NewsSmashing MagazineJul 9, 2026
Designing For Distressed Users: Why Mental Health Apps Shouldn’t Follow Every UI Fashion
hello@smashingmagazine.com (Kat Homan)

Many UI trends are designed to capture attention and signal innovation, but those goals often conflict with the needs of mental health apps: reducing cognitive strain, fostering trust, and providing a sense of refuge. Kat Homan introduces an evaluation framework that helps designers assess whether trendy visual and int