Timely.
An app and physical device that promotes sustainable productivity for those with ADHD
My Role
Project lead, Researcher, UX strategist, UX / UI designer, Product designer, Motion Designer, Animator
Timeline
8 months
Team Members
Jennifer Han, Sushma Shankar, Shri Bhat, Derek Lee, and Darae Kim
The Problem
20% of college students with ADHD drop out because the education system is not designed for them to succeed
My Contribution
As project lead, I unified the expertise of designers from different backgrounds and oversaw the entire design process
I led designers from psychology, engineering, informatics, and industrial design to have impactful dialogues surrounding ADHD and craft meaningful design solutions based off of our research insights.
The result is Timely, a product that reshapes and streamlines the study process.
Motivational
Engaging user flows to promote studying
Goal Oriented
Reminders to finish tasks on time
Hands On
Tactile Interactions that compliment the physical timer
Handy Guidebook
I designed the interactions of the physical product and the guidebook layout that explains how the user flow works in simple, easy to follow steps for the user
Physical Form
I designed a timer that played with the metaphor of time blocks, a scientifically proven study strategy that helps those with ADHD to concentrate
Time blocks can easily click together to stack and come apart creating a fun, tactile experience that adds engagement to the study session. I collaborated with the Industrial designer on the team, Jennifer Han, who rendered and 3d printed as well
User Experience
The tactile form promotes physical engagement for those with hyperactivity and also intentional studying without a phone so fidgeting doesn’t lead to distraction
Individual Screens
I designed the screens to be playful and engaging in order to promote the idea of fun study sessions with bright colors and geometric aesthetics that match the physical timer
Design Language
I designed a cohesive system that is lively and action oriented via bright, fun colors and clean graphics
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Research Insights
Academic burnout is a real fear
Many students with ADHD struggle to finish tasks in healthy intervals of time due to hyper fixation of specific tasks and procrastination of others
It’s hard to stay on top of things
Many prefer to do tasks as they occur and struggle to plan how the level of difficulty of certain tasks may affect study time
Products aren’t inclusive
Students enjoy moving their hands, feet, etc and stim as they focus on studying and may move to different areas of their home in one study session
Ideation values
Goal Oriented
Prioritize keeping the student on track with their academic tasks to meet goals
Adaptive
Addresses the need to move around in a space and switch up study strategies
Burnout Preventive
Prompts sustainable study habits and healthy timed breaks
User Experience Strategy
Intuitively adapts to the user’s workflow
The product notices when work needs to be done and helps the user create the right study schedule for themselves
Zeros in on tasks
Rewards the user for completing their tasks and staying focused and prevents phone access
Facilitates engagement
Has engaging graphics that promotes studying and uses motion design to create the right amount of friction for the user
Ideation outcome
Our team moved forward with a hybrid approach that used a modular, physical timer to provide uninterrupted study sessions and a mobile application that aligns the student’s study strategy with their academic success
Design explorations
My goal was to unify the design of the mobile application and the physical timer through modularity of both the look of the timer, and the interactive feel of the mobile application
Onboarding
Users become familiar with the tangible function of the product by swiping through blocks of instructions
Set up Timer
Assign each block a timed task by tapping on a digital version of the physical timer
Home
Use a blocky style in the background of the app as an intentional retro style
User Testing Results
During mid fidelity testing students with ADHD said they enjoyed the tactility of the product and the playful, guided study sessions. However, there were also design adjustments made after feedback
Users become familiar with the tangible function of the product by swiping through blocks of instructions
Assign each block a timed task by tapping on a digital version of the physical timer
Use a blocky style in the background of the app as an intentional retro style
Moving Forward
Observing long term results
Review how the product affects grades, builds healthy study habits, and shapes a new relationship with academia
Expanding upon reflection
Assists the user through more time filled screens via fun, modular interactions
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