5 Designs Getting a Glow-Up Because My Inner Critic Won’t Let It Go

5 design prompts. More time. Fewer regrets.

There’s a special kind of itch that only old design work can trigger.

You scroll past it thinking, “Eh, it’s fine.”

But then… it isn’t.

Most of my March mockups were built under serious time pressure — 45-ish minutes for wireframes, another 60–90 for visual design. Fast-paced, chaotic, and sometimes surprisingly decent. Other times? Let’s just say they got the job done.

But five of them? They wouldn’t leave me alone.

They weren’t disasters, just missed chances — ideas I liked but didn’t quite land. And while Radhika (aka the undisputed goddess of wireframes) and Ravali (queen of clean, clever mockups) gave me plenty of feedback during our critique sessions, the urge to redo these was already bubbling under the surface.

So now I’m giving these five designs a second shot — not out of guilt, but because I know they can be better.

Let’s get into it.

Work-from-Home Fitness Tracker

This one still haunts me. I really wanted to do it right — but between second-guessing every wireframe and the clock ticking, this one slipped through the cracks.

It’s got good intentions (track your calories, steps, workouts), but somewhere between the rings and the bottom nav, it forgot how to breathe.

Wireframes are not my strong suit (especially when Radhika’s wireframes exist — those feel like Da Vinci and mine like finger paint).

I just kept thinking: this can be so much better — visually, functionally, flow-wise… and now I actually want to fix it.

Here’s what I’d do differently:

• 🎨 Dial down the colour drama — red, green, orange… it’s giving Angry Thermometer App, not wellness.

• 📊 Rethink visual hierarchy — Calories, steps, sleep? Pick a lead, not a brawl.

• 📝 Make “Log Activity” actually usable — it’s currently just a giant blank form with zero affordance.

• 🧭 Fix the nav bar — three tabs that mean nothing to anyone? Not happening again.

TL;DR: It looked like a fitness tracker. Now it’ll feel like one.

Language Learning App

This one? Oh, I’ve got ideas.

Out of all the designs from the March challenge, this one kept bouncing around in my head long after it was done. The prompt was to create an app that helps people learn a new language through daily lessons and quizzes.

I took that and went full Desi Duolingo — daily streaks, regional language practice, and food-based quizzes (yes, identifying Misal Pav is a valid language exercise). The app even threatens to take away your progress with the cutest emoji ever. Priorities, right?

But execution? Let’s just say: strong idea, average follow-through.

The vibe? Delicious. The UI? A little undercooked. I want to go back and spice it up properly.

What I’d like to rework:

• 🍛 Lean into the regional — embrace the Marathi food theme harder, and maybe build in other language packs.

• ✍️ Improve pacing of lessons — right now it jumps straight into questions. Could use more buildup/context.

• 💬 Better onboarding & guidance — users might feel dropped into the deep end. A little handholding wouldn’t hurt.

• 🎮 Gamify it more — streak counters, badges for language levels, and community interaction.

Medicine Reminder App

Built a daily streak… but skipped competitive research.

This app helps users stay consistent with their meds — like Duolingo, but for not dying.

The idea was to gamify medicine tracking. Daily logs, reminders, and a streak system that cheers you on. Clean, calm UI. Personalized timing. And a confetti moment when you hit your sixth day in a row. I love a little dopamine with my discipline.

But here’s where I dropped the pill (get it?):

I didn’t check how other apps were solving this.

I just assumed this was niche. Skipped the part where you look at competitors.

Basically, I went full tunnel vision — and that never works in UX.

What I want to improve:

• 🔍 Audit existing products — because someone out there is probably doing this better, and I’d rather learn than reinvent.

• 🧭 Better guidance — the “Add Medicine” screen is functional, but it feels like filling out an old-school form. I want it to feel easier, smarter.

• 📅 Deeper scheduling logic — right now, it’s rigid. I’d love to explore custom reminders, refill nudges, and appointment integrations.

• 🔄 More user-centric flows — streamline logging, especially for repeat meds.

This idea still feels fresh, still worth doing right. And that confetti? It’s staying.

Book Club App

The vibe? Goodreads meets Google Calendar. The execution? Not quite there yet.

I had a whole cozy virtual book club vibe in mind — a space where you track what you're reading, sync schedules with fellow readers, and keep up with bookish banter through threads.

But the execution ended up more "bare minimum" than "bookworm heaven."

I liked the bones of this one — the reading list, the scheduling flow, even the quirky confetti screen when you RSVP to a session (yes, that’s staying). But once I sat with it, I realized:

• The visual design is fine… but that’s all it is. Feels more like a layout test than a full experience.

• The discussion thread UI lacks personality — it reads more like an email inbox than a book club chat.

• I missed the chance to integrate existing tools (like Goodreads or Notion-style notes).

• And the “I’m attending” flow? Functional, sure, but it needs more heart — maybe pre-reads, discussion points, reminders to bring wine?

There’s a reader in me that wants this to exist. But the designer in me knows this ain’t it — yet

Things I’ll explore in the glow-up:

• 🌟 Visual personality: warm, cozy, less sterile.

• 🧠 Smarter structure: segment threads by theme, auto-summarize discussions.

• 📅 Smarter syncs: calendar integrations, nudges for group reading progress.

• ✨ Make it feel like a club, not a spreadsheet.

Monthly Expense Tracker

Designing for real budgets, not budgeting apps.

This one was close to the heart — inspired by watching how monthly expenses are mentally managed in many Indian households without formal tools.

I wanted the app to feel intuitive, familiar, and light — something your mom or aunt could use without a tutorial. I added voice logging for that very reason. Tap → Speak → Logged.

And yet... something about it still feels incomplete.

• The visuals aren’t warm or familiar enough. Right now, it looks more fintech than family.

• There’s room to build for shared users — think: multiple family members, maybe even assigning categories like “kids' expenses” or “grocery runs.”

• Voice logs are a start, but smarter summaries, reminders, and easy budgeting rules would really unlock value.

This idea deserves a glow-up. And even if I end up parking it later, I want to try and give it the attention it didn’t get the first time around.

Things I’ll explore:

• 🎨 Friendlier design language and personalization

• 🗂️ Smarter categories and recurring expenses

• 🔊 Better integration of voice + auto-summary

• 👩‍👧 Built-in collaboration (because money talk isn’t solo)

Catch Up If You Missed It

If you liked this one, you might enjoy these too:

• 21 Days of UI: How Showing Up Changed My Creative Process

• Turns Out, You Can Procrastinate Thinking Too

Both are equally chaotic, mildly insightful, and extremely honest.

Go give them a scroll (and maybe a chuckle).

What’s Dropping Next?

A follow-up to Turns Out, You Can Procrastinate Thinking Too — because yes, the overthinking continues.

I'll be going back to that big, messy idea list and trying to figure out what actually sticks, what changes, and what quietly exits stage left.

Also coming soon:

– A deep dive into how I plan to rebuild each of these 5 designs — with before-afters, critique notes, and all the second thoughts that didn’t make it into this post.