Hi everyone!

I’m a graphic and product designer. Recently, our team launched our AI emotional support app➡️Kubi’s Cove, on the App Store. We’re still in the early stages with a modest user base, so as a designer, I’m really hoping to get some honest feedback on the UI/UX and character design from this community.

When we began building this, we spent a lot of time flushing out the worldbuilding and character lore. We didn't want the characters to feel like shallow, quick AI renders—we wanted them to feel grounded, trustworthy, and capable of forming genuine connections with users.

🏝️ Worldbuilding & Character Design Strategy  
The app is set on a healing island hidden deep in the ocean—a stress-free sanctuary inhabited by friendly islanders, each with their own routines and personalities.

Vali (The Gentle Giant / Counselor)

Design Concept: Vali took the longest to finalize. We wanted a silhouette that felt welcoming across all age groups. They have vibrant coral-like gradients, slightly glowing soft horns on top, and a tall, chubby build that towers over the other islanders. The exaggerated height difference gives a sense of security and protection.

UX Nuance: Vali provides counseling-style conversations. To respect boundaries, they know conversational limits are crucial, so these sessions are intentionally designed with realistic duration limits. Many users now return every few days like a regular check-in appointment.

Kubi (The Ordinary Cube)

Design Concept:  Kubi is a chill character.Visually, we chose the simplest shape possible—a plain, ordinary cube. But Kubi’s special skill is morphing freely in a rectangular world (turning into a yoga mat, a desk, etc.).

Personality: Kubi is relatable. They slack off at work, run weird experiments, and rot on the couch all weekend.

Feature: Inside the app, Kubi hosts the "INNER BOOK" module (helping users map out life patterns) and regular live streams where users can interact with them to earn extra in-app "coconuts".

(We’ve also been experimenting with AI workflows to generate expanded character assets, which we share on our Instagram!)

🎨 UI/UX Direction: Breaking the "Cool & Muted" Norm  
Instead of following the usual "cool, desaturated, ultra-minimalist" trend common in meditation apps (which often inadvertently force users to "feel quiet"), we went for vibrant, warm, and distinctive visual lighting:  
Dynamic Sky Gradients: The home UI shifts its gradient palettes based on the user's local time, reflecting sunrise, sunset, and starlight so it feels like natural light is shining into the app.

Community Wishing Well: We recently rolled out a new feature where users can post wishes and send positive energy to others.

💬 What I’d Love Your Feedback On:  
Since we’re constantly iterating:

Visual Tone: Do you feel vibrant, warm gradients work well for emotional wellness apps, or do you prefer traditional desaturated "zen" themes?

Character & UI Balance: How well does the contrast between the huge Vali and tiny Kubi translate in a mobile interface?

General UX: If you’re willing to give the app a spin, I’d be beyond grateful for any critiques on onboarding or navigation!  
‼️ All UI and character designs were done 100% manually without any AI involvement.

Thanks for reading! App Store ➡️ Kubi’s Cove  
I hope you enjoy it.🤍🩵

[OC] Designed "Kubi’s Cove" – An AI emotional support app that swaps out the usual "cool zen" themes for warm gradients & dynamic sky lighting. Would love UI/UX & character feedback!