Experience Design Case Study
Concept
Many professionals have had career success but along the way lost balance in other aspects of their lives. This leads to inner stress as well as stressed relationships. The Balanced Life App will help create a sustainable way to engineer a balance life into their current world experiences and allow them to better appreciate the success they’ve attained.
Approach
This will be done though visually instructed moving meditations augmented by unique high definition visualizations designed to demystify these exercises in way never done before. The practitioner will not only see the movements but be able to see a high fidelity depiction of the internal energy centers and how the breath directs this flow.
Tools
Design Thinking is at the heart of every customer centric solution to a real world problem. That was the approach taken with the Balanced Life App. Quantitative surveys, focus groups, card sorting, paper prototypes, high fidelity prototypes, and functional beta products were the part of the tools used to fuel the creation of a holistic solution to the needs expressed in the research.
The Balanced Life App
Problem Statement: Those searching for a way to relieve stress have difficulty grasping the concepts of meditation and find it difficult to connect visually with what they should be feeling as they complete the exercises. In developing the Balanced Life app, I wanted to explore how might I remove the friction points from adopting meditation as a life long way of achieving inner balance and harmony - but within the boundaries of what working professionals have time for. Download Full Research
Research & Testing
Market Engagement Premise
Professionals that have achieved high career success would like a solution to also maintain their overall quality of life by cultivating an enhanced work-life balance.
X-Y-Z Hypothesis Design
At least 5% (X) of successful U.S. professionals earning above $100K annually and working 50+ hours per week (Y) would use a mobile app that teaches them how to use moving meditations as a way to reduce stress, enhance work performance and promote a healthier work-life balance (Z).
Hypothesis Testing & Findings
Key Insights
Integration with other apps
User interest consistently focused on integration with other apps they use such as the AppleHealth App for consolidated tracking of their wellness, LinkedIn/Facebook for social sharing and encouragement, and their calendar system so that they could integrate the workouts into planned daily schedules.
Progress Tracking
Here, respondents recognized the value of the app but wanted assistance in evaluating and measuring their progress. There were mentions of how the Peloton app tracks and visualizes workout achievements and workout history over the weeks, months, and years.
Long-term Commitment to Wellness
Every respondent discussed how they value their wellness in light of the demands of their careers.There was acute awareness that their work performance and life happiness impact one another in a very symbiotic way. There was a consistent desire of each survey participant to find a solution that would fit their lifestyle in a way where they might derive a sustainable benefit.
Personas
This target audience has had career success but along the way has lost balance in other aspects of their lives. 3 personas were developed: Jackie - The Strategist, Scott - The Scheduler, and Damaris - The Analyzer.
Jackie
The Strategist
Age: 55
Status: Married
Location: Metro
Occupation: Sales Manager
Interest: Reading, Biking, Playing Piano, and Writing
About:
Jackie loves her “me time”. She is fiercely protective of this time so that she can step away from the demands of her job. Because she is continually focused on meeting sales goals and deadlines, her days are filled with meetings and coaching her sales staff. Because she is an introvert, she finds she is drained at the end of the day.
Needs:
Jackie needs a way to restore her energy while unwinding at the same time. She feels going to the gym or lifting weights is too physical for her and wants something that’s low impact.
Frustrations:
Jackie is frustrated by not being able to find a routine that fits her lifestyle. While her self-help books point the way, they offer no real assistance in helping her establish a sustainable habit.
Key Feature Recommendation:
Because Jackie values getting results, she also knows the importance of getting started in a structured way. Her “must have” is a tutorial that not only shows her how to navigate the features in the app but also has a beginner demo. She wants to feel reassured that she can select a progression that gets her started but without overwhelming her.
Scott
The Scheduler
Age: 35
Status: Single
Location: Metro
Occupation: Programmer
Interest: Gaming, Dogs, Cross-fit, and Traveling
About:
Scott loves having a full schedule. Since he’s single he enjoys staying on the go. He’s paid well as a developer, but is finding that it’s becoming harder to create a division between his life and work. He spends more time gaming and less time being active. He also suffered a few cross-fit training injuries and he wonders what other things he could use to unwind and stay fit.
Needs:
Scott needs a way to blow off some steam but without just sitting on his couch and gaming. Ten years ago he started cross-fit but now finds he’s more prone to sprains and other related injuries from the high impact routines.
Frustrations:
Scott is frustrated because he feels there isn’t a balanced solution that allows him to blow off the stress of the day without returning to his cross-fit gym. He doesn’t want that. He’s noticed his stress levels are higher than ever and he’s gaining weight.
Key Feature Recommendation:
Because Scott depends on his calendar and reminders to track his schedule and manage his life, he wants an app that not only has reminders, but syncs with his iCal app and recommends a workout schedule.
Damaris
The Analyzer
Age: 43
Status: Married
Location: Suburbs
Occupation: IT Analyst
Interest: Church, Cooking, Pilates and Reading
About:
Damaris loves spending time with her three kids. She’s the “Go To” analyst at work and is respected by her peers and managers. However, the demands of her family and her job have now placed a strain on her quiet time. She has noticed she becomes easily frustrated at work and home.
Needs:
Damaris needs a way to make the most of the quiet moments she has at the end of the day once the kids are in bed. She loves reading but finds she needs something more. Going to a gym is not an option and she doesn’t have any space at home for exercise equipment.
Frustrations:
Damaris is frustrated because even though she’s a dedicated mom and wife, she can’t find time for self-care. The self-help books are great but she needs a more active way to take words from the page and integrate them into her life.
Key Feature Recommendation:
Because Damaris is an avid reader she wants to make sure that the physical aspects of the app are supported by content she can read in her down time. She believes it is important for her understand the philosophy and physical aspects of why she is doing the exercises in order to fully realize the benefits.
Card Sorting
This first sorting exercise was used to understand the optimal information structure and flow for the 1st time user to get started with a tutorial before taking their first lesson.
This second sorting exercise was used to understand the optimal information structure and flow to plan and sync a workout schedule with iCal and enable reminders.
This third sorting exercise examines the optimal information structure for a user that wants to learn more about the "why and how" behind the teachings contained in the app.
Sample User Flow
It’s Saturday morning and Jackie has just downloaded the Balance Life App. Her friend Damaris has the app and recommended that she begin by taking the first Quick Start lesson.
User Flow: Start first lesson, view info about lesson, complete lesson, view achievement/rewards, and finally view items for purchase.
User Flow: Take 1st Lession
User Flow: Start Quick Start
User Flow: View Information about First Session
User Flow: After workout ,view how to unlock free rewards
User Flow: Next view options for purchase
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