TERAPIA MEDITERRANEA — bruschystudio

bruschystudio

Terapia Mediterránea

Redesigning a Website

CATEGORY

UX/UI Design
Case Study
iOS App

COLLABORATION

Nadya Shchetinina
Maria Isabel Yugueros

ROLE

UX/UI Designer
User Research
Visual Design
User Flows
Prototyping

DURATION

6 weeks

TOOLS

Figma
Procreate
Adobe Photoshop

AWARDS

Best Final Project at Ironhack

Introduction

Welcome to my case study. Here I will take you behind the scenes of this project—unveiling the challenges me and my amazing Team encountered, the ideas we developed and the creative process.

Challenge

For this project, we were tasked to collaborate with an established company to redesign their website, enhance their overall UI design and strengthen the user experience through in-depth UX research. Our goal was to create a more intuitive, visually appealing and user-friendly digital experience that aligns with the company’s brand identity and business objectives.

Our challenge was not just to “build a website,” but to design a human-centered platform that captures the essence of what Terapia Mediterránea offers — an emotional, educational and social experience centered around food, culture and well-being.

Terapia Mediterránea

We were happy to find a small company called Terapia Mediterránea, based in Barcelona and managed by two Partners: Marco and Francesco. As a starting point, we were introduced to their project and to their concept, brand identity, values and purpose. TM was created in order to address well-being and mental health through experiences that were created by this team with a strong focus on a culinary experience, music, wellness. They host events that invite people to explore these elements through shared, social experiences.

But Terapia Mediterránea isn't just about food... it’s about:

Research & Discovery

Before diving into the design, we began with in-depth research to understand the problem space, the user needs and the market dynamics. This phase allowed us to gather insights, validate assumptions, and uncover opportunities that shaped our design decisions. During this phase, we explored user behaviors, industry trends, and competitor strategies to build a strong foundation for our solution. Through a mix of qualitative and quantitative research methods, we identified key pain points and user expectations, ensuring our design approach was both informed and user-centered.

The Food & Mental Health Connection
Terapia Mediterránea had already explored the link between nutrition and mental well-being. We validated their insights through credible sources such as Cambridge.org and MentalHealth.org.uk.

Key Findings

Ultra-processed foods (UPFs), which dominate much of the European diet, are strongly associated with obesity, cardiovascular issues, and declining mental health.
Diets high in sugar and processed ingredients can contribute to depression and anxiety, often due to underlying nutrient deficiencies.

These findings align powerfully with TM’s mission: food is not just physical—it’s emotional, cultural, and deeply social.

User Experience & Festival Report Review
We also analyzed Terapia Mediterránea’s internal festival report to better understand the participant experience.

Key Insights

51% of attendees emphasized that shared meals and social connection significantly contributed to their sense of well-being.
However, several pain points emerged:
- Attendees had difficulty accessing clear information about the events.
- Post-event follow-ups were limited, primarily relying on Instagram updates.
- Some participants experienced challenges with social interaction during the events.

These findings revealed important usability gaps and opportunities to enhance social engagement across the platform.

Our Persona

Drawing from secondary research and TM’s surveys and interviews, we identified two key user personas—both seeking experiences that blend food, well-being, and social connection.

One focused on conscious eating and emotional wellness; the other on interactive, social learning.

After stakeholder discussions, we prioritized the socially-driven persona, as it best represents the needs of current and future users.

Problem Statement

Revisiting the Core Mission

After exploring Javier’s journey, it’s essential to return to the heart of what Terapia Mediterránea aims to offer. Their food and well-being events are designed to foster deep connections between nutrition, emotional health, and social interaction. However, as Javier’s experience shows, this intention doesn’t always come through in the user experience.

The value is clear—but users often struggle to understand what the experience entails, how to participate, and how to stay engaged afterward.

Food and well-being events at Terapia Mediterránea were designed to achieve a deeper connection between food, well-being, and social engagement.

What the users say
Potential users feel that the current structure and communication of the food events do not provide clear and detailed information about the schedule, food experiences, and social opportunities.

Ideation

Design Insights from Visual & Structural Patterns

To guide our design decisions, we analyzed platforms offering food-related and social experiences—focusing on how they communicate value and shape user behavior.

We identified six key takeaways:

Strong hero sections that immediately highlight event value
Visuals and copy that emphasize emotional and social connection
Human-centered imagery to set expectations and drive engagement
Clear content structure for intuitive navigation
Strategic CTAs that reduce friction and guide actions
Mobile-first design for seamless access—especially relevant for our user persona, Javier, who typically discovers and books experiences via his phone

These insights provided a strong foundation for rethinking how Terapia Mediterránea can better communicate its value and support users throughout their journey.

Lo-Fi Wireframes

Designing for Satisfaction, Retention & Engagement

To enhance user satisfaction and long-term engagement, we designed a new experience aligned with Terapia Mediterránea’s mission.

