In today’s fast-paced world, staying motivated and focused on tasks can be a significant challenge. Students from Drexel University’s User Experience and Interaction Design (UXID) program tackled this problem head-on, creating Momentum, a social productivity app that leverages photo sharing and community engagement to help users achieve their goals.
Project Introduction
The Momentum team prioritized research and design, focusing on their strengths to develop a user-centric solution. Over 20 weeks, they conducted thorough research to identify user pain points and iterate on design concepts, culminating in an app prototype designed to resonate with their target audience.
Research Insights
Preliminary surveys revealed that many users find existing productivity tools ineffective in maintaining focus and motivation, leading to feelings of stress. Users also expressed a desire for autonomy and control over progress checks. This feedback led the team to prioritize user-driven features and customization options.
The team’s research also highlighted the importance of accountability and community, with a significant percentage of users emphasizing the value of body doubling for staying productive.
Design Exploration
During the design exploration phase, the team focused on creating a brand identity that resonated with the core values of motivation, focus, and productivity. They chose blue as the primary color for its calming and productive associations and incorporated wave imagery to symbolize forward movement and energy.
Iterative Design Process
The team employed an iterative design process, progressing from low-fidelity to high-fidelity wireframes, incorporating user feedback at each stage. Changes included adding more detailed information to task cards based on user requests for better organization.
Development and Prototype
Recognizing their team’s strengths in design and research, the students pivoted to create an interactive prototype using Figma’s variable tool. This allowed them to effectively showcase the app’s functionality and user experience.
Conclusion
Momentum showcases the power of user-centered design and the adaptability of the Drexel UXID students. By prioritizing research, design, and iterative prototyping, the team created a promising solution for enhancing productivity and fostering a sense of community.
Reflection
The Momentum team’s journey highlights the importance of collaboration, problem-solving, and continuous learning. While a fully functional app wasn’t feasible within the project’s scope, the team is proud of the research-backed design and the valuable lessons learned, which will undoubtedly inform their future projects.