How might we rethink common sleep solutions by tuning into the quiet needs we often overlook?
Feb 2019 - May 2019 /
Eunjung Kim (Independent Project)
Sheepless
Sheepless—inspired by the phrase “counting sheep”—is a sleep environment optimization application designed for those who struggle to fall asleep. While many existing apps focus on sleep tracking or soundscapes, Sheepless shifts attention to the moments before sleep, offering personalized guidance to improve the user’s physical environment and bedtime experience. Through functions like Sleep Coach, Perfect Bedding, and Smart Devices, Sheepless empowers users to build restful routines tailored to their needs—helping them fall asleep without counting sheep.
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Final Cut Pro
1. Framing the Design Question
This project began with a personal challenge—adjusting to jet lag while traveling between South Korea and New York. I tried various apps and methods—soothing music, white noise, sleep tracking—but nothing felt truly effective. Many sleep-related apps seemed focused on monitoring rather than helping, and I began wondering if there might be other, less conventional ways to support better sleep environments—beyond the typical solutions.
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As someone interested in user-centered design, I was drawn to the gap between what these tools offered and what people actually needed. This project became a way to explore how digital tools could ease the transition into sleep—through empathy, personalization, and attention to real habits and preferences.
2. Research Process & Insights
Understanding Pre-Sleep Habits and Gaps
I started by exploring how people think about and search for sleep solutions. Google Trends showed consistent interest in the topic, especially around sleep aids like calming music—suggesting that many people are actively seeking ways to sleep better.
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Through 11 user interviews, I identified common pain points and behavioral patterns. Most participants used traditional methods (like drinking tea or turning off lights) rather than apps or devices. Interestingly, many were already putting effort into a better night’s sleep—yet still found it hard to fall asleep.
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A key insight emerged: Most existing tools focus on during or after sleep. But what if we focused on the moments before sleep? That space—between preparing for bed and falling asleep—felt under-explored and full of opportunity.
3. Ideation & Concept Development
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With these insights in mind, I examined the current landscape of sleep-related tools. Most apps cluster around tracking sleep cycles, playing soundtracks, and managing alarms—primarily focusing on sleep itself, not the pre-sleep experience. Based on user feedback and market analysis, I identified a gap: tools that focus on the moments before sleep—a space where daily stress, comfort, and habit-building intersect.
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This led me to a central hypothesis: If we provide personalized, environment-focused support before sleep, users may feel more relaxed and in control—without relying on generic solutions.
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I mapped out an opportunity space for a tool that would act more like a thoughtful bedtime companion than a tracker—centered around environment, routine, and emotional readiness.
Naming the Concept: Sheepless
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As the idea evolved, I wanted the name to reflect both the emotional goal and the experience Sheepless was designed to support. The name was inspired by the familiar idiom “counting sheep”—a mental strategy people often use when struggling to fall asleep. But what if the experience made counting sheep unnecessary altogether? Sheepless was created for those who have difficulty falling asleep, and imagines a future where people are guided into rest not through mental tricks like counting sheep, but through gentle, intuitive support.
4. Iterative Prototyping & User Testing
From Exploration to Function
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With the research insights and opportunity map in place, I began prototyping key features that would prioritize pre-sleep care and environmental comfort. Early low-fidelity wireframes explored how users might navigate personalized guidance before bedtime. User testing at this stage revealed a common desire for actionable recommendations—not just data collection.
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Based on this, I defined three central functions:​
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Sleep Coach: offers personalized advice on the sleep environment, checking factors like light, noise, and mattress softness.
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Perfect Bedding: recommends ideal bedding products tailored to users' preferences and habits.
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Smart Devices: enables users to control lights, temperature, and other WiFi/Bluetooth-enabled devices—without leaving bed.
Designing an Empathetic Flow
In the mid-fidelity prototype, I refined the user flow to emphasize ease and emotional clarity. After onboarding, users land on the home screen, with access to three main modes and an overview page for reflecting on previous nights’ sleep and providing updates—helping the app offer smarter suggestions.
Testing this version helped me identify key refinements:
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Streamlining the Sleep Coach flow to avoid overwhelming users
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Ensuring Smart Devices settings were easy to personalize
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Ensuring linked features—such as Sleep Coach music selections carrying over to Smart Devices—felt seamlessly integrated.
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Making the system feel like a bedtime companion, not a tracker
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User Flow
Bringing Pre-Sleep Support to Life
The final high-fidelity prototype brought these ideas together into a cohesive experience. The UI was kept soft and minimal, aiming to reflect the quiet state users seek before sleep.
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Each interaction was crafted to guide users gently into rest—by offering timely suggestions, environmental adjustments, and personalized tips without friction or pressure.
5. Final Design & Reflection
Bringing It All Together
The completed prototype weaves together research insights, empathetic user flow, and a calming visual tone to support users before they sleep. Rather than monitoring their sleep passively, the app engages users in active care—helping them shape a comfortable environment and nightly rhythm that suits their preferences.
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Three key features anchor the final experience:
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Sleep Coach provides real-time feedback and suggestions based on the user’s physical environment.
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Perfect Bedding matches users with products tailored to their sleep habits and preferences.
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Smart Devices ensures convenience by linking environmental controls to users’ needs—minimizing disruption as they settle into bed.
Visual Identity
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The visual language of Sheepless was designed to reflect a sense of calm and care. The logo and app icon were intentionally kept minimal, echoing the soft emotional tone of the experience. The color palette was inspired by the warm glow just before sunset, capturing the quiet, restful moments before sleep.
More than a tool, a companion
The final prototype aimed to feel less like a device utility and more like a thoughtful bedtime companion—soft in tone, intuitive in flow, and attentive to quiet moments that often go unnoticed. By focusing on pre-sleep needs, Sheepless reframes how we support rest: not as something to fix after it’s gone wrong, but something to care for before it begins.
Looking Back, Looking Ahead
This project deepened my understanding of how user-centered research can reveal gaps between what tools offer and what people truly need. It also showed me the value of designing with empathy for routine, comfort, and emotional ease.
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While the feasibility of certain features—like detecting mattress softness through phone sensors—remains a future challenge, the project helped me recognize the importance of prototyping with curiosity and refining with feedback.
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Above all, Sheepless reinforced the idea that small, intentional design choices can turn even the most mundane moments—like preparing for bed—into experiences of care and calm.
