2022
2022
2022
Team Project
Team Project
Team Project
End to End UX Design Process
End to End UX Design Process
End to End UX Design Process
Mobile Application
Mobile Application
Mobile Application
Problem
Problem
The Challenge of Work-Life Balance in Remote Work
The Challenge of Work-Life Balance in Remote Work
In recent years, many companies have adopted work-from-home strategies, creating both opportunities and challenges. For some, the shift blurred the line between work and personal life, leading to fatigue and low morale. To address this, MICA tasked our five-person team on July 5, 2022, with developing a digital prototype within eight weeks to improve work-life balance for remote and hybrid professionals.
In recent years, many companies have adopted work-from-home strategies, creating both opportunities and challenges. For some, the shift blurred the line between work and personal life, leading to fatigue and low morale. To address this, MICA tasked our five-person team on July 5, 2022, with developing a digital prototype within eight weeks to improve work-life balance for remote and hybrid professionals.
Solution
Solution
An Adaptive Application for setting actionable goals
An Adaptive Application for setting actionable goals
Goals
Breaking large goals into smaller, actionable tasks boosts completion rates by 40%.
. (Source: Journal of Consumer Research, 2013)
Helps improve focus
Actionable goals motivate individuals to stay on track and accomplish them.
Goals
Breaking large goals into smaller, actionable tasks boosts completion rates by 40%.
. (Source: Journal of Consumer Research, 2013)
Helps improve focus
Actionable goals motivate individuals to stay on track and accomplish them.
Goals
Increases event attendance by up to 30%.
(Source: Event technology reports, 2022)
Helps form meaningful social connections.
Keeps people engaged with their
local community
Accountability Partners
individuals who commit their goals to someone else are 65% more likely to accomplish them. (Source: Social media analytics studies, 2022)
Social support provides motivation
Sharing goals with supportive friends increases the likelihood of actually completing them
Accountability Partners
Local posts about events and businesses can generate up to 50% more engagement than general posts
(Source: Social media analytics studies, 2022)
Helps strengthen local economies.
Encourages content creation and
social interaction.
Accountability Partners
Local posts about events and businesses can generate up to 50% more engagement than general posts
(Source: Social media analytics studies, 2022)
Helps strengthen local economies.
Encourages content creation and
social interaction.
Social Feed
Documenting goals and sharing progress increases success rates.
(Source: Michigan State University 2014)
Strengthens long-term relationships.
Boosts group engagement with friends and colleagues.
Social Feed
Documenting goals and sharing progress increases success rates.
(Source: Michigan State University 2014)
Strengthens long-term relationships.
Boosts group engagement with friends and colleagues.
Social Feed
People who connect through app-driven events are 60% more likely to maintain regular interaction, strengthening long-term relationships.
(Source: Community engagement surveys, 2023)
Strengthens long-term relationships.
Boosts group engagement with friends
and colleagues.
Competitive Analysis
Competitive Analysis
Where Other Goal-Setting Apps Fall Short: The Power of Accountability and AI
Where Other Goal-Setting Apps Fall Short: The Power of Accountability and AI
While Fabulous helps users build better habits, it lacks social and AI-driven goal refinement. Habitica gamifies productivity but isn’t designed specifically for work-life balance. Strides offers customizable tracking but lacks social features and accountability partnerships. Harmony fills this gap by combining AI-assisted goal creation, progress tracking, social motivation, and accountability partnerships, providing a structured way for users to achieve a sustainable work-life balance.
While Fabulous helps users build better habits, it lacks social and AI-driven goal refinement. Habitica gamifies productivity but isn’t designed specifically for work-life balance. Strides offers customizable tracking but lacks social features and accountability partnerships. Harmony fills this gap by combining AI-assisted goal creation, progress tracking, social motivation, and accountability partnerships, providing a structured way for users to achieve a sustainable work-life balance.
User Interviews
User Interviews
Half of my interviewees had open goals without metrics
My team and I developed a screener that was engaged with by 48 participants. We selected 12 individuals for interviews who were full-time remote employees.
My team and I developed a screener that was engaged with by 48 participants. We selected 12 individuals for interviews who were full-time remote employees.
Research Questions
Research Questions
What challenges do you face when managing or achieving your goals while working remotely?What challenges do you face when managing or achieving your goals while working remotely?
Have you ever experienced fatigue or burnout while working remotely?
Do you have any goals that lack clear metrics or measurable outcomes?
What types of goals do you primarily focus on?
Do you have specific work and personal goals?
