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Mammahäng

ParkPal

A gentle app that helps moms meet, connect, and explore together — one stroll at a time.

Ux/UI design

mamma häng- 3 bilder .png

Project  

Self - initiated UX studie

Date

2025

Location

Malmö

Concept Summary

Becoming a parent can be isolating — especially for new moms. Mammahäng - ParkPal is a community-centered mobile app that helps mothers find nearby playgrounds, plan stroller walks, grab coffee together, or just connect with others in the same life phase.

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It’s not about likes or followers. It’s about simple, real-world connection.

01. The Spark

After hearing several moms say things like:
 

      "I wish I knew more moms around here..."
      "I walk alone every day. It’d be nice to just chat with someone."
 

I started thinking: What if meeting another mom didn’t feel awkward or random?
What if there was a kind, non-judgmental space that made local connection feel safe, simple, and natural?

02. The Problem

Many new parents — especially moms on parental leave — experience isolation. While online forums exist, few apps help moms:

  • Find local moms with similar routines
     

  • Discover stroller-friendly paths or playgrounds
     

  • Plan casual meetups without pressure
     

  • Build friendships based on shared daily rhythms
     

Social media can feel performative, and most meetup apps aren’t tailored to this gentle, specific use case.

03. Research & Discovery

I interviewed 7 mothers with children under 3 years old.
I also observed and mapped routines of moms on parental leave in public spaces 

(parks, cafés, city walks).

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Key insights:


– Daily stroller walks are common and often solo
– Many moms feel nervous about approaching strangers
– There’s a strong desire for casual, low-pressure connection
– Moms want to connect based on location, age of child, and daily rhythm
– Safety and trust are key (no spam, no strangers with unclear intent)

04. Defining the Vision

How might we gently support real-world connection between nearby moms
— without pressure, judgment, or digital noise?

The app needed to feel human, safe, warm, and low-effort. It should create opportunities for friendship in places moms already go.

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I defined three core principles:

  1. Proximity-first: Connect with moms nearby or at the same park

  2. Low-pressure invites: Join a walk, coffee, or “I’m at the playground” ping

  3. Gentle profiles: No feeds, no followers — just relatable info

05. Design Strategy

Key features:

  • Map view of nearby playgrounds, stroller paths, cafés

  • Activity cards like:
       “Emma is taking a walk in Hammarby Sjöstad — join?”
       “3 moms are heading to Vasaparken at 10:00”

  • Quiet Mode: choose to “just browse” without showing up on the map

  • Intro messages: send a gentle “Hi 👋 Want to grab coffee?” preset
     

I used journey maps to imagine the mindset of a mom at 9:30am with a baby in a stroller and no plans.

06. High-Fidelity UI

I designed a soft, approachable interface:

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  • Calming colors (warm neutrals, gentle pastels)

  • Friendly rounded buttons

  • Map-based home screen with markers: “moms here now,” “planned strolls,” and playgrounds

  • Profile previews with baby’s age, walk preferences, coffee preferences
     

Microinteractions include subtle animations for invites and confetti when someone accepts a walk.

The Outcome

ParkPal is a concept prototype, but feedback from moms was emotional and encouraging:
 

“I would have LOVED this when I was on leave.”

“It’s exactly what I was missing.”
 

The design brings focus to emotional UX: connection, trust, and timing. It’s less about features — more about human rhythm.

My Role

Solo UX designer:
 

  • Concept ideation

  • User research (interviews, shadowing, survey)

  • User flows & journey maps

  • UI in Figma

  • Light prototyping

What I Learned

Designing for emotional wellbeing requires empathy over flash
 

Small, intentional design choices can build real trust.
 

Community isn’t built through metrics — it’s built through rhythm, safety, and warmth

 

Moms deserve better tools for connection — ones made for them, not just around them

Thank you for reading

Designing Kylskåpskocken - Fridge Chef was a reminder that even small, everyday problems can inspire meaningful solutions.

 

If this project resonated with you — whether you're curious about my process, want to collaborate, or just want to talk UX — feel free to reach out.

Read more of my case studies

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