UI / UX Design
Focus App Reducing Social Media Distraction
A hybrid physical-digital focus app that transforms the act of stepping away from your phone into a rewarding, mindful ritual.
Year :
2025
Client :
University Designathon
Project Duration :
48 hours
My Role :
UX/UI Designer & Product Lead
Why This Matters?
Every day, the average Australian spends 6.38 hours on their phone.
That’s roughly a quarter of our waking life — often consumed by endless scrolling.
86.5% of adults have at least one social-media account, yet many admit they struggle to control their usage.
This case study explores how physical interaction can help users reclaim focus and make digital mindfulness effortless.
Overview
In a team of 3 Engineers and 2 Interaction Designers, I was UX/UI Designer and Product Lead, designing a fully-prototyped solution using Figma.
The Challenge
To create a digital solution that makes critical and mindful digital engagement effortless, sustainable, and empowering.
Our Outcome
A hybrid focus system combining a MagSafe-attached NFC wallet and an app. Detaching the wallet automatically starts a focus timer that rewards users with charity-convertible points and social motivation.
My Role & Contributions
I led the UX research synthesis, app information architecture, and interface design.
I also facilitated the engineers’ understanding of the Double-Diamond process, bridging feasibility and design reasoning.
Problem Framing
“I wish I didn’t go on it in the morning but it's hard not to go on…”
“I'm not happy that I use social media so often.”
“Because I use Instagram to connect with others, I end up doom scrolling.”
“When i put my phone somewhere in another room, it makes me more likely to not touch my phone. It’s like not keeping snacks at home… Out of sight, out of mind.”
What do all of these have in common?
Core Insight
People know social media harms focus but still CAN'T STOP using it. They CRAVE a physical trigger and tangible boundaries to change digital behaviour, not just another digital restriction.
So…
How Might We …help users detach from social-media distractions in a way that feels effortless, habitual, and meaningful?
Competitor Insights - Finding the Gap in the Market
Competitor Takeaways
Gamification builds habit, but must connect to real-world value.
Enforcement alone isn’t enough. Autonomy keeps users empowered.
Minimalism supports focus, but needs motivation to stay relevant.
Design Opportunity
Combine Forest’s engagement through leaderboards and rankings, Brick’s "digital detox" physicality, and Flipd’s discipline through blocking specific distracting apps into one hybrid experience — introducing a physical trigger that encourages focus while rewarding meaningful impact through charity points.
Ideation → Concept
Although an engineer proposed an initial “NFC wallet” idea, I reframed it through user needs:
Turning distraction off should feel as satisfying as turning a light on.
We brainstormed hybrid experiences linking physical detachment + digital reward.
Early sketches evolved into a focus ecosystem: NFC-triggered timer → streak → charity points → social motivation.
We visualised this process through a site map for the app design:
I then designed low-fidelity wireframes and iterations using the sitemap as a guide:
Final Solution: Tap Out
A hybrid focus app that turns physical detachment into digital mindfulness.
The final prototype brings together focus tracking, streak motivation, and charitable rewards into one seamless ecosystem.
Below are the key interfaces that illustrate the full experience:
Focus Timer Screen
When the NFC wallet is detached, the Focus Timer activates automatically.
Users see real-time progress of their current session, encouraging uninterrupted attention.
Calm, minimal interface to reduce cognitive load
Focus session must reach 15 minutes to earn a streak and charity points.
Focus Statistics Screen
A data-driven overview showing users how their focus habits on social media evolve over time.
Displays total focus hours, average session length, and consistency
Helps users reflect on progress without introducing guilt
Light visual hierarchy to emphasise calm awareness over competition
Friend Streaks + Leaderboard
Users can connect with friends to maintain focus together (motivation).
Leaderboard ranks friends by streak length, promoting friendly accountability
Concept with further iteration: Weekly resets prevent discouragement and invite new starts
Streak Milestone Screen
Daily focus achievements are celebrated through streak milestones.
Reinforces consistency rather than perfection
Encourages intrinsic motivation via positive feedback
Charity Donation Screen
Points earned from focus sessions can be redeemed for real-world impact.
Converts points directly into charity donations (e.g. $10 to the Heart Foundation)
Connects focus with purpose, turning digital wellbeing into social good
Reinforces long-term engagement by linking personal progress to collective benefit
Settings Screen
A simple settings hub for managing the NFC tag and app preferences.
