Experience Designer
Experience Designer
Role
Role
2024
2024
Year
Year
The ADHD smart organizer
The ADHD smart organizer
Helping teenagers and young adults with ADHD organize their lives in a functional yet healthy and sustainable way.
Helping teenagers and young adults with ADHD organize their lives in a functional yet healthy and sustainable way.
MY CONTRIBUTION
MY CONTRIBUTION
Generated product requirements from an identified opportunity
Generated product requirements from an identified opportunity
Planned and conducted the user research in order to generate user insights that turned into business opportunities.
Planned and conducted the user research in order to generate user insights that turned into business opportunities.
Designed and prototyped the digital solution
Designed and prototyped the digital solution
Led visual design by turning the product requirements into fully functional digital solutions and creating a visual language that reflected the product´s personality.
Led visual design by turning the product requirements into fully functional digital solutions and creating a visual language that reflected the product´s personality.
Communicated product value
Communicated product value
Created a presentation that communicated the product´s value and the followed process to faculty members.
Created a presentation that communicated the product´s value and the followed process to faculty members.
USER PROBLEM
USER PROBLEM
People with ADHD have difficulty meeting responsibilities on time.
People with ADHD have difficulty meeting responsibilities on time.
While helping my brother organize his studies, I´ve noticed that people with ADHD struggle to organize their lives, which often leads to them not being able to meet responsibilities on time. This made me wonder, what could be done to make young people with ADHD live functional and autonomous lives?
My research began with the exploration of scientific papers on the subjects of the impact ADHD has on organization. It was during this deep-dive that I was able to identify the main challenges that young people with the condition face when trying to complete tasks:
While helping my brother organize his studies, I´ve noticed that people with ADHD struggle to organize their lives, which often leads to them not being able to meet responsibilities on time. This made me wonder, what could be done to make young people with ADHD live functional and autonomous lives?
My research began with the exploration of scientific papers on the subjects of the impact ADHD has on organization. It was during this deep-dive that I was able to identify the main challenges that young people with the condition face when trying to complete tasks:
Impulsivity
Impulsivity
They jump from one activity to other without finishing them.
They jump from one activity to other without finishing them.
Difficulty regulating attention
Difficulty regulating attention
Big fluctuations between states of extreme focus and an inability to concentrate.
Big fluctuations between states of extreme focus and an inability to concentrate.
Difficulty stablishing priorities
Difficulty stablishing priorities
Choose to start tasks that they enjoy, leaving other more necessary tasks unattended.
Choose to start tasks that they enjoy, leaving other more necessary tasks unattended.
Unrealistic notion of time
Unrealistic notion of time
Creation of unrealistic plans.
Creation of unrealistic plans.
CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM
CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM
Driven by dopamine and energy fluctuations and weighted-down by low self-esteem.
Driven by dopamine and energy fluctuations and weighted-down by low self-esteem.
After interviewing 8 young people to gather data on the why behind those challenges, I identified three key areas of interest:
After interviewing 8 young people to gather data on the why behind those challenges, I identified three key areas of interest:
Dopamine as a driver
Dopamine as a driver
People with ADHD do not function through willpower; rather, the level of motivation (dopamine rush) that an activity generates is what drives them to do it.
People with ADHD do not function through willpower; rather, the level of motivation (dopamine rush) that an activity generates is what drives them to do it.
“The less whatever I´m doing interests me, the more distracted I get.”
“The less whatever I´m doing interests me, the more distracted I get.”
Constant energy fluctuations
Constant energy fluctuations
As changes in physical and emotional energy are constant and difficult to regulate, these fluctuations dictate the activities they do at all times.
As changes in physical and emotional energy are constant and difficult to regulate, these fluctuations dictate the activities they do at all times.
“I´m often overwhelmed by my emotions and, when this happens, I´m unable to do anything until it passes.”
“I´m often overwhelmed by my emotions and, when this happens, I´m unable to do anything until it passes.”
Vicious circle of guilt and low self-esteem
Vicious circle of guilt and low self-esteem
They feel guilty and out of control of their lives because they don´t meet conventional productivity standards. This ends up negatively affecting their self-esteem.
