Assistive Design | UXR | Front-end
Ideated, designed, and coded Slice, an assistive scheduling app on mobile devices and smartwatches
Time
3 Months (Oct - Dec 2022)
3 Months (Oct - Dec 2022)
Team
So Yeon Kim (Me, UXD + Front-end)
Andie Han (UXD + Front-end)
So Yeon Kim (Me, UXD + Front-end)
Andie Han (UXD + Front-end)
Tools
Figma
Adobe After Effects
HTML+CSS
JavaScript
Figma
Adobe After Effects
HTML+CSS
JavaScript
Task
Research
Brainstorm
Wireframe
Prototype
UI Design
Web development
Research
Brainstorm
Wireframe
Prototype
UI Design
Web development
An assistive scheduling app to aid people with ADHD
Given the challenge “design an assistive technology that helps ADHD patients easily plan their time and complete everyday tasks”, we proposed the concept for a time management and scheduling app that revolutionizes the complexity of the existing productivity tools.
Throughout the entire project, I conducted interviews and research, designed features and screens, and developed the introduction website.
Inclusive design for everyone
Although our initial design was exclusively for people with ADHD, we found the app useful for any person who struggled with task management. As we continued with our project, we embraced that the app could benefit beyond the initial target users and made it to be used by everyone who has similar needs for a simple time managing interface.
Exploring Problems
One-on-One interview
We conducted a 30-minute interview with two people with ADHD to gather insights about the project. We asked them to describe how they currently manage their time and the tools and methods they use.
Some answers we got:
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“I schedule my time, but I have trouble staying focused on one task and often get distracted by other things.”
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“I try to make a to-do list every day, but I often struggle to stick to it.”
The Problem
People with ADHD struggle with keeping tasks in one place.
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How can we assist them in gathering scattered ideas?
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How can the app help users set milestone in an intuitive and easy way?
Researching Solution
Finding opportunities from competitors
There are many scheduling apps on the market, but people with ADHD still have difficulty scheduling tasks.
To understand opportunities, we analyzed existing services ranging from scheduling apps to physical table clocks.
Outstanding features, strengths and weaknesses were collected.
Creating milestones while maintaining concentration
Creating milestones and maintaining concentration was a main pain point for people with ADHD. We had decided to map out these two qualities and see which other apps are addressing these pain points.
It showed a need for a service to organize detailed milestones with less concentration.
Visualizing and structuring time
Attention deficit makes it difficult for people to to calm down and gather the things they must complete at one place. A simple and easy interface that allows to record crude spontaneous thoughts would be provided. Later, users would be able to re-organize and structurize the tasks. Users would then map the tasks to the time they have.
Personas to understand users
Visualizing time, increasing accessibility, and assisting task management
Our solutions were to create a scheduling application that visualizes time and uses multiple devices to gather tasks.
Storyboard to examine user experience and emotion
Using the solutions and persona, I created a storyboard to explore the user’s emotions and experience with Slice.
Low-fidelity Design
Establishing a sitemap for navigation
A sitemap was created for intuitive navigation. We arranged the features on the navigation bar, considering this map.
User test and low-fidelity design iteration
To design detailed functions, we asked 2 people with ADHD to edit the sample list. Grouping tasks, adding new tasks, and showing the backup were important.
After applying the learnings to the low-fidelity prototypes, we tested users once more to validate our mockup. They felt the interaction was distracting, so we tried to minimize the animations.
High-fidelity Design
Dreamy visuals and cake characters to comfort users
Slice had to provide emotional support to comfort users. We established the design system using pastel colors while keeping intuitiveness.
We designed cake characters for emotional satisfaction and brand identity. The colors of the characters follow the design system.
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[To-do] Screen: Dividing tasks into word-unit blocks
Slice divides each task into word-unit blocks. Word blocks can be deleted, rearranged, and nested in the edit screen under other tasks.
For simplicity, user actions are limited to tap, long press, and drag-drop. Changes are indicated by colors, opacity, and indicator bars, rather than using dynamic motion graphics that could be distracting.
Nesting blocks
Deleting blocks
Moving blocks
[Journey] Screen: Visualizing timeline
After making a To-do list, users can schedule each task’s timeline on the Journey screen.
Tasks are integrated into one timeline and are assigned to specific timestamps or broader time ranges.
Tap to make a timestamp
Tap once more to transform
a timestamp to a period
a timestamp to a period
Check off a completed task
[Home] Screen: Indicating current tasks and progress
The home screen displays current tasks and progress, working with a smartwatch.
To motivate users, the pie chart visualizes time remaining for each task, and the short sentence provides emotional support to de-stress users.
