Mainmood
Mainmood
Mainmood
A gifting companion app that moves beyond transactional wishlists to create more personal and meaningful gifting experiences
A gifting companion app that moves beyond transactional wishlists to create more personal and meaningful gifting experiences
ROLE
Product Designer
DURATION
Apr - May 2026
TOOLS
Figma
Figma Jam
After Effects
Photoshop
About
About
Mainmood started as a mobile jewelry e-commerce app designed to help users discover and gift jewelry through a guided shopping experience. But after careful thought i realize that i had lost the main concept which led me to rebrand and reframe Mainmood as a gifting companion that support personal and intentional gifting. [ view old case here ]
Mainmood started as a mobile jewelry e-commerce app designed to help users discover and gift jewelry through a guided shopping experience. But after careful thought i realize that i had lost the main concept which led me to rebrand and reframe Mainmood as a gifting companion that support personal and intentional gifting. [ view old case here ]
The Problem
The Problem
Wishlists often feel transactional and do little to support the emotional connection that is supposed to make gifting meaningful.
Wishlists often feel transactional and do little to support the emotional connection that is supposed to make gifting meaningful.
Wishlists often feel transactional and do little to support the emotional connection that is supposed to make gifting meaningful.
The concept began when I personally noticed that gifting had become increasingly transactional. Although wishlists can make things easier they have also completely replaced the thought and emotion that once made gifts meaningful turning what should be an act of consideration into something that feels more like a chore.
The concept began when I personally noticed that gifting had become increasingly transactional. Although wishlists can make things easier they have also completely replaced the thought and emotion that once made gifts meaningful turning what should be an act of consideration into something that feels more like a chore.
Solution
Solution
Design a gifting companion that turns gifting into a shared experience.
Design a gifting companion that turns gifting into a shared experience.
Design a gifting companion that turns gifting into a shared experience.
Reframing Through Exploration
Reframing Through Exploration
Defining what makes gifting personal to guide the product direction.
Defining what makes gifting personal to guide the product direction.
Defining what makes gifting personal to guide the product direction.
To refine and stay true to the original concept of the app, i explored different directions that would help make gifting more personal using mind mapping . By doing so, I was able to naturally defined the product system.
To refine and stay true to the original concept of the app, i explored different directions that would help make gifting more personal using mind mapping . By doing so, I was able to naturally defined the product system.
User Research
User Research
Understanding Gifting Behavior
Understanding Gifting Behavior
Understanding Gifting Behavior
To better understand the process and intention behind the gifting process, I interviewed 22 participants individually and in group to gain insights from both personal and social perpectives. Questions were asked as follow:
To better understand the process and intention behind the gifting process, I interviewed 22 participants individually and in group to gain insights from both personal and social perpectives. Questions were asked as follow:
Key Findings
Key Findings
People don’t struggle to find gifts , they struggle to truly understand the person they’re gifting.
People don’t struggle to find gifts , they struggle to truly understand the person they’re gifting.
People don’t struggle to find gifts , they struggle to truly understand the person they’re gifting.
After interviewing the participants i was able to develop 3 problems statements that guided the direction for the solution
After interviewing the participants i was able to develop 3 problems statements that guided the direction for the solution
Comp. Analysis
Comp. Analysis
Current gifting platforms prioritize transactions over personal connection.
Current gifting platforms prioritize transactions over personal connection.
Current gifting platforms prioritize transactions over personal connection.
Because existing solutions largely focus on traditional wishlists rather than guided gift discovery, I analyzed both wishlist based and adjacent platforms to identify what they were doing good and where i could improve an experience.
Because existing solutions largely focus on traditional wishlists rather than guided gift discovery, I analyzed both wishlist based and adjacent platforms to identify what they were doing good and where i could improve an experience.
Ideation
Ideation
Turning Insights into Features
Turning Insights into Features
Turning Insights into Features
Pulling from all insights i got, i started to think about the core features that the app needed in order to be successful. To do so i started by designing the IA for clarity then the screens.
