Penny: For Your Thoughts
A guided personal growth app designed with accessibility and calm reflection in mind. The project centers on a minimalist interface, thoughtful information hierarchy, and a warm, human-centric design system.
The Story
Penny began as a response to the overwhelming nature of digital journaling tools. Many apps on the market feel cluttered or overly complicated, which often discourages the very habit of self-reflection they are meant to support. The goal of this project was to design a clean, intuitive, and guided experience that makes personal growth feel accessible rather than like a chore. By focusing on a minimalist user experience, I wanted to create a digital space where users feel comfortable documenting their thoughts, tracking their progress, and exploring their personal development in a way that feels supportive and never intrusive.
The Foundation
I built the foundation of the Penny experience around the concept of accessibility. I started by defining a robust system of color variables and typographic styles to ensure that the app remained visually comfortable during long sessions of use. One of the most important technical adjustments I made was moving the base font size up to 16pt for all body copy. This ensures that the interface remains legible and accessible on mobile devices, removing any strain and making the act of journaling feel effortless. The grid system was designed to be fluid, allowing the content to breathe and keeping the focus entirely on the user's input.
Design Decisions
A central part of my process was developing a design system that feels warm and human. Instead of the cold, rigid aesthetics often found in productivity apps, I opted for a softer palette that invites calm reflection. I also prioritized intuitive navigation, ensuring that the most important features—like mood tracking and daily prompts—are always within reach. By focusing on the hierarchy of information, I made sure that the user’s own writing remains the primary visual element on the screen. The interface serves as a companion to the user’s thoughts rather than a distraction, which was a critical balance to strike for a growth-focused tool.
The Final Look
The project resulted in a fully realized brand system, including a comprehensive set of Figma documentation and high-fidelity interactive prototypes. These files cover everything from the initial onboarding flow to complex interactions like data visualization for user progress. Beyond the visual interface, the project forced me to think deeply about user experience patterns and how to build a digital environment that encourages long-term retention. Penny is more than just a set of screens; it is a thoughtful, user-centered ecosystem that makes the complex journey of personal growth feel simple and sustainable.
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The Heart Behind The Portfolio
I’m Cassidy Torraville, a graphic designer specializing in branding, packaging, print, and game UI. But if you strip away the software and the file formats, I’m a storyteller. I approach design with a simple belief: visuals should do more than just look good—they should make you feel something. Inspired by immersive environments and rich, unexpected aesthetics, I build work that is purposeful, engaging, and built to last.
My toolkit centers around Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and Figma, which I use to transform raw concepts into living identities. I sharpened my craft studying Graphic Design at Fanshawe College and collaborating with industry professionals through the RGD Mentorship Program. Those spaces taught me how to think strategically, defend my design choices, and thrive in fast-moving, collaborative environments.
I leave a piece of myself in everything I create. That personal investment is what allows me to connect deeply with my work and, in turn, helps my designs connect authentically with audiences. I’m always looking for new creative challenges, unexpected collaborations, and opportunities to grow.
Let’s build something memorable.
