APLIKASI INTERAKTIF 'EMOPET' UNTUK MENUNJANG KESEIMBANGAN KESEHATAN MENTAL PADA FASE EMERGING ADULTHOOD

This study aims to design EmoPet, an interactive mobile application focused on UI/UX design to support emotional well-being among individuals in the Emerging Adulthood phase (ages 18–25). This transitional life stage is characterized by identity exploration, emotional volatility, and increasing social expectations. However, many individuals in this age group lack awareness about emotional regulation and face limited access to accessible and user-friendly mental health support tools. The research employs the Design Thinking methodology, consisting of five stages: Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, and Test. Data were gathered through literature review, interviews, observations, and questionnaires with respondents aged 18–25. Findings indicate that most respondents rely on passive coping strategies such as excessive sleep, isolation, or social media use to manage stress, highlighting the need for an empathetic, engaging digital alternative. Based on the analysis, the EmoPet prototype was developed with key features including a digital Emotional Pet companion, mood tracker, personal journaling, daily positive affirmations, and guided breathing exercises for relaxation. The app's visual design integrates pastel colors and sans-serif typography, selected based on user preferences to foster a calming and inclusive user interface. Usability evaluation was conducted using User Testing. The results demonstrate high user acceptance, particularly in terms of ease of navigation, visual comfort, and the app’s ability to provide a private and expressive emotional outlet. While EmoPet is not a substitute for professional mental health services, it serves as a complementary tool that empowers users to become more emotionally self-aware and to manage their psychological well-being independently.
Keywords: EmoPet, Emerging Adulthood, Mental Health, Design Thinking, Interactive Application.