Equilibrium

A scheduling app to help UofT students maintain a healthy work-life balance

Equilibrium

A scheduling app to help UofT students maintain a healthy work-life balance

Equilibrium

A scheduling app to help UofT students maintain a healthy work-life balance

Equilibrium

A scheduling app to help UofT students maintain a healthy work-life balance

My Role

Equilibrium: An app for work-life balance

My team and I were tasked with designing an app to solve a problem that matters to UofT students. Based on our research, the struggle to maintain a healthy work-life balance emerged as our project focus.

Duration

September - December 2021

Duration

Team

Team

September - December 2021

Four Fellow UX Designers

Four fellow UX Designers

My team and I were tasked with designing an app to solve a problem that matters to UofT students. Based on our research, the struggle to maintain a healthy work-life balance emerged as our project focus. My role included taking the lead on the UI design, conducting surveys and interviews, and creating journey maps, storyboards and personas.

Duration

September - December 2021

Team

Four fellow UX Designers

Overview

The Problem

69% of University of Toronto Students report that they experience overwhelming anxiety. For many, this is a direct result of their struggle to maintain a healthy work-life balance.

The Solution

A time management tool to help students get a healthy amount of sleep, exercise, relaxation, and social time.

The Problem

69% of University of Toronto Students report that they experience overwhelming anxiety. For many, this is a direct result of their struggle to maintain a healthy work-life balance.

The Solution

A time management tool to help students get a healthy amount of sleep, exercise, relaxation, and social time.

Overview

The Problem

69% of University of Toronto Students report that they experience overwhelming anxiety. For many, this is a direct result of their struggle to maintain a healthy work-life balance.

The Solution

A time management tool to help students get a healthy amount of sleep, exercise, relaxation, and social time.

The Problem

69% of University of Toronto Students report that they experience overwhelming anxiety. For many, this is a direct result of their struggle to maintain a healthy work-life balance.

The Solution

A time management tool to help students get a healthy amount of sleep, exercise, relaxation, and social time.

Overview

The Problem

69% of University of Toronto Students report that they experience overwhelming anxiety. For many, this is a direct result of their struggle to maintain a healthy work-life balance.

The Solution

A time management tool to help students get a healthy amount of sleep, exercise, relaxation, and social time.

The Problem

69% of University of Toronto Students report that they experience overwhelming anxiety. For many, this is a direct result of their struggle to maintain a healthy work-life balance.

The Solution

A time management tool to help students get a healthy amount of sleep, exercise, relaxation, and social time.

The Outcome

The "Equilibrium" app, which has a flexible auto-generated scheduling feature to help maintain a balanced lifestyle, while also syncing with students' school schedules to improve time management.

The "Equilibrium" app, which has a flexible auto-generated scheduling feature to help maintain a balanced lifestyle, while also syncing with students' school schedules to improve time management.

The "Equilibrium" app, which has a flexible auto-generated scheduling feature to help maintain a balanced lifestyle, while also syncing with students' school schedules to improve time management.

The Outcome

The "Equilibrium" app, which has a flexible auto-generated scheduling feature to help maintain a balanced lifestyle, while also syncing with students' school schedules to improve time management.

The Process

Research

Heuristic Analysis

Web Analytics

Competitor Analysis

Empathize

Personas

Journey Maps

Needs Statements

Ideate

Brainstorming

Idea Prioritization

Prototype

Low-Fidelity

Medium-Fidelity

High-Fidelity

Test

Usability Tests

Surveys

Interviews

Research

Background Research

Our Goal

To set a baseline, our team was trying to determine what the golden work-life balance looked like according to science in North America

To set a baseline, our team was trying to determine what the golden work-life balance looked like according to science in North America

Our Method

We referenced 21 sources, including websites, scholalry journals, academic reports, and news sources.scholarly

We referenced 21 sources, including websites, scholalry journals, academic reports, and news sources.scholarly

The Golden Work-Life Balance

User Research

Our Goal

Based on the golden work-life balance ratio identified from our secondary research, we wanted to see how students were doing comparatively.

Based on the golden work-life balance ratio identified from our secondary research, we wanted to see how students were doing comparatively.

Our Methods

We conducted 40 surveys and 8 interviews with 39 University of Toronto Students in a variety of programs.

We conducted 40 surveys and 8 interviews with 39 University of Toronto Students in a variety of programs.

