my
adhd
project
1

Case Study & App

tools

Figma

Keynote

Adobe Dimension

Illustrator

Photoshop

InDesign

YouTube

Typeform

Problem Assessment

Ideation

Sketching

Competitive Research

Wireframing

Prototyping

User Testing

Icon Design

UI Design

Motion Design

UX Copy

Branding

skills

My Design Process

01

empathize

big idea

An app to provide resources, encouragement, and support for women & queer adults with ADHD.

details

I was personally diagnosed with ADHD in my late 20's, and once I got that diagnosis so many things from my past made sense. I was also left with a million questions and not sure where to turn for information and community.Two years ago, I learned about a program and app called Noom, which utilizes Psychology and Behavioral Science to guide users in learning what is behind the decisions that affect their health. It has proven great results for many users, including myself. With these two things in mind, I set out to create an app to help adults  with ADHD navigate their condition in a supportive, confidential, and personalized environment.

02

define

Many adults with ADHD have trouble finding support within their personal and professional lives. Most of the research on ADHD focuses on children, specifically boys, and it can be difficult for adults, especially women and queer people to find information, resources, or support relevant to their ADHD symptoms.

Problem

myADHD is a contemporary tool which provides a safe space for adults with ADHD to learn about their condition, build confidence, and employ coping strategies for ADHD symptoms.

Solution

Provide resources, encouragement, and support for women and queer people with ADHD.

Empower users to learn about their ADHD diagnosis and/or symptoms, and feel validated and supported.

Teach users coping mechanisms to be more successful at work, home, and in personal relationships.

Goals

03

discover

research

Survey

83 Respondents
Based on feedback from this cohort, the primary functions of the app will be focused on teaching users about aspects of their ADHD, as well as helping with forgetfulness, focus, finishing projects, and organization. Finally, since sleep and recovery are so important for mental health, there will be a rest component as well.

Key Findings

Demographics

71%

were between the ages of 21-40

80%

identified as female, the next largest group was 15.7% non-binary individuals


Focused Findings

41%

found out they had ADHD within the past year, followed by 20.5% at 2-3 years since diagnosis

71%

have never used an app to help with any of their ADHD symptoms
Analysis: People with more recent diagnoses tend to be looking more actively for educational materials and coping mechanisms. Also, it was surprising that 71% had never used an app because the largest responder age groups were very tech savvy. To me, this reiterates the need for more apps focused specifically on ADHD.

competitors

There are an abundant amount of self-improvement and physical health-focused apps on the market today. Surprisingly, there are way less mental health, and even less ADHD-specific apps. 

inflow

inflow is an app, created by a trained Psychologist. The app facilitates a Daily Focus and provides guided sessions to learn about different aspects of ADHD. Users are prompted to set up a profile and engage with a community of others with ADHD.

pros

Psychologists and Coaches teach patients about different aspects of ADHD and help with coping strategies. They can be difficult to access, and are typically seen through a rigid schedule. They can also be expensive and difficult to cover with insurance.

noom

Noom is more of an inspiration than a competitor. It is an impressive, overall health and weight-loss app based in Psychology and Behavioral Science. The way it functions with approachable, easy-to-understand daily lessons and goals makes it wildly successful for many people. 

