This app is a productivity and mindfulness tool designed to help users break the habit of immediately checking their phones in the morning. It creates a barrier against digital distractions by locking the phone and guiding users through a customized, intentional morning routine. The app focuses on promoting mindfulness, mental clarity, and productive habits through features like Morning Lock Mode, which temporarily restricts phone access, Customizable Morning Routines tailored to individual preferences, Progress Tracking to visualize achievements, and Focus-Driven Notifications that gently guide users throughout their day.
In addition, the app offers Social Accountability features to build a supportive community, and Reward Systems to incentivize daily progress, making it easier to adopt healthier, more productive habits. The overall goal is to help users start their mornings with purpose, leading to improved focus, well-being, and a positive mindset throughout the day.
Problem Statement
Individuals who habitually check their phones first thing in the morning often struggle with digital distractions that hinder mindfulness and productivity. Breaking this habit can be difficult, as phone use has become deeply ingrained in daily routines. There is a need for a solution that not only creates a barrier to these distractions but also transforms this time into a productive opportunity. By fostering a more intentional and mindful start to the morning, this solution can promote mental clarity, a positive mindset, and improved overall well-being throughout the day.
Value Proposition
For individuals who habitually check their phones first thing in the morning, this project offers a tool that creates a barrier to digital distractions, encouraging mindfulness and productivity instead. By fostering a more intentional start to the day, it helps promote mental clarity and a positive mindset, leading to improved focus and well-being throughout the day.
WHO
WHAT
WHY
5 Why’s
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"Because I struggled to focus and accomplish tasks effectively."
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"Because I wasn’t in a positive or motivated mood."
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"Because my mind felt hazy and cluttered, preventing clarity."
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"Because I didn’t start the morning with intention or mental preparedness."
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"Because I got distracted by my phone first thing in the morning, diverting my attention from mindfulness and focus."
How might we design a solution that prevents morning phone distractions, encouraging mindfulness and setting a positive, productive tone for the day?
Key Features
Morning Lock
AR Garden
Lock Mode
Dashboard
Customizable Tasks
Social Accountability
Competitor Analysis
Competitor Analysis
Personas
Empathy Map
User Journey
Business Plan
1. Revenue Model
Freemium Mode
Subscription Tiers
Partnerships & Sponsorships
2. Unique Value Proposition
Morning Lock Mode
AR Garden Progress Tracker
Social Accountability
Customizable Morning Routines
Wearable Integration
5. Projected Milestone
Focus on user acquisition, reaching 100,000 active users, with a 5-10% conversion rate to premium.
Expand the AR functionality to include more interactive garden features and offer additional integrations like wellness workshops or real-life habit-building challenges.
Initial Launch & Target Audience
Partnerships with Wellness Influencers
Continual Updates and Iteration
4. Growth Strategy
Develop a Community
3. Value to Customers
Mindfulness and Productivity
Visual Progress & Motivation
Community Engagement
Accessibility Features
6. Measuring Growth
User Engagement
Retention Rate
Customer Satisfaction
Habit Completion Rate
Information Architecture
Mid-fidelity Wireframes
Feature 1: Lock mode
Feature 2: Customizable tasks
Feature 3: Dashboard
Feature 3: AR garden
Feature 3: Social accountability
AR Garden Prototype
User Testing
Objective
To better understand user perceptions and preferences regarding the key features of the app, I interviewed 5 users to gather insights on how they interact with some of the tools, and how my app could address their needs.
Participants
Total participants: 5
Age range: 20-50
Common goal: Understand the importance of having a more intentional and prepared routine
Key features analyzed
Morning lock mode
AR garden
Social accountability
Customizable tasks
Dashboard
Feature ranking testing
Key takeaways
Social Accountability is the most motivating feature
All 5 users agreed that having a social accountability aspect—like visiting friends' AR gardens—would drive them to stay consistent with their routines.
Customization should be simple
While customization is valuable, users highlighted that too many options can lead to decision fatigue and overwhelm, making the app feel stressful.
Flexibility in routine timing is important
The app should be versatile enough for use at any time of the day, not just in the morning. Some users prefer mindfulness routines in the afternoon or evening.
Brad
Background: Brad is a busy professional who juggles multiple tasks throughout the day. He follows a well-established morning routine and regularly uses his smartwatch to track and manage his daily activities.
Nitya
Background: Nitya is a medical student who often feels overwhelmed with stress and anxiety. She's looking to establish a mindful and positive morning routine to help her start the day with calm and focus, allowing her to better manage the demands of her busy schedule.
Thomas
Background: Thomas is a student who used to follow a morning routine during COVID but lost his motivation as his schedule became busier. Now, he's eager to get back on track but feels unsure about where to start and how to rebuild his routine.
