Crafting a Boutique Wellness Experience from Scratch

Product Design UX Research Prototyping Mobile Web Wellness Startup

QUICK READ ➤ Drip Hydration Therapy was a brand-new mobile and web platform designed to bring on-demand IV hydration therapy to customers' locations. The goal was to rapidly develop a high-quality MVP that could test the market viability of the business. I led the branding, UX, and visual design efforts to create a seamless and premium user experience.

Overview

Drip Hydration Therapy was initiated by the founder and CEO of Soothe Inc., an established mobile wellness company connecting massage therapists to clients through an on-demand platform. Applying a similar business model, Drip Hydration aimed to bring wellness directly to customers via a mobile platform specializing in IV therapy treatments, particularly targeting clientele in the Hollywood party scene seeking rapid recovery solutions.

As a consultant collaborating directly with the founder and primary stakeholder, I defined the brand identity, crafted the mobile and web experiences, and streamlined the booking process. The key challenge was rapidly developing a cohesive MVP from scratch that balanced usability, speed, and a premium aesthetic.

The primary design objectives included:

Developing a sleek and credible brand identity.
Creating a seamless mobile experience for booking therapy sessions.
Ensuring clear communication of the benefits of various IV therapy modalities.
Establishing a web presence to enhance brand legitimacy and provide minimal booking functionality.

Although the product did not fully launch, the MVP played a critical role in informing the strategic direction of the business. After analyzing competitive offerings already active in the market and observing lower-than-expected early user uptake, the founder chose to pivot the business toward a different wellness vertical. The project successfully delivered a polished MVP aligned with industry best practices and served as a valuable tool in evaluating market fit.

Mobile App Design

The mobile app was the core of the experience, designed to enable easy booking of IV therapy treatments. Drawing inspiration from the successful UX patterns used in the Soothe app, the user flow was designed to minimize friction while ensuring clarity in service selection.

Key features included:

A guided booking flow allowing users to select from various IV therapy treatments.
Detailed descriptions of each therapy type, emphasizing the benefits of different vitamin and mineral cocktails.
A seamless checkout process, supporting both one-time bookings and an elite membership option for frequent users.

Splash Screen / Log In / Sign In

Booking & Treatment Detail

One of the key design challenges was presenting the different therapy types in an intuitive and engaging manner. Users needed to quickly understand the differences and benefits of each treatment without feeling overwhelmed by medical jargon. To address this, I designed a visual card-based system with simple yet informative descriptions, accompanied by subtle iconography and color-coded categorization.

Web App Design

While the mobile app was the primary focus, the web app served as a supporting platform to establish brand credibility and provide basic booking functionality. Given the MVP nature of the project, the web experience was intentionally minimal, offering just enough features to allow users to learn about the service and book a treatment.

Key web design considerations included:

A clean, high-end aesthetic to align with the premium nature of the service.
A simplified booking flow optimized for desktop users.
A strong emphasis on brand credibility, featuring testimonials, service details, and trust signals.

Home Hero

Hydration Therapies

Booking

Unlike the mobile app, which was designed to be the primary booking platform, the web app functioned more as a marketing and conversion tool. The goal was to reassure potential customers and provide an easy entry point for those who preferred to book via desktop rather than mobile.

Conclusion

The Drip Hydration Therapy project was an exciting exercise in rapid product development, brand creation, and UX design. While the product ultimately did not launch due to a shift in business priorities, it provided valuable insights into building an on-demand wellness service from the ground up. The project reinforced the importance of balancing speed and quality in MVP development while ensuring a premium user experience tailored to a niche market.