Star Streak
Star Streak
Star Streak is a mobile app concept crafted to help people break habits. Inspired by apps like Snapchat and BeReal, Star Streak utilizes streaks to continuously engage and motivate users to strive for their goal everyday. While we wanted to tackle every bad habit out there, we focused on a health issue that continues to rise: vaping.
Star Streak is a mobile app concept crafted to help people break habits. Inspired by apps like Snapchat and BeReal, Star Streak utilizes streaks to continuously engage and motivate users to strive for their goal everyday. While we wanted to tackle every bad habit out there, we focused on a health issue that continues to rise: vaping.
My Role
My Role
My Role
UX Designer
UX Researcher
UX Designer
UX Researcher
Team
Team
5 Designers
5 Designers
Timeline
Timeline
3 weeks
3 weeks
Tools Used
Tools Used
Figma
Google Drive
Trello
Zoom
Figma
Google Drive
Trello
Zoom
Figma
Google Drive
Trello
Zoom
Problem
Problem
Most people struggle to stay motivated when making or breaking habits. When life gets in the way, many end up going back to their bad habits, which causes them to feel a sense of failure. What tools may we provide individuals who struggle with habit breaking, specifically vaping addictions, to stay on track to achieve their long term goals?
Most people struggle to stay motivated when making or breaking habits. When life gets in the way, many end up going back to their bad habits, which causes them to feel a sense of failure. What tools may we provide individuals who struggle with habit breaking, specifically vaping addictions, to stay on track to achieve their long term goals?
Outcome
Outcome
To offer those who struggle with habit breaking, specifically vaping addictions, a fun and nonjudgmental tool to consistently keep users motivated and achieving their goals.
To offer those who struggle with habit breaking, specifically vaping addictions, a fun and nonjudgmental tool to consistently keep users motivated and achieving their goals.
Research
Research
Research
Getting to know our target user
Getting to know our target user
We conducted 2 rounds of interviews to kick off our research. In our first round, we sought to understand users' methods and thought processes for changing habits, the challenges they face, and their sources of motivation.
We conducted 2 rounds of interviews to kick off our research. In our first round, we sought to understand users' methods and thought processes for changing habits, the challenges they face, and their sources of motivation.
Findings
Findings
001
001
Users didn't know how to measure success of their goal
Users didn't know how to measure success of their goal
002
002
Users easily lost the motivation to open a productivity app after missing a day or two
Users easily lost the motivation to open a productivity app after missing a day or two
003
003
Accountability made users feel more obligated to complete goals
Accountability made users feel more obligated to complete goals
004
004
Rewards for even small achievements meant a lot to users
Rewards for even small achievements meant a lot to users
These findings framed what we might include in our tool. This was significant because it laid the foundation for what worked and didn't work for users. It also allowed our team to brainstorm an effective tool around these findings.
However, we realized that our scope was too broad. There were so many habits out there that people could change. We couldn't possible cater our tool to all of them. Therefore, we collaboratively narrowed down to a health issue that is a growing concern in our society: vaping.
We then conducted our second round of interview to identify the hurdles of vaping addiction.
These findings framed what we might include in our tool. This was significant because it laid the foundation for what worked and didn't work for users. It also allowed our team to brainstorm an effective tool around these findings.
However, we realized that our scope was too broad. There were so many habits out there that people could change. We couldn't possible cater our tool to all of them. Therefore, we collaboratively narrowed down to a health issue that is a growing concern in our society: vaping.
We then conducted our second round of interview to identify the hurdles of vaping addiction.
Findings
001
Users didn't know how to measure success of their goal
002
Users easily lost the motivation to open a productivity app after missing a day or two
003
Accountability made users feel more obligated to complete goals
004
Rewards for even small achievements meant a lot to users
I don't want to be judged for my slip ups
I don't want to be judged for my slip ups
I wish I had more guidance and mental health support through the process of quitting vaping
I wish I had more guidance and mental health support through the process of quitting vaping
I quit for a week because somebody challenged me to stop vaping
I quit for a week because somebody challenged me to stop vaping
I can't keep up with long term quitting goals when life gets in the way
I can't keep up with long term quitting goals when life gets in the way
I don't want to be judged for my slip ups
I wish I had more guidance and mental health support through the process of quitting vaping
I quit for a week because somebody challenged me to stop vaping
I can't keep up with long term quitting goals when life gets in the way
Based on our insights, we found that:
Long term motivation was difficult to keep up when constant pressures of life got in the way
No known alternative coping methods than to vape
Vape users didn't feel supported
Desired outside motivation without judgement to challenge their addiction
We were able to gain a better understanding of who our user truly was and what they struggled with. As a way to make sure we all remained on the same page and in constant reminders of our user, we created a persona called Jake.
Based on our insights, we found that:
Long term motivation was difficult to keep up when constant pressures of life got in the way
No known alternative coping methods than to vape
Vape users didn't feel supported
Desired outside motivation without judgement to challenge their addiction
We were able to gain a better understanding of who our user truly was and what they struggled with. As a way to make sure we all remained on the same page and in constant reminders of our user, we created a persona called Jake.
I don't want to be judged for my slip ups
I don't want to be judged for my slip ups
I wish I had more guidance and mental health support through the process of quitting vaping
I wish I had more guidance and mental health support through the process of quitting vaping
I quit for a week because somebody challenged me to stop vaping
I quit for a week because somebody challenged me to stop vaping
I can't keep up with long term quitting goals when life gets in the way
I can't keep up with long term quitting goals when life gets in the way
Jake helped us realize that our tool needed to be mobile since he struggles with consistency and motivation. This new information led us to dive into our competitors to see what they were doing successfully.