Pulling from all insights i got, i started to think about the core features that the app needed in order to be successful. To do so i started by designing the IA for clarity then the screens.
HI-FI Wireframes
HI-FI Wireframes
How might we understand what someone wants without them having to explicitly say it?
How might we understand what someone wants without them having to explicitly say it?
How might we understand what someone wants without them having to explicitly say it?
Two-way quiz introduction: the giver sends questions, the recipient responds with clues to guide their search until the final day. This back and forth now turns gifting into a shared game where genuine preferences are uncovered without losing the element of surprise. The final gift becomes proof that someone truly paid attention but also foster deeper connection.
Two-way quiz introduction: the giver sends questions, the recipient responds with clues to guide their search until the final day. This back and forth now turns gifting into a shared game where genuine preferences are uncovered without losing the element of surprise. The final gift becomes proof that someone truly paid attention but also foster deeper connection.
How might we help gifters stay on track throughout the gifting journey instead of relying on assumptions?
How might we help gifters stay on track throughout the gifting journey instead of relying on assumptions?
How might we help gifters stay on track throughout the gifting journey instead of relying on assumptions?
A timeline that captures each step from the first quiz sent to the final moment is automatically created for each events . It allows the gifter to revisit past interactions, stay engaged and better understand what someone likes over time which they can record through integrated notes.
A timeline that captures each step from the first quiz sent to the final moment is automatically created for each events . It allows the gifter to revisit past interactions, stay engaged and better understand what someone likes over time which they can record through integrated notes.
How might we make gifting feel more personal and shared instead of something you do alone?
How might we make gifting feel more personal and shared instead of something you do alone?
How might we make gifting feel more personal and shared instead of something you do alone?
Introducing a collaborative gifting experience where users can invite others to join the gift hunt at anytime in the Journey. Doing so automatically creates a shared chat group, while the gifter controls whether the recipient knows who is involved which keeps the experience both collaborative and surprising.
Introducing a collaborative gifting experience where users can invite others to join the gift hunt at anytime in the Journey. Doing so automatically creates a shared chat group, while the gifter controls whether the recipient knows who is involved which keeps the experience both collaborative and surprising.
Usability Testing
Usability Testing
Testing the Experience with Real Users
Testing the Experience with Real Users
After developing the flows i conducted a series of moderated and unmoderated usability testing to assess the design and see where improvements could be made . Moderated sessions involved participants sharing their screens while completing prompted tasks in real time while unmoderated was conducted by sending a link to the prototype to explore independently .
After developing the flows i conducted a series of moderated and unmoderated usability testing to assess the design and see where improvements could be made . Moderated sessions involved participants sharing their screens while completing prompted tasks in real time while unmoderated was conducted by sending a link to the prototype to explore independently .
Iterations
Iterations
Redesigning the chat access and notifications System
Redesigning the chat access and notifications System
Redesigning the chat access and notifications System
Testing revealed users couldn't navigate between chats or prioritize urgent occasions. The redesigned Notification Center introduces tabbed navigation, occasion cards with context, priority flagging, filters and notification grouping.
Testing revealed users couldn't navigate between chats or prioritize urgent occasions. The redesigned Notification Center introduces tabbed navigation, occasion cards with context, priority flagging, filters and notification grouping.
