Product Design
TaskAid
Dec 11th, 2024
Project Overview
Context: Student team project.
Challenge: HMW assist people who struggle with anxieties, ADHD, or difficulties initiating tasks to develop habits that eliminate the fear of starting tasks and reduce procrastination?
Date: Oct 27th - Dec 11th 2024
Team: Yuris, Floria Xu, Samay Dhawan
Storyboard
Imagine it is the end of the semester AGAIN!
Research Methodology
Word Association
Elicit immediate responses to task-related terms from students with neurological challenges to uncover underlying perceptions and emotions.
7 words tested with 5 participants
Secondary Research
Review existing literature on ADHD and task management to identify effective strategies and gaps that the app can address.
Analysis of 4 academic articles on ADHD and task management
Research Insights
366M + people have ADHD, 3.1% of global population has GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder)
Users struggle with:
Task initiation (avoidance, procrastination, guilt)
Focus (environmental distractions, constant movement)
Perfectionism (fear of failure, difficulty moving forward)
Social media serves as common avoidance behavior
Achievement and efficiency drive user satisfaction
Word Association:
Persona
Alex Rivera
21 Year-Old College Student, Part-Time Employee
Behaviors/Hobbies/Quirks:
Uses mobile devices frequently
Feels satisfied tasks are completed
Values reminders and accountability tools
User Needs:
Encouragement upon completing tasks
Features to reduce distractions, such as reminders
Options to set reminders, track goals, and share progress
Problem Statement
Students with ADHD and anxiety struggle to initiate and complete tasks due to overwhelming feelings, environmental distractions, and fear of failure. While they value achievement and efficiency, current productivity tools don't adequately address their needs for emotional support, clear task management, and distraction control.
Design Opportunity (Considering NeuroInclusivity )
Clear Task Segmentation:
Subtasks and clear visual hierarchies to break down large tasks.
Research shows that structured frameworks reduce cognitive load for ADHD users
Time Management Aids:
Timers, reminders, and nudges improve time perception and task completion. Tools like the Break & Focus have proven effective for users with ADHD.
Gamification and Motivation:
Positive reinforcement through achievements or gamified elements helps sustain engagement. Study in 2020 noted increased task adherence with gamified productivity apps in ADHD populations
How Might We:
HMW assist people who struggle with anxieties, ADHD, or difficulties initiating tasks to develop habits that eliminate the fear of starting tasks and reduce procrastination?
Information Architecture
Prototyping
After Development we are able to have 6 Complete flows for the App.
Appendix TL;DR
Wireframe
User Testing
User Testing Insights
User Testing-Redesign
References
Cleveland Clinic. (n.d.). Neurodivergent: What it means and why it matters. Retrieved December 3, 2024
Choosing Therapy. (n.d.). Is anxiety neurodivergent?. Retrieved December 3, 2024
Ehm, J., Kerstholt, J. H., & van Tilburg, M. W. A. (2021). "The Role of Digital Assistance in Task Management for Adults with ADHD: A Scoping Review." Journal of Medical Internet Research, 23(5), e25572.
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.