My Role: User research, UI/UX design
Team members: Luxuan Zhang, Zichen Wu
Team members: Luxuan Zhang, Zichen Wu
The Problem
Many international students adjusting to life in Canada found comfort in their homestay families. My teammate Luxuan choose Asian households to ease the cultural transition. Through his experiences, we became acutely aware of a pervasive issue affecting married Asian immigrant women: the silent battles with mental health due to financial dependency, language barriers, and social isolation.
Years of cultural expectations and unaddressed personal needs had left married Asian immigrant women in passive roles within their marriages. They juggled household responsibilities, cared for children with special needs, and navigated an unfamiliar society—all without adequate support or resources.
Worst of all, their struggles remained hidden behind polite smiles, compounded by the stigma surrounding mental health in their cultures. Previous attempts to seek help were often met with misunderstanding or inaccessibility, deepening their helplessness.
It was evident that something needed to change.
The Approach
Recognizing the unique challenges faced by married Asian immigrant women, we proposed developing a tailored solution: an app designed to empower Asian immigrant women trapped in financially dependent marriages.
We delved into factors contributing to their mental health struggles—employment-related stress, financial concerns, and time pressures—and aligned our app's development to address these issues directly. By providing financial literacy, language improvement, and community support resources, we aimed to tackle the root causes of their isolation and dependency.
We do not make the decisions for our users, we support every decision they made
Introducing: Mi-Mind
"Building bridges to independence and well-being"
Collaborating closely, we developed "Mi-Mind,"—an app dedicated to supporting married Asian immigrant women facing similar challenges as identified.
Key Features of "Mi-Mind"
1. Language Support: Resources and tools to improve English proficiency, easing communication barriers
2. Community Connection: A platform to connect with others sharing similar experiences, fostering a sense of belonging
3. Mental Health Resources: Access to culturally sensitive counselling services and stress management techniques