Major Themes
Major Themes
Theme 1: Goal Setting & Achievement
Theme 1: Goal Setting & Achievement
Many users find it hard to achieve large, vague goals without clear milestones.
Many users find it hard to achieve large, vague goals without clear milestones.
Goals with no measurable outcomes can feel abstract and harder to track progress.
Goals with no measurable outcomes can feel abstract and harder to track progress.
Participants appreciate a system that suggests actionable steps and deadlines.
Participants appreciate a system that suggests actionable steps and deadlines.
Theme 2: Accountability & Motivation
Theme 2: Accountability & Motivation
Participants express higher motivation when someone else is tracking their progress.
Participants express higher motivation when someone else is tracking their progress.
Users are motivated by seeing friends' and colleagues' progress, and by getting support.
Users are motivated by seeing friends' and colleagues' progress, and by getting support.
Gentle reminders about upcoming tasks and deadlines help keep users focused.
Gentle reminders about upcoming tasks and deadlines help keep users focused.
Theme 3: Work-Life Balance Challenges
Theme 3: Work-Life Balance Challenges
Many remote workers report difficulty in creating a separation between work tasks and
personal time.
Many remote workers report difficulty in creating a separation between work tasks and
personal time.
Participants highlight the mental and physical fatigue caused by lack of structure in
remote work.
Participants highlight the mental and physical fatigue caused by lack of structure in
remote work.
Many remote workers express difficulty in dedicating time to personal goals alongside professional responsibilities.
Many remote workers express difficulty in dedicating time to personal goals alongside professional responsibilities.
Low-Fidelity Prototype
Low-Fidelity Prototype
3 Key Features
3 Key Features
Goal Setting
We refined goal-setting by breaking down large, vague goals into clear, actionable milestones, making progress easier
to track.
Our prototype introduced AI-powered suggestions to help users set measurable outcomes and deadlines for better goal management.
Goal Setting
We refined goal-setting by breaking down large, vague goals into clear, actionable milestones, making progress easier
to track.
Our prototype introduced AI-powered suggestions to help users set measurable outcomes and deadlines for better goal management.
Goal Setting
We refined goal-setting by breaking down large, vague goals into clear, actionable milestones, making progress easier
to track.
Our prototype introduced AI-powered suggestions to help users set measurable outcomes and deadlines for better goal management.
Accountability
We added an accountability partner feature to keep users motivated by allowing them to track progress alongside a friend
or colleague.
Our Check-in feature lets users set how often they update their accountability partner, ensuring steady motivation and progress.
Accountability
We added an accountability partner feature to keep users motivated by allowing them to track progress alongside a friend
or colleague.
Our Check-in feature lets users set how often they update their accountability partner, ensuring steady motivation and progress.
Accountability
We added an accountability partner feature to keep users motivated by allowing them to track progress alongside a friend
or colleague.
Our Check-in feature lets users set how often they update their accountability partner, ensuring steady motivation and progress.
PLACEHOLDER
We added a progress-tracking feature to give users a clear view of their achievements, making goals feel more tangible.
Our scheduling feature helps users integrate goals into their daily routine, providing structure and reducing mental fatigue.
PLACEHOLDER
We added a progress-tracking feature to give users a clear view of their achievements, making goals feel more tangible.
Our scheduling feature helps users integrate goals into their daily routine, providing structure and reducing mental fatigue.
PLACEHOLDER
We added a progress-tracking feature to give users a clear view of their achievements, making goals feel more tangible.
Our scheduling feature helps users integrate goals into their daily routine, providing structure and reducing mental fatigue.
Set a Goal
Set a Goal
Write a goal, and AI will refine it into a clear, actionable plan. Customize the goal’s frequency to fit your schedule, whether it’s daily, weekly, or custom. Track progress step by step and stay on course with structured, achievable milestones.
Write a goal, and AI will refine it into a clear, actionable plan. Customize the goal’s frequency to fit your schedule, whether it’s daily, weekly, or custom. Track progress step by step and stay on course with structured, achievable milestones.
Join a Team Goal
Join a Team Goal
Receive an invite from a friend to join a team goal and work toward it together. Track progress as a group, stay motivated with shared milestones, and support each other along the way. As you achieve key steps, celebrate wins in the social feed with your friends.
Assign an Accountability Partner
Select one or more accountability partners when setting a goal to keep you motivated. Choose how often you’ll check in with them and stay on track together. Add the goal to an external calendar for easy scheduling, and invite teammates to join for extra support.