personas

bio
Shai is a motivated freelance writer who really enjoys their work. Working alone can be a little isolating and they sometimes forget to schedule in time to socialize and/or relax. 
  • age
  • occupation
  • location
  • tech savvy
  • identifies as
  • 24
  • Freelancer
  • San Francisco, CA
  • Yes
  • Queer Non-Binary Person
adhd management
Shai has been diagnosed with ADHD for 2 and a half years. They haven’t yet tried to utilize an app to help with their ADHD symptoms, but are open to the idea. They have found that keeping physical things on their desk to remind them of tasks is useful. They have also gained some ability to focus as well as built self esteem from meditation and exercise, specifically martial arts. 
goals
  • Finishing projects
  • Better able to focus
  • Better able to organize
motivations
  • Loves the feeling of successfully completing small tasks 
  • Completing work so they can exercise 
Frustrations
  • Difficulty focusing on tasks 
  • Struggles with low self esteem 
  • Can get depressed if feeling unsuccessful 
Personality
  • Reserved/shy 
  • Motivated
  • Kind
bio
Alex loves to move around and be part of the scene. He sometimes struggles to hold down a long-term job or stay in one place. He’s hoping treating his ADHD will allow him to settle into a location and occupation that he really loves. 
  • age
  • occupation
  • location
  • tech savvy
  • identifies as
  • 32
  • Barista
  • Minneapolis, MN
  • Somewhat
  • Trans Straight Man
adhd management
Alex just found out he has ADHD within the past year. He is currently working with his doctor to find the right medication balance. Now that he is diagnosed, he knows he has experienced symptoms of ADHD since childhood. He is highly motivated to find solutions that work. 
goals
  • Finding ability to create and stay focused on long-term goals 
  • Better able to regulate emotions 
  • Better able to stay on task 
motivations
  • Highly motivated when results are immediate 
  • Enjoys risk-taking 
Frustrations
  • Aggression/Mood swings 
  • Boredom 
  • Struggles to complete mundane tasks like grocery shopping or cleaning 
Personality
  • Life of the party 
  • A little flighty 
  • Loves to travel and meet new people 
bio
Jasmine is a life-long athlete, and lives her life based on the values she has learned through athletics. She works hard, cherishes her free time, and loves her family and friends fiercely.
  • age
  • occupation
  • location
  • tech savvy
  • identifies as
  • 41
  • Financial Advisor
  • Atlanta, GA
  • Highly
  • Lesbian Cis Woman
adhd management
Jasmine has been diagnosed with ADHD for over 10 years. She currently uses several strategies to manage her ADHD symptoms, including many different apps. She uses a calendar app with alarms, medication reminders, meditation apps, and podcasts with bedtime stories. Her perfect app would combine these things as well as help her be better at organizing and finishing projects.
goals
  • Better able to organize
  • Finishing projects
  • Getting enough sleep
motivations
  • Likes fast results
  • Positive reinforcement
  • Kind feedback
  • Feeling in-control
Frustrations
  • Spinning the wheels
  • Not being in control
Personality
  • Self-assured
  • Outgoing
  • Personable

A Diverse Audience

Creating Understanding

Because myADHD is targeted to women and queer people, it was important to create multiple personas to show what a diverse target audience looks like and understand their needs. The experience of ADHD is different for every person so it was also important to understand multiple perspectives in that regard.

04

ideate

storyboard

Task Flow

Alex has recently been diagnosed with ADHD and wants to see if his anger is a symptom. If so, he'd like to learn coping mechanisms.

sketches

proof of concept

Learn 1/6

Click Learn on the Home Screen

Learn 2/6

Click Common Symptoms

Learn 3/6

Select "Anger" from the list

Learn 4/6

Read article

Learn 5/6

Click Diary

Learn 6/6

Complete diary entry, hit Submit

05

test

Testing & Feedback

A handful of previous survey takers agreed to test the lo-fi proof of concept and provided feedback for the next round of design.

too small

Difficult to navigate

  • Everything is a bit too tight
  • Text is too small, hard to read
  • Letters on screen 3 are too small and close together to click for navigation

un-
clear

Difficult to understand

  • The meanings behind the sections  on the first page aren’t clear, how does motivate differ from focus?
  • What do they mean in terms of ADHD?
  • May not be clear to someone who is newer to an ADHD diagnosis
  • Need a “success” page or some kind of acknowledgement after entry

dated ui

Styling feels a little old

  • The colors and design feel a little outdated
  • Some white space, curved edges, and a color refresh will help create a more modern feel

updated flow

further design

After the class was over, I pushed this design even further in order to enter it into Academy of Art University's Spring Show. This updated design more closely reflected the inspiration from the Noom app with a more interactive lesson and simpler flow. The app was accepted as a finalist for the show.

Jump to Live Prototype

06

design

brand & visuals

character design

I had a little fun and created my first character fully in Figma, lovingly called Dot, to be the face of the app. Dot should make people feel at ease and bring about some smiles and giggles. I created the character and animations, and then built Dot in 3d.

more task flows

Task Flow 2
Onboarding

Jasmine is using the app for the first time and going through the introductory walkthrough.

Task Flow 3
Rest Routine

Shai needs to set up their rest routine to ensure they get enough rest throughout the day and at night. The rest portion of the app is in a dark/night mode to encourage calm.

live prototype

myADHD - Figma Live Prototype

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discover
ideate
test
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