UI / UX Design
CAPSTONE PROJECT "CTRL."
A harm reduction mobile app that empowers users to track and manage their substance use safely.
Year :
2025
Industry :
Health & Harm Reduction
Client :
Case Study
Duration :
5 weeks
Team :
Andrei & Arsen & Max
Overview
Ctrl App is our Capstone UX/UI Design Project, developed during the final phase of the Spiced Academy UX/UI Bootcamp.
The goal of this project was to design a social-impact mobile application that helps users practice harm reduction and make safer, more informed choices when using recreational substances.
Rather than judging or restricting users, Ctrl promotes awareness, education, and self-tracking through a clean, empathetic, and data-secure experience.
The app provides tools for logging consumption, receiving smart safety reminders, and accessing verified harm-reduction resources — all in one private space.
Idea
Living in Berlin, we became aware of a major issue within the city’s nightlife scene — the lack of safety and clear boundaries in club environments.This inspired us to explore how design can help promote safer interactions and raise awareness about respectful behavior during social events.
Research
We ran a survey with over 70 participants and conducted 8 interviews with people from the scene.
What stood out to us was that everyone — no matter how often they used — cared about three main things:
Anonymity and a non-judgmental tone
Clarity on how different substances affect the body and how they interact
And tips for recovery — how to deal with the aftermath and feel better after the night is over
Problem Statement
User Persona
Hey, I’m Luca. I’m 27 and I live in Berlin.
I work as a freelance musician, and I often go to music festivals and underground events.
Sometimes, I use substances — not often, but I always try to be responsible about it.
The problem is, it’s really hard to find trustworthy and anonymous information.
Most of the time, I just hear things from friends or random websites, and I never really know what’s true.
I don’t want to be judged or get in trouble — I just want to stay safe.
That’s why I’d love an app that gives me honest, harm reduction advice, without stigma.
A place where I can quickly check the risks, doses, or substance combinations — and know it’s based on facts, not rumors.
For me, it’s not about promoting drugs. It’s about knowing what I’m doing and protecting my health.
Design Principles
Harm-reduction
Empathetic
Friendly
Educational
Low-fidelity Wireframes Template
Prototype
Key Features
Substance Checker
Instant risk analysis of substances and their interactions to support safer decision-making.
AI Scanner
Real-time, context-aware tips powered by AI, helping users stay informed and reduce harm.
Private Journal
A secure personal space to track substances, effects, mood, and patterns over time.
Smart Safety Reminders
Timely suggestions to rest, hydrate, avoid dangerous mixes, and stay within safer limits.
Expert-Verified Harm Reduction Guides
Clear, reliable educational content to help users understand risks and reduce potential harm.
Anonymous Mode
No accounts required. Full control over privacy and data — safety without judgment.
Minimal & Intuitive Design
Simple, calm interface focused on awareness, clarity, and user empowerment without stigma.
Outcome
Ctrl. App empowers users to take control of their well-being in a realistic and non-judgmental way. Instead of telling them what not to do, it helps them understand their actions, track their limits, and stay safe — turning awareness into empowerment.
This project helped me grow not only as a designer but also as a communicator, researcher, and problem-solver. It taught me to stay user-centered, build with purpose, and design with care.
More Projects
UI / UX Design
CAPSTONE PROJECT "CTRL."
A harm reduction mobile app that empowers users to track and manage their substance use safely.
Year :
2025
Industry :
Health & Harm Reduction
Client :
Case Study
Duration :
5 weeks
Team :
Andrei & Arsen & Max
Overview
Ctrl App is our Capstone UX/UI Design Project, developed during the final phase of the Spiced Academy UX/UI Bootcamp.
The goal of this project was to design a social-impact mobile application that helps users practice harm reduction and make safer, more informed choices when using recreational substances.
Rather than judging or restricting users, Ctrl promotes awareness, education, and self-tracking through a clean, empathetic, and data-secure experience.
The app provides tools for logging consumption, receiving smart safety reminders, and accessing verified harm-reduction resources — all in one private space.
Idea
Living in Berlin, we became aware of a major issue within the city’s nightlife scene — the lack of safety and clear boundaries in club environments.This inspired us to explore how design can help promote safer interactions and raise awareness about respectful behavior during social events.
Research
We ran a survey with over 70 participants and conducted 8 interviews with people from the scene.
What stood out to us was that everyone — no matter how often they used — cared about three main things:
Anonymity and a non-judgmental tone
Clarity on how different substances affect the body and how they interact
And tips for recovery — how to deal with the aftermath and feel better after the night is over
Problem Statement
User Persona
Hey, I’m Luca. I’m 27 and I live in Berlin.
I work as a freelance musician, and I often go to music festivals and underground events.
Sometimes, I use substances — not often, but I always try to be responsible about it.
The problem is, it’s really hard to find trustworthy and anonymous information.
