Designing a research-ready prototype to unlock federal funding

Early intervention can have life-changing consequences for young drug and alcohol users, but few available resources address the unique challenges young people face in their recovery efforts. The behavioral health innovators of Influents Innovations came to Twenty Ideas with an evidence-based concept to help fill this void: Qlarity, the first mobile meditation app for sobriety support designed specifically for pre-teens and young adults.

We worked with the Influents research team to pinpoint the ways in which most substance abuse programs don't align with the needs of young people. Then, we translated the core components of these interventions into a format, look, and feel tailored to fit naturally into the lives of recovering adolescents.

We built mindfulness into the structure and function of Qlarity to create a centering experience from first tap. Stress-relieving aesthetic uses color, imagery, and layout to create a quiet, distraction-free, and intimate environment to encourage disclosure, reflection, and meditation.

Guided meditation exercises offer relatable support from the perspective of a trusted confidant who genuinely understands the user’s experiences and feelings.

Value and mood surveys incorporate emotional imagery to help young users sort through complicated feelings and identify how avoiding substance abuse will benefit the aspects of their life they care about most.