and security with fencing, hedges, trees, trellises, umbrellas, folding screens, or hanging tapestries.
Flora, Stone, & Water
When creating a meditation area, it’s important to incorporate the elements.
- Even though you’re already outdoors, you’ll still want to add some greenery into your space. Use your senses as a guide when choosing plants — look for pleasing textures, brightly colored flowers, and calming fragrances.
- Stone will add to the strength and stability of your space. Use flat stones, river rock, bricks, and pavers to build an altar, labyrinth, or rock sculptures.
- A recirculating patio fountain will not only bring water into your outdoor haven but also produce a marvelous sound to train your focus to while meditating.
Comfort
A truly refreshing meditation session will call for a certain amount of comfort. Fashion a comfy spot to meditate by layering outdoor rugs, cushions, and throw blankets. To help beat the heat (and avoid a sunburn), tie fabric to trees or structures to create a shaded cover.
Lighting & Decor
Minimalism is the best approach when it comes to decorating your meditation area — you don’t want it to be overly cluttered and distracting. The trick is to select decor that fills you with a sense of serenity and tranquility. Popular items include meditation beads, crystals, bells, singing bowls, wind chimes, and affirmation stones. Light your space with candles, fairy lights, decorative lanterns, or a fire pit.
Conclusion
Your summer meditation space can be as small or as large as you’d like. Personally, I prefer a cozy nook to a large, open space, but it’s all about personal preference. Choose a space that brings you peace and turn it into a meditation haven.
Spend at least 20 minutes each day meditating outside. Close your eyes, follow your breathing, and practice visualization. You can do this before work, after work, or both. The more you practice meditation, the more you’ll see the benefits. So grab a cushion, go outside, and get your summer meditation on—you’ll be feeling happy and centered in no time!
Liz Greene is a feminist, makeup enthusiast, and anxiety-ridden realist from the beautiful city of trees, Boise, Idaho. When she’s not writing, she enjoys eating fancy cheeses, fantasizing about what life would be like if she had an Iron Man suit, and re-watching Venture Bros. episodes for the 100th time. You can follow her latest cosmetic misadventures on her blog, Three Broke Bunnies or follow her on Twitter @LizVGreene
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