Most of the time, I just hear things from friends or random websites, and I never really know what’s true.
I don’t want to be judged or get in trouble — I just want to stay safe.
That’s why I’d love an app that gives me honest, harm reduction advice, without stigma.
A place where I can quickly check the risks, doses, or substance combinations — and know it’s based on facts, not rumors.
For me, it’s not about promoting drugs. It’s about knowing what I’m doing and protecting my health.
Design Principles
Harm-reduction
Empathetic
Friendly
Educational
Low-fidelity Wireframes Template
Prototype
Key Features
Substance Checker
Instant risk analysis of substances and their interactions to support safer decision-making.
AI Scanner
Real-time, context-aware tips powered by AI, helping users stay informed and reduce harm.
Private Journal
A secure personal space to track substances, effects, mood, and patterns over time.
Smart Safety Reminders
Timely suggestions to rest, hydrate, avoid dangerous mixes, and stay within safer limits.
Expert-Verified Harm Reduction Guides
Clear, reliable educational content to help users understand risks and reduce potential harm.
Anonymous Mode
No accounts required. Full control over privacy and data — safety without judgment.
Minimal & Intuitive Design
Simple, calm interface focused on awareness, clarity, and user empowerment without stigma.
Outcome
Ctrl. App empowers users to take control of their well-being in a realistic and non-judgmental way. Instead of telling them what not to do, it helps them understand their actions, track their limits, and stay safe — turning awareness into empowerment.
This project helped me grow not only as a designer but also as a communicator, researcher, and problem-solver. It taught me to stay user-centered, build with purpose, and design with care.
More Projects
UI / UX Design
CAPSTONE PROJECT "CTRL."
A harm reduction mobile app that empowers users to track and manage their substance use safely.
Year :
2025
Industry :
Health & Harm Reduction
Client :
Case Study
Duration :
5 weeks
Team :
Andrei & Arsen & Max
Overview
Ctrl App is our Capstone UX/UI Design Project, developed during the final phase of the Spiced Academy UX/UI Bootcamp.
The goal of this project was to design a social-impact mobile application that helps users practice harm reduction and make safer, more informed choices when using recreational substances.
Rather than judging or restricting users, Ctrl promotes awareness, education, and self-tracking through a clean, empathetic, and data-secure experience.
The app provides tools for logging consumption, receiving smart safety reminders, and accessing verified harm-reduction resources — all in one private space.
Idea
Living in Berlin, we became aware of a major issue within the city’s nightlife scene — the lack of safety and clear boundaries in club environments.This inspired us to explore how design can help promote safer interactions and raise awareness about respectful behavior during social events.
Research
We ran a survey with over 70 participants and conducted 8 interviews with people from the scene.
What stood out to us was that everyone — no matter how often they used — cared about three main things:
Anonymity and a non-judgmental tone
Clarity on how different substances affect the body and how they interact
And tips for recovery — how to deal with the aftermath and feel better after the night is over
Problem Statement
User Persona
Hey, I’m Luca. I’m 27 and I live in Berlin.
I work as a freelance musician, and I often go to music festivals and underground events.
Sometimes, I use substances — not often, but I always try to be responsible about it.
The problem is, it’s really hard to find trustworthy and anonymous information.
Most of the time, I just hear things from friends or random websites, and I never really know what’s true.
I don’t want to be judged or get in trouble — I just want to stay safe.
That’s why I’d love an app that gives me honest, harm reduction advice, without stigma.
A place where I can quickly check the risks, doses, or substance combinations — and know it’s based on facts, not rumors.
For me, it’s not about promoting drugs. It’s about knowing what I’m doing and protecting my health.
Design Principles
Harm-reduction
Empathetic
Friendly
Educational
Low-fidelity Wireframes Template
Prototype
Key Features
Substance Checker
Instant risk analysis of substances and their interactions to support safer decision-making.
AI Scanner
Real-time, context-aware tips powered by AI, helping users stay informed and reduce harm.
Private Journal
A secure personal space to track substances, effects, mood, and patterns over time.
Smart Safety Reminders
Timely suggestions to rest, hydrate, avoid dangerous mixes, and stay within safer limits.
Expert-Verified Harm Reduction Guides
Clear, reliable educational content to help users understand risks and reduce potential harm.
Anonymous Mode
No accounts required. Full control over privacy and data — safety without judgment.
Minimal & Intuitive Design
Simple, calm interface focused on awareness, clarity, and user empowerment without stigma.
Outcome
Ctrl. App empowers users to take control of their well-being in a realistic and non-judgmental way. Instead of telling them what not to do, it helps them understand their actions, track their limits, and stay safe — turning awareness into empowerment.
This project helped me grow not only as a designer but also as a communicator, researcher, and problem-solver. It taught me to stay user-centered, build with purpose, and design with care.