Type: University Project
Role: Background research, preproduction report, UX/UI design and prototyping
Tools: Adobe InDesign, Figma, ProtoPie
Year of completion: 2022
Role: Background research, preproduction report, UX/UI design and prototyping
Tools: Adobe InDesign, Figma, ProtoPie
Year of completion: 2022
The Challenge
Somnus was my response to an university project that asked us to develop an app for behaviour change. I decided to look at the problem space of nighttime routines, and create an app that would help its users wind down before bed in order to improve their sleep quality.
PReProduction Research
Initially, we were required to work in groups before breaking off to develop our own unique responses to the brief. In groups, we carried out research to define a problem space to focus on. We decided to take a look at sleep health apps.
The first step was conducting a comparative analysis of several competitor apps. This took the form of a diary study where we mapped our usage and thoughts about several competitor apps over a period of several days.
The first step was conducting a comparative analysis of several competitor apps. This took the form of a diary study where we mapped our usage and thoughts about several competitor apps over a period of several days.
After mapping out the features of several apps and pooling our results (pain points, wishes, potential improvements and other observations) together, we then broke apart to develop our individual responses.
My first individual task was to collate the information I'd gathered so far to develop a persona to describe a believable user for my app.
My first individual task was to collate the information I'd gathered so far to develop a persona to describe a believable user for my app.
Once I'd created the persona, the next step was to create a journey map to map out how the persona would run into the problem - what actions they would take, how they would feel, and what they would think at each step, as well as the repercussions the persona would face.
Next, it was time to start working on the solution. I created a simple storyboard to show how I could help my persona with his problem:
And an accompanying moodboard and style tile to figure out an aesthetic direction for my final design. I made use of a lot of purple in my colour palette. I wanted to create a relaxing aesthetic that evoked the night-time, when the app would be used.
I decided to name the style Astral Traveller, and the app Somnus, after the Roman personification of sleep.
FInal solution
Somnus helps its users improve their sleep quality by portioning their day into daily activity groups. Users can then log their activities against these activity groups to see how they are doing each day. When the time comes to start preparing for bed, they can also engage wind-down routines, to help slow down their activities, get them off their devices, and prepare them for a better night's rest.
Somnus Onboarding Process
Daily Activity Logging
Wind-down routines and timer
Final Thoughts
This project helped me to understand how to do background research and create a preproduction report. I also learned a little bit about improving on my designs by using ProtoPie to create prototypes with more complex interactions.
I also learned about using design and patterns of interaction to affect and modify existing behaviours.
I also learned about using design and patterns of interaction to affect and modify existing behaviours.