Many people love plants, but struggle to take care of them properly. Especially beginners often feel unsure about when to water, how much light a plant needs, or what soil to use. And even experienced gardeners can lose motivation when routines become unclear or progress isn’t visible.
Bloom is a mobile app that supports both beginners and experienced plant owners with personalized care reminders, a smart diagnosis tool, and a community of fellow gardeners. Users can upload photos, get treatment tips, shop care products, and share their plant journey with others.
The goal was to create more than a productivity tool. Bloom aims to turn everyday care tasks into a flow that feels meaningful and enjoyable.
When users add a new plant to Bloom, the app guides them through a few simple steps: naming the plant, selecting its type, and uploading a photo. Based on this data, Bloom creates a personalized care schedule, visualized through a smooth, animated calendar that updates as users interact with it.
During the pandemic, gardening experienced a real boom. In just one year, over 18 million new gardeners got started and surprisingly, most of them were under 35. Indoor gardening grew by 30%, and online plant sales more than doubled. In Germany alone, private households spend over €15 billion per year on plants, accessories, and care products.
This data confirmed a clear shift: today’s gardeners are younger, more digital, and open to smart tools that simplify routines and add joy to the process.
Most gardening apps are single-purpose: they offer either plant identification, care tips, or a digital notebook. But few of them create a seamless experience that connects learning, action, and community in one place.
“In user interviews and competitor reviews, I saw a clear trend: this new generation of plant lovers doesn’t want cluttered interfaces or long instructions. They want structure, guidance, and an app that grows with them.”
With a clear understanding of the users’ needs and behaviors, I began shaping the app’s core experience. The goal was to make plant care feel intuitive and motivating, while reducing cognitive load. To achieve this, I focused on creating a clear information structure and aligning the navigation with how users mentally approach their plants.
Instead of designing screens too early, I started by mapping out mental models of different user types from beginners with one plant to hobbyists managing dozens. Based on this foundation, I created a sitemap that prioritizes daily routines, discovery, and support, while keeping the interface light and accessible.
This conceptual phase ensured that every feature in Bloom feels logically placed and emotionally resonant even before the interface design begins.
How different plant owners mentally organize care, knowledge, and tools.
The final structure: streamlined, flexible, and centered around daily use.
Before moving into visuals, I designed detailed wireframes to define structure, content hierarchy, and interaction logic. The focus was on making the app’s core areas—plant profiles, care calendar, and community—accessible and easy to navigate.
The wireframes allowed me to test user flows early and ensure that each section felt connected and intuitive. It also helped identify usability gaps before committing to visual design.
Based on this structure, I developed interaction patterns that guide users through their daily routines. Smooth transitions, subtle microinteractions, and context-aware UI elements reduce friction and make plant care feel approachable—even for beginners.
The final design balances clarity and personality: soft colors, clean typography, and friendly icons give Bloom a calm, inviting look. Animations were used to visualize progress, transitions, and feedback—so users always feel guided without being overwhelmed.
Early-stage wireframes for testing navigation and layout logic.
A product-focused landing page to communicate Bloom’s benefits and onboard users.
