Afloat
Role: Design Lead, UX Research
2024
Problem Overview
Contrary to popular belief, procrastination is NOT caused by poor time management or a fear of failure. Rather, studies show that procrastination is due to self-regulation failure and a poor ability to manage emotions. Procrastinators recognize the harmful effects of putting tasks off, but can’t overcome the emotional urge of a diversion.
Numbers are particularly high among students, with 80-95% of this group being estimated to engage in procrastination.
Home Screen
Daily Affirmation that encourages the user to combat procrastination
Assignment breakdown loaded from the calendar
Color coded urgency dots that indicate to the user when their assignment is due
App algorithm breaks down the assignment and indicate to the user how much time they should allocate to the assignment each day
Calendar Feature
Pressing on a specific day on the calendar pulls up every assignment that is input on the user’s calendar
When you click on the assignment, it shows the due date and a clickable turn-in-assignment link that the student can use to go straight to their linked learning platform
Color coded urgency dots that indicate to the user when their assignment is due
Timer Feature
Daily Affirmation that encourages the user to combat procrastination
Assignment breakdown loaded from the calendar
Color coded urgency dots that indicate to the user when their assignment is due
App algorithm breaks down the assignment and indicate to the user how much time they should allocate to the assignment each day
Competitive Analysis:
One Sec App
one sec is a screen time and focus app that uses the short cuts feature on an iPhone to try to help you from mindlessly opening and scrolling on social media. When you download the app, you can connect it to multiple different apps, like instagram for example, and when you open instagram you will now get a pop up notification that asks you to take a deep breath and if you still want to use the app.
14k 4.9 star rating. #180 on productivity charts.
Shows you how many attempts you have had to open an app before letting you access
Pros: creating mindfulness, shows you alternative healthy habits
Cons: alternative healthy habits are mainstream so it is creating a disconnect in the user. For example, if someone sees yoga as an alternative habit, they might just skip and go to instagram anyway since it does not resonate
Gratitude journaling
Pros: Gratitude journaling is beneficial for mental health, keeps the focus on positive thinking
Cons: It is not for everybody, and it keeps the user on their phone
Alter: I would add a couple of different journal prompts so people could find something that resonates
Statistics showing how often you open apps
Pros: Keeping users aware of their habits
Cons: Might have a negative affect on their mental health seeing their app usage
Interview Results
Participant 001- Senior at the University of Texas at Dallas
He believes that procrastination is an inherent problem that a lot of people struggle with and is very difficult to solve. He himself does believe that procrastination hinders his work and makes it worse. He proposed a solution of task tracking that broke down homework into sections that helps it look less overwhelming.
Participant 002- Junior at the University of Texas at Dallas
She struggles with ADHD and got medication which affected her procrastination patterns but overall she still struggles with it. She said that she procrastinates less on papers which is interesting because during our focus group in class most of us agreed that we procrastinate more on writing assignments (note that she is not in a creative major which could impact that answer). For her solution she proposed more of a research method than an actual solution. She proposed that we take a survey to see what people use to procrastinate, and then provide them with tools to help.
Participant 003- Junior at the University of Arkansas
She stated that procrastination is not a super prevalent problem in her life, especially when she is passionate about her work. She proposed a solution of an app that teaches you tools on breaking the cycle, which I thought was interesting because most other proposed solutions were just task managers.
Persona Analysis
Future State User Journey
Feature Recommendations
Have the app send out daily affirmative reminders that not only help the user stay on track, but also builds their confidence
It has been discovered that there is a strong correlation between low self-esteem and procrastination. When people feel like they are incapable of completing an assignment, they will put it off until the very last minute. By sending out positive affirmations, the user will be reminded that they are capable of completing their assignments and they will feel seen and heard. This will also build a strong connection between designer and user.
Have a calendar tool in the app
One major thing I discovered through the interview process was that people need organization and structure to complete tasks in a timely manner. Although some people have more self motivation than others, everybody needs organization to help declutter their mind. Therefore, having an in-app calendar will streamline that organization and allow the user to feel organized and motivated all in one app.