Option to re-link or replace the physical tag (“Lost your wallet?”) just in case you ever lose your physical wallet (creates design friction)
Compact layout for intuitive navigation
Final Solution: Tap Out
A hybrid focus app that turns physical detachment into digital mindfulness.
The final prototype brings together focus tracking, streak motivation, and charitable rewards into one seamless ecosystem.
Below are the key interfaces that illustrate the full experience:
Focus Timer Screen
When the NFC wallet is detached, the Focus Timer activates automatically.
Users see real-time progress of their current session, encouraging uninterrupted attention.
Calm, minimal interface to reduce cognitive load
Focus session must reach 15 minutes to earn a streak and charity points.
Focus Statistics Screen
A data-driven overview showing users how their focus habits on social media evolve over time.
Displays total focus hours, average session length, and consistency
Helps users reflect on progress without introducing guilt
Light visual hierarchy to emphasise calm awareness over competition
Friend Streaks + Leaderboard
Users can connect with friends to maintain focus together (motivation).
Leaderboard ranks friends by streak length, promoting friendly accountability
Concept with further iteration: Weekly resets prevent discouragement and invite new starts
Streak Milestone Screen
Daily focus achievements are celebrated through streak milestones.
Reinforces consistency rather than perfection
Encourages intrinsic motivation via positive feedback
Charity Donation Screen
Points earned from focus sessions can be redeemed for real-world impact.
Converts points directly into charity donations (e.g. $10 to the Heart Foundation)
Connects focus with purpose, turning digital wellbeing into social good
Reinforces long-term engagement by linking personal progress to collective benefit
Settings Screen
A simple settings hub for managing the NFC tag and app preferences.
Option to re-link or replace the physical tag (“Lost your wallet?”) just in case you ever lose your physical wallet (creates design friction)
Compact layout for intuitive navigation
Final Solution: Tap Out
A hybrid focus app that turns physical detachment into digital mindfulness.
The final prototype brings together focus tracking, streak motivation, and charitable rewards into one seamless ecosystem.
Below are the key interfaces that illustrate the full experience:
Focus Timer Screen
When the NFC wallet is detached, the Focus Timer activates automatically.
Users see real-time progress of their current session, encouraging uninterrupted attention.
Calm, minimal interface to reduce cognitive load
Focus session must reach 15 minutes to earn a streak and charity points.
Focus Statistics Screen
A data-driven overview showing users how their focus habits on social media evolve over time.
Displays total focus hours, average session length, and consistency
Helps users reflect on progress without introducing guilt
Light visual hierarchy to emphasise calm awareness over competition
Friend Streaks + Leaderboard
Users can connect with friends to maintain focus together (motivation).
Leaderboard ranks friends by streak length, promoting friendly accountability
Concept with further iteration: Weekly resets prevent discouragement and invite new starts
Streak Milestone Screen
Daily focus achievements are celebrated through streak milestones.
Reinforces consistency rather than perfection
Encourages intrinsic motivation via positive feedback
Charity Donation Screen
Points earned from focus sessions can be redeemed for real-world impact.
Converts points directly into charity donations (e.g. $10 to the Heart Foundation)
Connects focus with purpose, turning digital wellbeing into social good
Reinforces long-term engagement by linking personal progress to collective benefit
Settings Screen
A simple settings hub for managing the NFC tag and app preferences.
Option to re-link or replace the physical tag (“Lost your wallet?”) just in case you ever lose your physical wallet (creates design friction)
Compact layout for intuitive navigation
What Design Principles Did I Apply?
Calm by Design
—> Soft teal palette and generous white space support mental clarity.
Motivation with Meaning
—> Every minute focused contributes to tangible impact.
Seamless Interaction
—> The physical NFC trigger removes the need for manual activation.
Key Takeaways
Reflection — What I Learned
Working with engineers taught me how to communicate design rationale and advocate for research-backed decisions in a solution-first environment. It deepened my understanding of balancing user needs with technical feasibility.
The judges praised the design’s polish and innovation but noted it leaned toward restriction rather than empowerment — a reminder that effective design fosters agency, not control.
Next Steps — How I’d Improve It
If given more time, I’d conduct user testing to further iterate on our current designs, seeing what and how we can improve on our solution.
I’d also explore lighter hardware formats (like a detachable tag or keychain) and prototype NFC integration on iOS for real-world testing.
