Hey there! Welcome to the journey of Time Tamer, an app designed to tackle the everyday challenges faced by individuals with ADHD in managing their tasks and time effectively. The team consisted of three designers for our final project in boot camp. I was responsible for prototyping, user testing, styling, and gamification. We developed the app over three weeks.
Imagine constantly battling inattentiveness, time blindness, and the daunting task of initiating activities. This is the daily struggle for individuals with ADHD. Recognizing this challenge, our team set out to create Time Tamer, an app aimed at providing a solution through gamification.
Our primary goal was to design an app that helps users overcome these hurdles and make time management a less daunting task. Our initial research into proven coping strategies identified the usefulness of the Pomodoro technique in tracking time, task lists to keep tabs on important activities, and external rewards to maintain motivation. We wanted to incorporate these concepts into our final app.
In the world of Time Tamer, users get to have their very own pet dragon. They earn gems for using the timers, which allows them to unlock ways to interact with their dragons, befriend new dragons, and discover lairs. The idea was to make the experience engaging and enjoyable, with small rewards like adorable dragon animations. Our initial gamification system involved users identifying their own rewards (e.g. going to a coffee shop) and the app simply tracked progress towards this goal. Our testing showed that users were not engaged with this system. We overhauled it to raise a dragon and subsequent testing showed that users were excited with this new update.
The timer was the heart of Time Tamer, and we wanted it to be user-friendly. Initial timers gave users fixed options, but our testing showed a clear preference for customization. We revamped the default timers and replaced them with buttons that allowed users to easily add time according to their preferences. This quick-start feature made it a breeze for users to jump into tasks without hassle and tested very well.
Our initial vision for the task list was quite ambitious, with features like due dates, task frequencies, and various lists. However, we realized that simplicity was key. Users should not feel overwhelmed by their tasks. We simplified the task list drastically and provided an option for users to select tasks from their lists and add only the ones they wanted to tackle to their home screen. This change improved usability significantly.
If Time Tamer were to become a reality, we would closely monitor the gamification elements. We want to strike a balance between keeping users motivated and preventing them from getting distracted. Adding more pet avatars and interactions could be a potential enhancement and even a way to monetize the app.
Our initial vision included a feature-rich task list, but we acknowledge that it needs further research and iteration. We would prioritize usability and ensure that the additional features do not overwhelm users.
And there you have it—a glimpse into the journey of Time Tamer, an app designed to empower individuals with ADHD in managing their time and tasks with a touch of gamified fun. This project was a labor of love and a testament to the power of user-centered design. Thank you for joining me on this adventure!
