“THE DEPI APP”

👏 Head of Trade & Execution Shared Services at RBC Capital Markets — Emoti-Con Judge

What a great way to put your end-user at core of your application design! I loved how the presentation told the story of looking for a deeper connection with the users - and not just serving information. The workflow design was very thoughtful and would be engaging for anyone using the app. I could see this human-centered approach reaching a lot of people and achieving your goals of connecting users with personalized and effective partners for mental health. A fresh perspective on mental health resource access - and an excellent presentation!

👏 Youth Services Manager at Saint Paul Public Library, George Latimer Central Branch — Emoti-Con Judge

I really enjoyed your presentation for this project; you are a compelling speaker and your tour of the software was detailed and engaging- well done! I was also impressed by your passion for providing equitable mental health care, as represented through the amount of pre-work you did surveying the community and assessing needs based on feedback. It is vital that we not only innovate, but evaluate the gaps in existing systems, which you have clearly thought about at length.

Moving on to the app itself, your project provides a great way to engage with mental health services while still asserting individuality. Your users can choose their level of engagement with the software through the many options for personalization, like the different 'plans' you showcased. This is so helpful to those who might be nervous about seeking help, or experiencing the stigma around addressing mental health concerns. Fantastic work, I can't wait to see where this goes and what you contribute to this community!

👏 Teaching Artist at Pockets Change — Emoti-Con Judge

This app and presentation are phenomenal. It's clear that you are both passionate about this, and thorough in your research and development. To echo what others have said, your confidence presenting a tour of the app also resonates in powerful way.

I can feel how the app really takes the individual into consideration and the way it customizes the experience for them is both unique and I think really important. Giving folks the option to find support from therapists within their racial/ethnic/religious/sexual-orientation community I think makes the app accessible to many more people in a way that can be nurturing and fruitful. In particular I like how the app goes a bit into the space of life couching by connecting to google classroom and offers school support in addition to offering references for classes for creative and personal development which can enhance both life enjoyment and career. Overall this is a really thoughtful and well designed app that I hope to see in the app store.

A few thoughts and questions: I found myself curious about what DEPI means, or stands for, or if it's just a name. I also am curious how you plan to make it free. Given your sensitivity to the needs of your users I imagine you would not sell their information in order to turn a profit, which leaves advertising or funding from grants and foundations etc. If the former is not available then I think it's important to in some way make sure that the advertising is somehow in integrity with the app and the individual using it. Lastly, I found the design easy to navigate, both playful and calming in the colors and patterns, but occasionally hard to read text over some of the more dynamic background images/patterns. If you further develop this I'd recommend making a few minor adjustments there.

Super awesome!! Be proud of this work. I wish you all the best with both this and future projects.

👏 Virtual Teacher at Bronx Excellence Charter — Emoti-Con Judge

Fantastic job, Umeiko! Your presentation does a wonderful job of detailing your design process and the many facets of your solution specifically facing youth of color. With your use of mixed media and demonstration of the DEPI APP, I can see the vast appeal and ease by pre-teens and teenagers (families and teachers may like the feature that the APP can turn off social media notifications when usage reaches a certain limit). I would encourage you to continue to explore the resources around mental health, and mentorship already geared towards students and people of color, such as Therapy for Black Girls or The Safe Space.