The National Institute of Mental Health has stated that practicing self-care and understanding one’s personal well-being is vital in promoting mental health. Creating consistent habits allow for individual’s to create better routines. Through research, I hope to gain a better understanding of users' daily life, goals, and habits. I seek to empathize with different experiences and find ways to encourage users to maintain their healthy habits and routines.
As a recent graduate, I get the struggles of balancing a hectic schedule filled with academic demands, clubs, and work. It's tough to manage everything without feeling overwhelmed and stressed. I believe taking time for yourself shouldn't be a burden but a crucial part of your routine. That's why I'm keen to learn from other college students about how they navigate this delicate balance and incorporate self-care into their lives.
College students have trouble incorporating self-care between their hectic schedules.
Create an app that allows users to take care of themselves, by utilizing habit tracking and promoting personal well-being.
Talking about mental health and self-care can be a vulnerable topic, not all participants want to share personal information.
In my competitor analysis, I compared ChooMii to AloeBud, a health habit tracker, Shleep for sleep routines, and the widely-used Apple Health. Each platform brings its unique strengths—AloeBud emphasizing health habits, Shleep focusing on sleep, and Apple Health providing an extensive wellness hub.
I've crafted a Venn diagram for ChooMii's project goals, highlighting the overlap between business and user objectives. This visual representation underscores the collaborative space where the success of the business aligns seamlessly with user satisfaction and needs.
To better understand my users, I conducted interviews where I asked about their habits, mental health, and self-care. The questions were designed to reveal insights into their preferences and behaviors, providing a comprehensive understanding of their experiences and expectations for the project.
Conducting these interviews not only allowed me to apply empathy but also provided an opportunity to genuinely listen to my users. I greatly value those users who shared their insights, answered my questions, and engaged in open conversations.
ChooMii's user personas are crafted to represent college students facing schedule challenges, each with unique situations and characteristics. This diverse approach ensures a comprehensive understanding of the varying needs and experiences within the target user group.
User gains motivation to keep up with their hobbies/habits. They track their habits and feel accomplished.
User gains motivation to keep up with their hobbies/habits. They track their habits and feel accomplished.
The sitemap for ChooMii starts with the launch screen followed with navigation. From the dashboard, users would have access to moving around the main parts of the app.
Using FigJam, I created 3 different user flows that are main functions in the user's experience when navigating ChooMii.
I've crafted wireframes for ChooMii at different fidelity levels—low, mid, and high. This approach enables a detailed exploration of design concepts, laying a solid foundation for the project's visual and interactive elements.
Low-Fidelity Wireframes. These frames outline my initial idea for ChooMii. After the launch screen, users would be able to navigate anywhere on the app through the dashboard and lower navigation menu. In addition, users would be able to see the progress they've been making as soon as they open ChooMii.
Mid-Fidelity Wireframes. The dashboard being the focus of ChooMii, I wanted to keep it simple, but easy to understand in terms of navigation to allow users to get anywhere in the app from one page. This is shown in the following screens that dive deeper into self-care practices, narrowing down with each selection.
High-Fidelity Wireframes. I illustrated the primary frames in my low-fidelity prototypes. That being the preference page that tailors the dashboard, as well as the employers profile where users would be able to request a coffee chat.
Users completed a usability test on a ChooMii prototype. I recruited participants who have passed the screening survey and guided through their tasks. These users then answered follow up questions to describe their user experience.
Evaluate the usability of ChooMii to determine pain points, usability issues, and identify areas of improvement to enhance the user experience.
Usability test participants were instructed to complete assigned tasks. These users then answered a series of follow up questions to describe their experience with the product.
After the feedback received from the usability test, I decided to iterate my wireframes to produce a better prototype. In the revision, I've included tutorial screens to guide users through important information, ensuring they read and understand key details. This addition aims to improve the user experience by providing clear instructions and facilitating a better grasp of ChooMii's features.
Additionally, I've improved the font for better accessibility standards. I've also relocated the "new habit" feature to a more prominent and easily visible spot, enhancing the overall user interface.
ChooMii is my first UX Design project, and it's been a tremendous learning experience. Each step in the process has felt like a new avenue for mastery, and I've found a lot of enjoyment in witnessing visible progress. This project has not only fueled my passion for UX design but has also showcased the satisfying evolution of my skills as I navigate this enriching learning curve.
As a Psychology graduate, this project is deeply meaningful to me. I wanted to apply what I've learned in the classroom to create a product that could genuinely help others facing daily frustrations. One crucial lesson from my academic journey is the importance of self-care, it has guided my approach in developing a product that not only addresses user needs but also promotes overall well-being.
Reflecting on this project, especially now that my portfolio is live, there are several aspects I'd like to refine—such as font consistency, accessibility, spacing, the use of shadows, and the overall UI. While I aspire to revisit and make these improvements in the future, it's rewarding to acknowledge the progress I've made so far.