Our Findings

62%  had insufficient weekly exercise (24/39)

67%  had insufficient weekly relaxation time (26/39)

46%  had difficulty managing their time (18/39)

62%  had insufficient weekly exercise (24/39)

67%  had insufficient weekly relaxation time (26/39)

46%  had difficulty managing their time (18/39)


62% had insufficient weekly exercise (24/39)


67% had insufficient weekly relaxation time (26/39)

 
46% had difficulty managing their time (18/39)

Pain Points

Our surveys and interviews revealed the following pain points:

Heavy Workload

“I always get overwhelmed and usually end up dropping a course every semester” - Participant 4

Procrastination

“Sometimes I would study for an hour [productively] and I get one message and it’s over” - Participant 7

Peer Pressure

“Huge peer pressure! I have group work every class and I don’t want to let them down...I always push through even when I’m tired” - Participant 8

Empathize

003

EMPATHIZE

003

Persona

After creating an empathy map, we developed a persona based on our previous research to better empathize with our target audience. Meet Ursela the Undergrad:Ursula

Journey Map

Using our persona and insights from our research, we created a journey map where we outlined pain points and opportunity areas.

Brainstorm

Brainstorming &
Prioritization

We brainstormed potential solutions, ranking them based on impact and feasibility. We ended up with 4 key features to prototype:

Behavioural Theories

Since motivating users to develop new habits is difficult, we referenced the following behavioural theories as we developed the features above.

Goal-setting theory

Small, concrete, and measurable goals are easier to achieve.

Self-determination theory

People do not like being told what to do and want to control their own actions

Self-efficacy theory

If someone believes they have the skills to succeed, they are more likely to actually suceed.

Fun theory

An enjoyable experience makes people more willing to take action

Prototype

Low-fidelity Prototype

Taking these behavioural theories into consideration, we developed a low-fidelity prototype to test out some of the features that we believed would target our persona Usula's pain points:

Auto-generated scheduler

(Self-determination theory)

  • Syncs with students' school to upload classes and assignment work periods

  • Allots time for exercise, relaxation, and sleep based on recommended levels

  • Flexible and customizable

Gamifacation

(Fun Theory)

  • Users create custom avatars of themselves

  • They can earn coins and badges to redeem for virtual rewards for the avatar (i.e. clothes, badges)

Progress Tracker

(Goal setting theory)

  • Feedback is provided through daily percentage-based progress tracker

  • An optional phone usage tracker is included to aid in procrastination

Encouragement

(Self-efficacy theory)

  • Users will receive encouragement and praise from their virtual avatar for completeing their starting activity

Gamifacation

(Fun Theory)

  • Users create custom avatars of themselves

  • They can earn coins and badges to redeem for virtual rewards for the avatar (i.e. clothes, badges)

Progress Tracker

{Goal setting theory)

  • Feedback is provided through daily percentage-based progress tracker

  • An optional phone usage tracker is included to aid in procrastination

Encouragement

(Self-efficacy theory)

  • Users will receive encouragement and praise from their virtual avatar for completeing their starting activity

Auto-generated scheduler

(Self-determination theory)

  • Syncs with students' school scheduales to upload classes and assignment work periods

  • Alots time for exercise, relaxation, and sleep based on recommended levels

  • Flexible and customizable

Gamification

(Fun Theory)

  • Users create custom avatars of themselves

  • They can earn coins and badges to redeem for virtual rewards for the avatar (i.e. clothes, badges)

Progress Tracker

(Goal setting theory)

  • Feedback is provided through a daily percentage-based progress tracker

  • An optional phone usage tracker is included to aid in procrastination

Encouragement

(Self-efficacy theory)

  • Users will receive encouragement and praise from their virtual avatar for completing their starting activity

Usability Test

To make sure we were on the right track, we asked five representative users to go through the prototype. Based on their feedback, these are the changes we made:

Removed Gamification

Participants did not feel connected to their avatars. In particular, it failed to resonate with the male demographic.

Added Progress Summaries

Participants wanted to see how their performance changed over time.

Added more rewards

Participants wanted instant rewards for finishing small tasks, not just the big ones.

Result

Feature overview + Easy sign in

  • Introduction to feature overview

  • Streamlined sign-in you use your school's log-in information

Work-life balance personalization questions

  • Four brief onboarding questions to get personalized recommendations, based on what matters most to the user

Auto-generate or customize your schedule

  • Easily differentiate between auto-generated tasks and manually inputted tasks

  • The frequency and duration of assignment work periods are based on how much the assignment is worth

  • View class and assignment-specific information by syncing with your school account

Monitor your progress over time

  • Preview your number of completed tasks

  • View your overall task duration time

Result

Feature overview + Easy sign in

  • Introduction to feature overview

  • Streamlined sign-in you use your school's log-in information

Work-life balance personalization questions

  • Four brief onboarding questions to get personalized recommendations, based on what matters most to the user