Grounded in user needs and competitive insights, we focused on two key flows:

A booking flow that clearly communicates event details—covering schedule, food experiences, and social elements.
A follow-up flow that provides access to resources supporting continued learning and daily integration.

We adopted a mobile-first approach, reflecting both our user persona Javier’s habits and consistent trends identified in our competitive analysis.

Mid-Fi Wireframes

We turned user flows into mid-fidelity wireframes to define structure, features, and content. This helped us surface the most relevant information to clearly communicate event value and guide users through booking and follow-up.

Key focus areas included

Terapia Mediterránea’s core values

Filters for easy event exploration

Clear and engaging event details

FAQs for common user questions

Accessible contact options

Follow-up materials to encourage continued learning

Usability Testing

We tested booking and follow-up flows with four potential users to assess clarity, navigation, and content relevance. Findings led to improvements in content structure, button labels, and access to follow-up materials.

Overall Feedback
The experience felt intuitive, but users highlighted the need for better booking options and instant support to build trust and engagement.
“Not being able to contact someone during the process when I have a question and want a quick answer is a pain for me.”
“Having to create an account is really frustrating for me. I prefer to book quickly without going through extra steps.”

Brand & Identity

Before presenting the final design, let’s revisit the core elements we worked with. Terapia Mediterránea had already defined key brand attributes—core traits that express their personality, values, and identity. These elements shape how the brand is perceived and set it apart from competitors.

The TM logo, color palette and typography play a central role in the brand’s identity—shaping perception and creating emotional resonance and offering versatile combinations that reflect TM’s warmth, vitality, and human-centered approach.

Final UI Design

Building on everything we've explored so far—Research, Usability Testing, Brand Identity and Concept—we defined a set of clear Design Principles to guide our visual and interaction decisions.

In summary, these are the key elements:

Color Palette: We prioritized clarity and accessibility, using a light beige background paired with dark blue typography for strong contrast.
Button Hierarchy: Primary actions are highlighted with a deep, vibrant orange, while secondary buttons remain white—clearly reinforcing visual hierarchy.
Consistent Patterns: We applied brand patterns consistently across screens to create visual coherence and reinforce identity.
Layout: A clean, minimalistic layout ensures content remains clear and user-friendly.

Prototype

With our design principles defined and aligned with both user needs and brand identity, we translated our vision into a functional high-fidelity prototype. This prototype brings the experience to life—demonstrating how users can seamlessly explore events, book their spot, and access meaningful follow-up content. It reflects our commitment to clarity, emotional connection, and ease of use across all touchpoints.

First Flow Prototype

Second Flow Prototype

Reflection

Working on this project was not only a valuable design challenge but also a deeply rewarding collaborative experience. From the very beginning, our team brought a shared sense of purpose and curiosity that made every phase—from research to prototyping—engaging and energizing. Each team member contributed unique strengths, and our open, supportive dynamic played a huge role in shaping the final outcome.

Collaborating with Terapia Mediterránea was a true pleasure. The client was generous with their insights, open to ideas, and genuinely committed. Their passion for connecting food, well-being, and community inspired us at every step.

We’re also incredibly grateful for the guidance and encouragement of our teacher, Nicky, whose support helped us navigate challenges and stay focused on delivering real value. This project reminded us how powerful human-centered design can be when it’s rooted in empathy, collaboration, and purpose.

Future Steps

To enhance user engagement and long-term value, we identified key areas for future development. These features aim to strengthen community, increase retention, and deepen the overall experience:

01 Community & Interaction

Goal: Foster a sense of belonging and encourage shared learning.

Test: Create a dedicated space (e.g. forum or chat feature) for users to share insights, reflections, and post-event feedback.

02 Exclusive Content & Events

Goal: Extend the event experience and add lasting value.

Event Playlists: Curate and release playlists after each event.
Test: Measure engagement (opens, listens) and user feedback to gauge emotional impact.

03 Event Calendar

Goal: Keep users informed and involved.

Test: Launch an integrated, mobile-friendly calendar with filters for type, date, and location. Track usage and sign-up behavior.

04 Personalization & Rewards

Goal: Increase loyalty and accessibility.

Multilingual Navigation: Improve inclusivity with language options.
Loyalty Program: Offer perks or discounts to returning users.
Test: Track return rates, user satisfaction, and program uptake.

05 Personalization & Rewards

Goal: Increase loyalty and accessibility.

Multilingual Navigation: Improve inclusivity with language options.
Loyalty Program: Offer perks or discounts to returning users.
Test: Track return rates, user satisfaction, and program uptake.

06 Detailed User Profiles
Goal: Build trust and community identity.

Test: Enable users to showcase testimonials, share reviews, and see others' experiences.

Engagement is about creating meaningful connections, offering value, and building a community that keeps coming back. When we design with purpose, we don’t just capture attention — we cultivate loyalty.

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