Thrive – Gardening for Mental Wellbeing

In-app Animations for Mindfulness & User Engagement Client: Thrive

Role: Sole Artist / Creative Director & Animator

The Mission

Thrive is a digital wellbeing app that encourages users to improve their mental health through gardening. My task was to create a series of short animations that supported the app’s themes of calm, growth, and self-care, while enhancing the overall user experience.

Welcome Video

Benefits Of Gardening

Attention Restoration Theory

Why They Mattered The animations were built to support the user’s emotional journey. Whether users were reflecting on their day or taking a moment to breathe, the animations were designed to reduce friction and add a sense of gentle encouragement.

Creative Approach

I used soft shapes, natural textures, and warm, earthy colours to reflect the therapeutic nature of gardening. Motion was slow and intentional, with looping transitions that echoed natural cycles. The aim was to bring visual comfort without distracting from the content. Styleframes / Development

What Stood Out

• Created animations that felt integrated and non-intrusive within a wellness app

• Used tone and pacing to support mindfulness and relaxation

• Strengthened the emotional connection between users and the app’s content

• Reinforced key themes of growth, reflection, and simplicity

It was rewarding to design with so much sensitivity and purpose!