Auto-generate or customize your schedule

  • Easily differentiate between auto-generated tasks and manually inputted tasks

  • The frequency and duration of assignment work periods are based on how much the assignment is worth

  • View class and assignment-specific information by syncing with your school account

Monitor your progress over time

  • Preview your number of completed tasks

  • View your overall task duration time

Result

Feature Overview
+ Easy sign in

  • Introduction to feature overview

  • Streamlined sign-in you use your school's log-in information

Work-life balance personalization questions

  • Four brief onboarding questions to get personalized recommendations, based on what matters most to the user

Auto-generate or customize your schedule

  • Easily differentiate between auto-generated tasks and manually inputted tasks

  • The frequency and duration of assignment work periods are based on how much the assignment is worth

  • View class and assignment-specific information by syncing with your school account

Monitor your progress over time

  • Preview your number of completed tasks

  • View your overall task duration time

Work-life balance personalization questions

  • Four brief onboarding questions to get personalized recommendations, based on what matters most to the user

Work-life balance personalization questions

  • Four brief onboarding questions to get personalized recommendations, based on what matters most to the user

Get reminders and motivation when you need it most

  • Receive reminder notifications to help you stick to your schedule

  • Adjust or extend deadlines as needed 

  • View motivational quotes to keep the momentum going

Find de-stressor activities based on your mood 

  • View different categories of wellness activities based on your mood

  • Save past activities and receive recommendations based on your viewinghistory

Auto-generate or customize your schedule

  • Easily differentiate between auto-generated tasks and manually inputted tasks

  • The frequency and duration of assignment work periods are based on how much the assignment is worth

  • View class and assignment-specific information by syncing with your school account

Get reminders and motivation when you need it most

  • Receive reminder notifications to help you stick to your schedule

  • Adjust or extend deadlines as needed 

  • View motivational quotes to keep the momentum going

Find de-stressor activities based on your mood 

  • View different categories of wellness activities based on your mood

  • Save past activities and receive recommendations based on your viewinghistory

Auto-generate or customize your schedule

  • Easily differentiate between auto-generated tasks and manually inputted tasks

  • The frequency and duration of assignment work periods are based on how much the assignment is worth

  • View class and assignment-specific information by syncing with your school account

Get reminders and motivation when you need it most

  • Receive reminder notifications to help you stick to your schedule

  • Adjust or extend deadlines as needed 

  • View motivational quotes to keep the momentum going

Find de-stressor activities based on your mood 

  • View different categories of wellness activities based on your mood

  • Save past activities and receive recommendations based on your viewinghistory

Auto-generate or customize your schedule

  • Easily differentiate between auto-generated tasks and manually inputted tasks

  • The frequency and duration of assignment work periods are based on how much the assignment is worth

  • View class and assignment-specific information by syncing with your school account

Monitor your progress over time

  • Preview your number of completed tasks

  • View your overall task duration time

Monitor your progress over time

  • Preview your number of completed tasks

  • View your overall task duration time

Get reminders and motivation when you need it most

  • Receive reminder notifications to help you stick to your schedule

  • Adjust or extend deadlines as needed 

  • View motivational quotes to keep the momentum going

Get reminders and motivation when you need it most

  • Receive reminder notifications to help you stick to your schedule

  • Adjust or extend deadlines as needed 

  • View motivational quotes to keep the momentum going

Find de-stressor activities based on your mood 

  • View different categories of wellness activities based on your mood

  • Save past activities and receive recommendations based on your viewing history

Find de-stressor activities based on your mood 

  • View different categories of wellness activities based on your mood

  • Save past activities and receive recommendations based on your viewing history

Lessons Learned

#1

I can't solve everything, and I shouldn't try to. My team and I identified many pain points and it was tempting - but unattainable - to try to address each one. Scope management was key here.

#2

Distinguishing which pain points are external versus internal is extremely helpful in deciding which areas to address. For example, we didn't focus on peer pressure since it's an internal pressure that is hard to influence.

#3

Through my secondary research, I learned that personalization features are almost always a good idea. The more people customize, the more invested and connected to the app they become. 

#4

Work-life balance is a difficult topic because solving it requires behavioral change. It was an ambitious first project to take on and I would focus on targeting more measurable subjects going forward. 

#3

Through my secondary research, I learnt that personalization features are almost always a good idea. The more people customize, the more invested and connected to the app they become. 

#4

Work-life balance is a difficult topic because solving it requires behavioral change. It was an ambitious first project to take on and I would focus on targeting more measurable subjects going forward. 

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