Jake helped us realize that our tool needed to be mobile since he struggles with consistency and motivation. This new information led us to dive into our competitors to see what they were doing successfully.
Getting To Know Our Competitors
Getting To Know Our Competitors
Getting To Know Our Competitors
Our team wanted to see what other organizations were doing and how they were successful. Some of our takeaways of ideas other sides were doing well included:
Concept of streaks for accountability and motivation
Idea of creating a game-like user experience
Our team wanted to see what other organizations were doing and how they were successful. Some of our takeaways of ideas other sides were doing well included:
Concept of streaks for accountability and motivation
Idea of creating a game-like user experience
Define & Ideate
Define & Ideate
Define & Ideate
Brainstorm
Brainstorm
Keeping all of our research in mind, we narrowed in on 3 main features we'd like to implement using a feature priority matrix:
A consistent method of tracking progress over time
A reward system for even small achievements
Receiving random messages of encouragement throughout the day
Keeping all of our research in mind, we narrowed in on 3 main features we'd like to implement using a feature priority matrix:
A consistent method of tracking progress over time
A reward system for even small achievements
Receiving random messages of encouragement throughout the day
Keeping all of our research in mind, we narrowed in on 3 main features we'd like to implement using a feature priority matrix:
A consistent method of tracking progress over time
A reward system for even small achievements
Receiving random messages of encouragement throughout the day
Keeping all of our research in mind, we narrowed in on 3 main features we'd like to implement using a feature priority matrix:
A consistent method of tracking progress over time
A reward system for even small achievements
Receiving random messages of encouragement throughout the day
These 3 main features got us thinking: How will this help Jake? So, we created a user journey to help better visualize how our mobile app would help Jake.
These 3 main features got us thinking: How will this help Jake? So, we created a user journey to help better visualize how our mobile app would help Jake.
Jake's Journey
Jake's Journey
User Flow
User Flow
Excited to design Star Streak, our team struggled with how to structure our user flow. There were countless possibilities that we could shape this mobile app to help Jake; however, due to the time constraints, we needed to narrow down what needed to be designed. We anchored our decisions based on Jake's journey with Star Streak to structure our user flow.
Excited to design Star Streak, our team struggled with how to structure our user flow. There were countless possibilities that we could shape this mobile app to help Jake; however, due to the time constraints, we needed to narrow down what needed to be designed. We anchored our decisions based on Jake's journey with Star Streak to structure our user flow.
Design
Design
Design
UI Style Guide/Branding
UI Style Guide/Branding
From the beginning, we wanted to create a mobile app that would be engaging to our users. We landed on a space-themed concept.
Along with another designer, I designed our different button states making sure they fit both our color palette and were color accessible. I gathered graphic patterns and image samples to help inspire our design. Finally, I created the brand logo, which is a shooting star, to represent our mobile app Star Streak.
From the beginning, we wanted to create a mobile app that would be engaging to our users. We landed on a space-themed concept.
Along with another designer, I designed our different button states making sure they fit both our color palette and were color accessible. I gathered graphic patterns and image samples to help inspire our design. Finally, I created the brand logo, which is a shooting star, to represent our mobile app Star Streak.
Onboarding Screens
Onboarding Screens
After multiple testing, I iterated on our onboarding screens based off user feedback. I introduced Nova, your accountability buddy, and added "Call To Action" buttons that would allow users to move forward and back through the screens. Further iterations were made based off our testing to help assist Jake pursue his goal. To look at the full prototype, please see the full design below.
After multiple testing, I iterated on our onboarding screens based off user feedback. I introduced Nova, your accountability buddy, and added "Call To Action" buttons that would allow users to move forward and back through the screens. Further iterations were made based off our testing to help assist Jake pursue his goal. To look at the full prototype, please see the full design below.
Final Thoughts
Final Thoughts
Final Thoughts
I am incredibly grateful to have worked on an app that had game-like features. It was challenging yet fun to discuss and decide with my team the endless possibilities of what Star Streak could be. I also learned a lot about our target users who were going through the hurdle of quitting their vaping addiction.
I am incredibly grateful to have worked on an app that had game-like features. It was challenging yet fun to discuss and decide with my team the endless possibilities of what Star Streak could be. I also learned a lot about our target users who were going through the hurdle of quitting their vaping addiction.
Future Opportunities
Future Opportunities
In the future, I would love to improve Star Streak with the following ideas:
Creating a Habit
Since we centered our research around breaking a habit, I'm curious to research how creating a habit might differ/alter the current design of Star Streak.
Expanding the Star Streak store and the option to buy coins
I would love to expand the store and make Star Streak profitable by giving users the option to buy coins, so that they're able to get that new spaceship and/or powerup.
Dive deeper into gamification
We have only hit the surface of gamification! While having a Star Streak store gives users an incentive to continue pursuing their goal/journey, I question how effective it is to keep users engaged with the app. This is one of the many curiosities that I have. There is much development I would love to explore with Star Streak!
In the future, I would love to improve Star Streak with the following ideas:
Creating a Habit
Since we centered our research around breaking a habit, I'm curious to research how creating a habit might differ/alter the current design of Star Streak.
Expanding the Star Streak store and the option to buy coins
I would love to expand the store and make Star Streak profitable by giving users the option to buy coins, so that they're able to get that new spaceship and/or powerup.
Dive deeper into gamification
We have only hit the surface of gamification! While having a Star Streak store gives users an incentive to continue pursuing their goal/journey, I question how effective it is to keep users engaged with the app. This is one of the many curiosities that I have. There is much development I would love to explore with Star Streak!
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