Giving more flexibility for occasions reminders
Giving more flexibility for occasions reminders
Giving more flexibility for occasions reminders
Testing revealed that 30, 60, and 90 day presets didn't serve users with events closer than 30 days. A custom reminder option was added calculating the exact reminder start date based on days entered. Additionally the 'Set reminder' button dynamically updates to display the confirmed reminder date
Testing revealed that 30, 60, and 90 day presets didn't serve users with events closer than 30 days. A custom reminder option was added calculating the exact reminder start date based on days entered. Additionally the 'Set reminder' button dynamically updates to display the confirmed reminder date
Making the action clearer
Making the action clearer
Making the action clearer
Users felt uncertain whether their notes had saved since the page lacked confirmation feedback. A loading state and “Saved “ confirmation was introduced to close the interaction and updated on other screens as well
Users felt uncertain whether their notes had saved since the page lacked confirmation feedback. A loading state and “Saved “ confirmation was introduced to close the interaction and updated on other screens as well
Users felt uncertain whether their notes had saved since the page lacked confirmation feedback. A loading state and “Saved “ confirmation was introduced to close the interaction and updated on other screens as well
Design System
Design System
Defining the visual language
Defining the visual language
Defining the visual language
To ensure consistency across every screen, I developed a complete design system including typography, color, and components.
To ensure consistency across every screen, I developed a complete design system including typography, color, and components.
Final Designs
Final Designs
Introducing Mainmood : The Gifting Companion
Introducing Mainmood : The Gifting Companion
Introducing Mainmood : The Gifting Companion
Onboard with Mainmood and set up your profile
Onboard with Mainmood and set up your profile
Create, set a reminder and mark your first special date
Create, set a reminder and mark your first special date
Create your first quiz : Pick a theme, Add your questions and send it to the person you want to gift ahead of time
Create your first quiz : Pick a theme, Add your questions and send it to the person you want to gift ahead of time
View your history to see your recent occasions created. pick a card and access timeline to see any interaction between you and the recipient as well as yours and take some notes to help guide your search
View your history to see your recent occasions created. pick a card and access timeline to see any interaction between you and the recipient as well as yours and take some notes to help guide your search
Easily add people to the gift hunt at anytime to help you guide your decision too and choose whether you want to let the recipient know who is on it
Easily add people to the gift hunt at anytime to help you guide your decision too and choose whether you want to let the recipient know who is on it
After adding people, easily access the generated group chat and unite with your friends to find the perfect gift
After adding people, easily access the generated group chat and unite with your friends to find the perfect gift
Stay up to date and access every recent activity from your notification center and prioritize your conversations
Stay up to date and access every recent activity from your notification center and prioritize your conversations
Reflection
Reflection
Mainmood is designed to make gifting easier by turning it into a shared and intentional experience rather than a last-minute decision. Through the process of designing it, I found that it not only improves how people gift but also fosters deeper connections through the experience itself. Although a wishlist may still be of help from time to time, getting to know the people around us remains invaluable, which is the perspective that ultimately shaped every decision I made throughout the product. If Mainmood were to be brought to life, the initial version would focus on validating the core idea before expanding the full system. The MVP would center around the two-way quiz experience, allowing a giver to create a quiz, send it, and receive responses in the form of clues. This interaction is the foundation of the product, as it directly addresses the challenge of understanding what someone wants without relying on explicit answers. With the positive feedback I received from the usability test, I am currently vibe coding a lightweight version of it to bring the idea to life and see how it holds up in real use beyond a prototype.
Mainmood is designed to make gifting easier by turning it into a shared and intentional experience rather than a last-minute decision. Through the process of designing it, I found that it not only improves how people gift but also fosters deeper connections through the experience itself. Although a wishlist may still be of help from time to time, getting to know the people around us remains invaluable, which is the perspective that ultimately shaped every decision I made throughout the product. If Mainmood were to be brought to life, the initial version would focus on validating the core idea before expanding the full system. The MVP would center around the two-way quiz experience, allowing a giver to create a quiz, send it, and receive responses in the form of clues. This interaction is the foundation of the product, as it directly addresses the challenge of understanding what someone wants without relying on explicit answers. With the positive feedback I received from the usability test, I am currently vibe coding a lightweight version of it to bring the idea to life and see how it holds up in real use beyond a prototype.
Get in touch
© 2026 Anne Tchoumba
Get in touch
© 2026 Anne Tchoumba
Get in touch
© 2026 Anne Tchoumba