Role
UX & Visual DesignerTimeline
Spring 2023
Tools
Figma, Balsamiq
Context
I worked in a team of three students to develop a mobile app designed to support college students focus better in studying while stimulating positive mental health. Together, we brainstormed ways to make an exciting mobile application that made use of the Pomodoro method, calendar scheduling, and surveys to reflect on studying experiences. We used a series of iterative interviews with college students, and followed a design thinking process to formulate our final presentation.
Problem Statement
How might we help college students spend quality time studying while managing external stress like academics or social life?
Our Solution
FocusBuddy is a mobile application aimed to help students manage their time, while providing motivational support as a digital study buddy.
User Personas
It was important to consider personas and our users when designing a study-based mobile application. After conducting in-depth interviews with 10+ college students (ages 18-21), we identified the specific user needs and desires to improve studying while stimulating positive mental health.
Additionally, we collaborated with ChatGPT to create two user personas based on our interview analysis. Both personas helped us research studying practices and behaviors to implement into our mobile application.
Additionally, we collaborated with ChatGPT to create two user personas based on our interview analysis. Both personas helped us research studying practices and behaviors to implement into our mobile application.
User Flow
We created a mapping chart with how we
would envision our application to run-through as a flow. We started
with creating a task for the user to document, how to envision our
ideas, and implement them into tracking and documenting work.
Additionally, we wanted the user to have a positive experience and
stimulate positive attitudes for mental health. We invited users to
reflect on their experience studying, as well as drag a mood scale to
visualize these emotions.
Wireframe Prototype
After receiving feedback on our
ideation and flow design, we decided to visualize our themes into a
wireframe prototype. We then conducted user interviews keeping track of
how users interacted with the prototype. Taking note of mistakes, button
use, and general user insight, we knew how best to move forward when
conducting our final prototype design.
High Fidelity Prototype
With more in-class feedback and direct quotes from students we previously interviewed, we included new features that were more mobile-friendly and user-friendly. We targetted visual aesthetics, the “FocusBuddy” snail friend who supported users, and an easy-to-follow path of pomodoro methods and task trackers.