!!! NOTE: Delete all parts of this file surrounded by three exclamation marks (including the exclamation marks themselves) and replace them with the appropriate content -- they are only instructions and shouldn't be in your report!!!
People spend the majority of their free time scrolling on social media timelessly. Our goal is to create a platform that pushes people to use their time intentionally by giving the user daily prompts or activities.
- Alessandro Sisniegas - Contributed 50% of all research, design, prototyping, and testing work throughout the project.
- Elijah Beverley - Contributed 50% of all research, design, prototyping, and testing work throughout the project.
Executive Summary
- Competitive analysis showed that existing solutions focus on blocking distractions rather than encouraging intentional time use through positive habit formation.
- Heuristic evaluation of competitor Way of Life showed strength in tracking but weakness in engagement mechanics and community-driven motivation.
- Users require a balance between structure and flexibility, preferring tools that provide personalized prompts rather than strict restrictions.
- Gamification and progress tracking (streaks, rewards, community interaction) increase user engagement and motivation.
- Development of personas and scenarios reinforced key insights:
- Users prefer a proactive, guidance-based app over one that simply blocks distractions.
- Customization, reminders, and visual progress tracking are essential for long-term adoption.
- The Sketches and Diagrams implement a visually engaging interface with personalized activity suggestions, gamification elements (streaks, badges, leaderboards), and intuitive progress tracking to encourage intentional time use.
Executive Summary
- Two independent cognitive walkthroughs using the Jerry Anderson persona revealed key usability issues in the login flow, dashboard clarity, and activity interaction feedback.
- Evaluators found the app's core structure intuitive but noted confusion due to unclear labels, lack of feedback when starting activities, and ambiguous terminology like “Favorites” and “User Reviews.”
- The reward screen (badges, streaks, leaderboard) was well received and validated the value of gamification for long-term engagement and motivation.
- Key design updates include:
- Reordering login fields to follow standard conventions (username before password)
- Adding confirmation steps and descriptions before starting an activity
- Improving terminology and adding microcopy or tooltips to clarify dashboard features
- These refinements will ensure that the interaction flow is more predictable, the interface communicates clearly, and the app better supports intentional time use through guided, motivational features.
Executive Summary
- Six participants completed a structured usability test using our prototype. Each user performed five core tasks and shared real time thoughts using a think-aloud protocol.
- The login experience was consistently rated as intuitive and aligned well with user expectations.
- Participants understood the dashboard at a glance but expressed confusion with the "View All Data" button and desired clearer insight into what leisure time means.
- On the activities page, Favorites and User Reviews were well received but often missed due to their low placement. Terminology like "Pomodoro" also required more explanation.
- The rewards page (badges, streaks, leaderboard) was considered motivating, but navigation redundancies and a lack of clarity in how rewards are earned reduced effectiveness.
- Participants found the overall concept strong and the UI polished but requested improvements in button labeling, navigation consistency, and interactivity cues.
- This testing validated key parts of the design (gamification, progress tracking) and identified targeted areas for future refinement.