“I just want a morning routine that actually sticks and helps me feel like I’m starting the day right”
“I just want a morning routine that actually sticks and helps me feel like I’m starting the day right”
Background: Natalia is a student with a simple morning routine that includes checking her horoscope and drinking water. However, she wants to add more structure to her mornings and feel better prepared for the day ahead.
Rohan
Background: Rohan is a student full of excitement and energy about establishing a morning routine. He enjoys the idea of making it fun by competing with his friends in a friendly, motivating way to stay consistent and improve together.
Breakdown of sustainable morning routine
User Insights
80% of users
found it challenging to maintain sustainable morning routines due to busy schedules, lack of motivation or phone distractions.
20% of users
had better control over their phone use in the morning and a well adhered morning routine
Goals for morning routine development
Natalia
60% of users
wanted a more structured and productive morning routine.
40% of users
had various other goals.
Morning Phone Usage
All 5 users reported checking their phones first thing in the morning, but 1 user felt they had more control over this habit than the others.
Pain Points
Overwhelm from Customization Options
Results
Motivation and Routine Challenges
80% of participants struggled to maintain consistent routines due to busy lifestyles or lack of motivation.
Difficulty Building Consistent Habits
Goals:
60% of users expressed a desire for a more prepared and structured morning routine to improve their daily productivity.
Balancing Personalization and Structure
The user testing revealed strong support for the social accountability feature, with all participants finding it a key motivator, highlighting the importance of prioritizing this aspect. Users appreciated customization, but emphasized the need for simplicity to avoid decision fatigue, indicating that a balance between flexibility and ease of use is crucial. While responses to the AR garden and morning lock mode were generally positive, some users were neutral, suggesting these features need further refinement to increase appeal. Additionally, several users expressed interest in routines for different times of day, presenting an opportunity to expand the app’s functionality beyond morning use. Overall, these insights will guide future iterations to ensure the app effectively meets user needs.
80% of users would use the app
80% of users would use the app
Revised Design Goals
Social accountability
Customizable tasks
Action: Streamline the customization process by offering a few curated routine templates with the option to adjust specific aspects, rather than overwhelming users with too many choices at once.
Action: Expand on social elements, such as visiting friends' AR gardens or sharing routine progress with accountability partners. Create engaging ways for users to connect and motivate each other.
Brand Strategy
Competitor Analysis
Logo
Color
Vision Statement
We envision a world where technology serves as a catalyst for mindfulness, balance, and productivity, helping individuals cultivate meaningful, distraction-free routines that improve both their mental and physical well-being.
Brand Personality
Positive outlook
Encouraging tone
Future-oriented
Optimistic
Imagery
Typography
Mission Statement
Our mission is to empower individuals to build sustainable, mindful routines by reducing digital distractions, fostering personal growth, and promoting positive habits that enhance daily well-being through innovative and engaging tools.
Fun interactions
Whimsical visuals
Easygoing tone
Playful
Humanized interactions
Social and engaging
Relatable tone
Conversational
Design Principles
Simplicity & Clarity
Goal: Keep the interface clean, straightforward, and easy to navigate, minimizing distractions.
Implementation: Clear layouts with minimal steps to complete tasks. Focus on delivering essential features without overwhelming the user.
Why: Users want to build habits efficiently without feeling confused or overloaded by options.
Positive Reinforcement
Goal: Celebrate user progress, no matter how small, to create a sense of achievement and motivation.
Implementation: Gamified rewards, visual progress tracking on the dashboard, and gentle notifications all contribute to positive reinforcement.
Why: Users feel encouraged and validated, which helps build consistency in their routines.
Delightful Interaction
Goal: Make using the app enjoyable and engaging with playful elements and moments of surprise.
Implementation: Use playful animations, micro-interactions, and gamification like the AR garden and social accountability features to create a sense of fun.
Why: Positive experiences encourage users to return, reinforcing routine-building.
Accessibility & Inclusivity
Goal: Ensure the app is usable by a diverse range of users, including those with disabilities or different preferences.
Implementation: Provide features like adjustable text size, voice commands, and color contrast options. Ensure the design is intuitive and accommodates various user abilities and needs.
Why: An inclusive design broadens the user base and creates a better experience for all.
Empathy & Personalization
Goal: Cater to users’ individual needs and emotions with tailored experiences.
Implementation: Allow for customization of tasks, progress tracking, and routines. Use the conversational tone to show understanding and support users where they are in their journey.
Why: Personalized interactions help users feel understood, which builds trust and motivates action.
Encouraging Social Connection
Goal: Foster a sense of community and accountability through social interaction.
Implementation: Use features like visiting friends’ AR gardens and friendly competition to create meaningful connections between users.
Why: Social accountability helps users stay motivated and engaged, which improves habit retention.
