Bonsai Care App
From expert knowledge to a scalable, user-friendly product
Context
Context
Context
Context
CLIENT
Bonsai Empire: Bonsai Care App is an early-stage mobile product aiming to make highly technical bonsai knowledge accessible to enthusiasts with very different skill levels.
BUSINESS CONTEXT
Early product. Wireframes existed, but no UX, UI, or design system.
Early product. Wireframes existed, but no UX, UI, or design system.
ROLE
Worked as Product Designer (UX, UI & Visual System) in a founder-led environment, collaborating closely with development to define the product from scratch.
TIMELINE
Year: 2022
~60 days, end to end.
Year: 2022
~60 days, end to end.
Problem Statement
Problem Statement
Problem Statement
PROBLEM:
Launch Bonsai Care App, a new mobile product built on top of its existing educational content. Without a clear learning framework, the app risked becoming a direct content copy rather than a valuable standalone product.
Contraints: Translate highly technical, expert-level knowledge into structured learning paths without oversimplifying or losing credibility.
GOAL:
The challenge was translating complex bonsai knowledge into a mobile-first experience that worked for beginners and experts, while laying a scalable foundation for future features.
Outcome: 4.8 rating and 10k+ Downoads from Appstore & Google Play.
Impact
Impact
Impact
Impact
After the UX work, Bonsai Empire became a scalable learning product. What exisists thanks to design:
After the UX work, Bonsai Empire became a scalable learning product. What exisists thanks to design:
Shifted user behavior from one-off reading to ongoing engagement
Shifted user behavior from one-off reading to ongoing engagement
Clear user flows replaced fragmented navigation
Established a UX foundation that supported future feature expansion without redesign
Feature expansion became possible through a solid UX foundation
Enabled structured learning journeys instead of isolated content consumption
Helped position Bonsai Care as a credible, trustworthy learning platform in a niche market
Approach
Approach
Approach
Approach
I approached the project guided by three principles:
I approached the project guided by three principles:
I approached the project with three principles, that guided every design decision:
Systems before screens
Scalability over short-term speed
Systems before screens
Scalability over short-term speed
Design systems before screens
→ scalability beats speed
Progress over consumption
Learning as a continuous journey, not isolated content
Progress over consumption
Learning as a continuous journey, not isolated content
Clarity through structure
Complexity made visible, not hidden
Clarity through structure
Complexity made visible, not hidden
Exectution
Exectution
Exectution
Exectution
Structuring the learning experience
Defined a scalable information architecture to support courses, guides, and tools.
Introduced progressive learning paths to accommodate different skill levels.
Defined a scalable information architecture to support courses, guides, and tools.
Introduced progressive learning paths to accommodate different skill levels.
Defined a scalable information architecture to support courses, guides, and tools.
Introduced progressive learning paths to accommodate different skill levels.
Exectution
Exectution
Designing for continuity
Created reusable layouts and components to support future content expansion.
Established clear visual hierarchy to reduce cognitive load without simplifying content.
Exectution
Exectution
Building a product system
Designed a mobile-first UX system rather than isolated screens.
Collaborated closely with development to ensure scalability and feasibility.
Exectution
Exectution
Exectution
Designing for continuity
Created reusable layouts and components to support future content expansion.
Established clear visual hierarchy to reduce cognitive load without simplifying content.
Exectution
Exectution
Exectution
Building a product system
Designed a mobile-first UX system rather than isolated screens.
Collaborated closely with development to ensure scalability and feasibility.
Outcome & Key Insights
Outcome & Key Insights
Outcome & Key Insights
Outcome & Key Insights
OUTCOMES
4.8 rating on Google Play
10K+ downloads
Strong user feedback on clarity and usability
Strong user feedback on clarity and usability
Strong user feedback on clarity and usability
Foundation ready for feature expansion
Foundation ready for feature expansion
Foundation ready for feature expansion
KEY INSIGHTS
Users value depth when it’s clearly structured
Visual hierarchy reduces cognitive load more than simplification especially in expert-driven educational products.
Tracking progress increases trust and engagement in educational products
KEY INSIGHTS
Users value depth when it’s clearly structured
Visual hierarchy reduces cognitive load more than simplification especially in expert-driven educational products.
Tracking progress increases trust and engagement in educational products
OUTCOMES
4.8 rating on Google Play
10K+ downloads
Strong user feedback on clarity and usability
Foundation ready for feature expansion
Learnings
Learnings
Learnings
Scalability is a design decision made on day one
Scalability is a design decision made on day one
Scalability is a design decision made on day one
Constraints improve focus when embraced early
Constraints improve focus when embraced early
Constraints improve focus when embraced early
Educational products succeed when they respect the user’s intelligence
Designing systems creates more impact than designing features
Problem Statement
Problem Statement
PROBLEM:
Launch Bonsai Care App, a new mobile product built on top of its existing educational content. Without a clear learning framework, the app risked becoming a direct content copy rather than a valuable standalone product.
Contraints: Translate highly technical, expert-level knowledge into structured learning paths without oversimplifying or losing credibility.
GOAL:
The challenge was translating complex bonsai knowledge into a mobile-first experience that worked for beginners and experts, while laying a scalable foundation for future features.
Outcome: 4.8 rating and 10k+ Downoads from Appstore & Google Play.