The Research

Goals

• Understand how ADHD impacts productivity

• Uncover pain points and motivations of users with ADHD

• Learn best practices for task management, designing for the ADHD brain

Competitive Analysis

Contenders in the time and task management space include Forest, Evernote, Remember the Milk, and Focus Keeper. Evernote and Remember the Milk provide ways to manage your to-do list, while apps like Forest and Focus Keeper use timers and “rewards” to get the task done. None of these explicitly mention being tools for ADHD, but were recommended by the ADHD community on Reddit.

User Quotes with Popular Mentions

“EVERNOTE: Hands-down the number 1 most important app ever. Get it. Learn it. Love it. Seriously. I have no idea how I kept my life organized before I discovered Evernote.”

“YES I love Forest! It's one of my fav apps for managing ADHD symptoms. I've been using it all day for studying!”

Understanding the ADHD Brain - Secondary Research

We’re not talking about your average time management app here. This time management app has to speak to users with a specific medical condition that effects one’s very own concept of time itself! So let’s get our facts straight from the experts.

One key element that sets the ADHD brain apart from the neurotypical brain - dopamine.

ADHD is associated with abnormally low levels of dopamine, a neurotransmitter responsible for our mood and the reward system in our brains that drives motivation.

Here’s how dopamine deficiency affects productivity:

Understanding the ADHD Brain - 1:1 Interviews

Goals:

• Understand how individuals with ADHD approach their daily tasks

• Uncover time management pain points

(3 males and 3 females, ages 18-40 were interviewed via Zoom)

Findings

• Tasks with no deadlines are the most challenging as it requires self-focus and no immediate reward (“Not Now” vs “Now”)

• In addition to phone usage, participants expressed being distracted by people chatting with them and their own internal thoughts

• Anxiety is prevalent in most participants, as a reason to either complete task or avoid task

• Planning out goals and breaking them down into smaller tasks is a successful method for 4/6 participants

• Biggest motivation to get tasks done: Positive reinforcement & high reward

• Common time management resources used: sticky notes, Google Calendar, pen & paper checklist, reminders on phone

Persona

Storyboarding Daniel’s Day

Ideation

Features

Based on the research, the following features were narrowed down for Folkus’ mvp:

o   Checklist to record and keep track of daily tasks

• Since most interview participants use sticky notes or an old fashioned pen and paper checklist, a simple checklist is the easiest transition to digital as users get comfortable with Folkus

• Each time users cross something off their list, they receive a jolt of dopamine and motivation to continue, entering a steady work flow

• Selecting task size when adding task helps users prioritize tasks for the day

o   Subtask drawer with timer option to work in blocked times

• Breaking projects down into smaller tasks is a successful method for 4/6 interview participants and a proven method for productivity

• More tasks to check off = more rewarding moments

• Timer provides users with a time-frame and deadline, useful for tasks that otherwise require self-focus, creating sense of urgency (increase in adrenaline, increase in dopamine)

o   Space for thoughts

• Interview participants reported their own internal thoughts as a major source of distraction and anxiety

• Writing thoughts down as they come about allows ADHD users to clear their mind and focus better

• Writing thoughts down removes personal attachment to the thought. They can get it out of their head and onto their device so they can move on and get back to work

• Allows ADHD user to slow down and process their thoughts and emotions, avoiding feelings of overwhelm

Wireframes

Wireframes were created with multiple versions of a feature, and then presented to potential users with ADHD for feedback.

Sign Up/Log In

To-Do List

UI Design - Designing for ADHD

I delved into more research to understand best practices for inclusive design for our ADHD users.

In her paper, “Designing for ADHD: in search of guidelines,” Lorna Knight advises the following tips:

1. Provide a ‘calm’ environment, neat and uncluttered, with soothing colors.

2. Provide a high-reinforcement environment – reward good behavior and completion of all tasks that are asked, using positive language

3. Distinguish important information by putting it in bold or color. Signpost sections and group related information into panels

4. Use large print and a clear sans-serif font such as Arial

5. Avoid having dynamic or moving images on the site

6. Minimize surprises

Selecting Colors

Colors were chosen for the psychological effects they have on productivity and mental stimulation, to help guide our ADHD friends who can be particularly sensitive to colors.

Blue: Stimulates the mind while also providing calming effects

Yellow/Orange: Boosts energy, creativity, and memory function. Used more sparingly as not to overstimulate

Green: Relaxing, calming, will not cause eye fatigue

The Logo

First iterations of the logo played on the idea of a calming workplace that incorporates greenery with plants, but it didn’t feel fitting, unique, or bold enough.

The wordmark was created to keep it simple, broken into two lines to enhance the play on words, while making it more readable for users.