They feel guilty and out of control of their lives because they don´t meet conventional productivity standards. This ends up negatively affecting their self-esteem.
“I know I won't meet the strict deadline I've set for myself, but that's my problem. I have to push myself.”
“I know I won't meet the strict deadline I've set for myself, but that's my problem. I have to push myself.”
COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS & GAP
COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS & GAP
The competition is rigid and overwhelming.
The competition is rigid and overwhelming.
After analyzing the 4 most popular organization apps, I found that only one of them was designed keeping ADHD in mind and that even that one didn´t fully meet the needs of the target. It was still focused on rigid routines that didn´t allow tasks to be easily reorganized if unforeseen circumstances arose, approached productivity from the perspective of discipline and obligation and neglected the emotional experience of the user.
After analyzing the 4 most popular organization apps, I found that only one of them was designed keeping ADHD in mind and that even that one didn´t fully meet the needs of the target. It was still focused on rigid routines that didn´t allow tasks to be easily reorganized if unforeseen circumstances arose, approached productivity from the perspective of discipline and obligation and neglected the emotional experience of the user.
Tiimo
Tiimo
Structured
Structured
Todoist
Todoist
TickTick
TickTick
SOLUTION
SOLUTION
Adapt the plan to the user instead of forcing the user to the plan.
Adapt the plan to the user instead of forcing the user to the plan.
Leverage intrinsic motivation to complete tasks and adapt the plan to unforeseen circumstances while fostering self-confidence.
Leverage intrinsic motivation to complete tasks and adapt the plan to unforeseen circumstances while fostering self-confidence.
Positive and friendly narrative
Positive and friendly narrative
Positive (but also realistic) reinforcement that motivates action and repeated use, boosting self-esteem.
Positive (but also realistic) reinforcement that motivates action and repeated use, boosting self-esteem.
Automatic planning
Automatic planning
Flexible automatic planning that adapts the plan to how the user feels and automatically reorganizes it when changes arise.
Flexible automatic planning that adapts the plan to how the user feels and automatically reorganizes it when changes arise.
Automatic energy detection
Automatic energy detection
Energy can be automatically detected using a smartwatch, streamlining the process of updating the energy status.
Energy can be automatically detected using a smartwatch, streamlining the process of updating the energy status.
Energy-based organization
Energy-based organization
Set energy levels to adjust the daily activities and tasks to the users state.
Set energy levels to adjust the daily activities and tasks to the users state.
Activity classification
Activity classification
Activities can be classified in different flexibility and energy consumption levels to adjust to the day.
Activities can be classified in different flexibility and energy consumption levels to adjust to the day.
Energy tied to activity
Energy tied to activity
Detail of how each activity affects the daily energy is shown in order to do a mindful planning.
Detail of how each activity affects the daily energy is shown in order to do a mindful planning.
NEXT STEPS
NEXT STEPS
Run validation tests and gather metrics.
Run validation tests and gather metrics.
Value proposition & functionalities
Value proposition & functionalities
Analyze the level in which the value proposition resonates with users and if that intended value is delivered with the proposed functionalities.
Analyze the level in which the value proposition resonates with users and if that intended value is delivered with the proposed functionalities.
Functionality improvement
Functionality improvement
Identify improvements applicable to the current functionalities of the product.
Identify improvements applicable to the current functionalities of the product.
Usability & navigation
Usability & navigation
Evaluate the overall usability of the product, as well as the location of elements within the navigation.
Evaluate the overall usability of the product, as well as the location of elements within the navigation.
Extra features
Extra features
Identify other features not covered that add value for the target user in order to create a growth roadmap.
Identify other features not covered that add value for the target user in order to create a growth roadmap.
Stickyness is key.
Stickyness is key.
Giving the nature of the users, a key point to reinforce in the future would be the stickyness. It would be vital to foster adherence to the product, identifying and mitigating the main pain points that make users drop the solution.
Giving the nature of the users, a key point to reinforce in the future would be the stickyness. It would be vital to foster adherence to the product, identifying and mitigating the main pain points that make users drop the solution.