Have a productivity timer in the app
In one of my interviews, the participation said that they like to alott time in their day to productivity, and during that time they like to get as much work done as they can. This is a common practice that I have heard many people talk about and I feel is almost essential to productivity apps. It is important to have tools in the app that are familiar and that many people know and love, so I think a timer should be part of the app.
Feature Survey Results
My team sent out a survey to students at the University of Texas at Dallas asking them to rank on a scale of 1-10 the desirability of each feature. We pared down our 10 original features to 4 features that ranked highest in desirability among UTD students. All 4 features made it into the final design.
Feature 01
Introductory questionnaire when you download the app that gets to know your personal pain points with procrastination
Voted 10/10
41.7 %
Voted 9/10
12.5 %
Voted 8/10
25 %
Voted 7/10
12.5 %
Voted 5/10
4.2 %
Voted 4/10
4.2 %
Feature 02
A calendar that is synched with the student’s online learning platform. Ex. a UTD student would have a calendar synched with Blackboard E-learning.
Voted 8/10
8.3 %
Voted 9/10
12.5 %
Voted 6/10
4.2 %
Voted 10/10
70.8 %
Voted 7/10
4.2 %
Feature 03
An assignment breakdown built into the calendar that would tell you how much time to allocate to each assignment daily, and gives updates on due dates.
Voted 5/10
8.3 %
Voted 3/10
8.6 %
Voted 4/10
4.2 %
Voted 7/10
16.7 %
Voted 8/10
25 %
Voted 10/10
25 %
Voted 9/10
12.5 %
Feature 04
Customizable timer that a user can adjust to suit their own study needs/habits.
Voted 8/10
12.5 %
Voted 9/10
12.5 %
Voted 6/10
16.7 %
Voted 3/10
4.2%
Voted 4/10
8.3 %
Voted 5/10
8.3 %
Voted 10/10
29.2 %
Voted 7/10
8.3 %
Initial Wireframes
After creating the initial wireframes, my team set out to do user testing with paper prototypes of the wireframes. Through user testing we had key findings:
move the urgency dots next to the assignment breakdown on the home screen to the left since the user reads from left to right
Instead of listing how many breaks you have on the timer feature, list out the countdown until the next break
On the assignment list in the calendar have there be an easily accessible link to the turn in location on E-learning in order to streamline the process for the user
Branding
##64AFC3
##135C69
#ffffffff
##F6F6F6
##3A93AB
Final Prototype Screens
Success Measures
Ecosystem:
Continuous Partnership Expansion: Track the number of colleges - and learning management systems (LMS) integrated with the app, indicating successful collaborations and market penetration.
Good Market Position: Analyze market share and competitor performance to assess the app's standing within the market, demonstrating its competitive advantage and potential for future success.
High User Engagement: Measure the frequency and depth of user interaction with the app, including the number of sessions per user, time spent on the app, and the variety of features utilized.
Users:
Procrastination Reduction: Measure the app's effectiveness in decreasing procrastination habits among users by tracking changes in their behavior over time. This could involve surveys or self-assessment tools administered periodically to gauge improvements.
Positive User Engagement and Satisfaction: Assess user engagement metrics as well as gather feedback from users through reviews and feedback forms to evaluate their satisfaction with the app's usability, effectiveness, and overall experience.
Academic Performance Improvement: Evaluate the impact of the app on users' academic performance indicators including GPA, assignment completion rates, exam scores, and overall academic success. This could be done through comparative analysis of academic records before and after using the app
Takeaways
The AFLOAT app was designed with the goal of helping college students who struggle with procrastination. Since it is such a prevalent issue within our own community we wanted to create an innovative app that isn't just a timer, but unconsciously teaches users how to better manage their time. Our app uses data taken from the introduction survey to calibrate an experience personalized to the user and their specific struggles with procrastination. With daily updates on what tasks to complete, users will slowly learn how to break down large assignments into smaller chunks. Our app enables users to address procrastination directly from its source and empowers them to cultivate a proactive approach to their academic responsibilities, fostering a mindset of productivity and efficiency.
© 2025 Danielle Khaitas. Creative rights: mine. Enjoyment rights: yours.
Resume