Takeaway — What This Means for Me
This project reinforced that designing for digital wellbeing isn’t about blocking technology; it’s about crafting rituals that make presence effortless.
It also showed me that multidisciplinary collaboration is key to bringing meaningful, feasible products to life. It was a really insightful experience to work with non-designers, which I have never done before!
More Projects
UI / UX Design
Focus App Reducing Social Media Distraction
A hybrid physical-digital focus app that transforms the act of stepping away from your phone into a rewarding, mindful ritual.
Year :
2025
Client :
University Designathon
Project Duration :
48 hours
My Role :
UX/UI Designer & Product Lead
Why This Matters?
Every day, the average Australian spends 6.38 hours on their phone.
That’s roughly a quarter of our waking life — often consumed by endless scrolling.
86.5% of adults have at least one social-media account, yet many admit they struggle to control their usage.
This case study explores how physical interaction can help users reclaim focus and make digital mindfulness effortless.
Overview
In a team of 3 Engineers and 2 Interaction Designers, I was UX/UI Designer and Product Lead, designing a fully-prototyped solution using Figma.
The Challenge
To create a digital solution that makes critical and mindful digital engagement effortless, sustainable, and empowering.
Our Outcome
A hybrid focus system combining a MagSafe-attached NFC wallet and an app. Detaching the wallet automatically starts a focus timer that rewards users with charity-convertible points and social motivation.
My Role & Contributions
I led the UX research synthesis, app information architecture, and interface design.
I also facilitated the engineers’ understanding of the Double-Diamond process, bridging feasibility and design reasoning.
Problem Framing
“I wish I didn’t go on it in the morning but it's hard not to go on…”
“I'm not happy that I use social media so often.”
“Because I use Instagram to connect with others, I end up doom scrolling.”
“When i put my phone somewhere in another room, it makes me more likely to not touch my phone. It’s like not keeping snacks at home… Out of sight, out of mind.”
What do all of these have in common?
Core Insight
People know social media harms focus but still CAN'T STOP using it. They CRAVE a physical trigger and tangible boundaries to change digital behaviour, not just another digital restriction.
So…
How Might We …help users detach from social-media distractions in a way that feels effortless, habitual, and meaningful?
Competitor Insights - Finding the Gap in the Market
Competitor Takeaways
Gamification builds habit, but must connect to real-world value.
Enforcement alone isn’t enough. Autonomy keeps users empowered.
Minimalism supports focus, but needs motivation to stay relevant.
Design Opportunity
Combine Forest’s engagement through leaderboards and rankings, Brick’s "digital detox" physicality, and Flipd’s discipline through blocking specific distracting apps into one hybrid experience — introducing a physical trigger that encourages focus while rewarding meaningful impact through charity points.
Ideation → Concept
Although an engineer proposed an initial “NFC wallet” idea, I reframed it through user needs:
Turning distraction off should feel as satisfying as turning a light on.
We brainstormed hybrid experiences linking physical detachment + digital reward.
Early sketches evolved into a focus ecosystem: NFC-triggered timer → streak → charity points → social motivation.
We visualised this process through a site map for the app design:
I then designed low-fidelity wireframes and iterations using the sitemap as a guide:
Final Solution: Tap Out
A hybrid focus app that turns physical detachment into digital mindfulness.
The final prototype brings together focus tracking, streak motivation, and charitable rewards into one seamless ecosystem.
Below are the key interfaces that illustrate the full experience:
Focus Timer Screen
When the NFC wallet is detached, the Focus Timer activates automatically.
Users see real-time progress of their current session, encouraging uninterrupted attention.
Calm, minimal interface to reduce cognitive load
Focus session must reach 15 minutes to earn a streak and charity points.
Focus Statistics Screen
A data-driven overview showing users how their focus habits on social media evolve over time.
Displays total focus hours, average session length, and consistency
Helps users reflect on progress without introducing guilt
Light visual hierarchy to emphasise calm awareness over competition
Friend Streaks + Leaderboard
Users can connect with friends to maintain focus together (motivation).
Leaderboard ranks friends by streak length, promoting friendly accountability
Concept with further iteration: Weekly resets prevent discouragement and invite new starts
Streak Milestone Screen
Daily focus achievements are celebrated through streak milestones.
Reinforces consistency rather than perfection
Encourages intrinsic motivation via positive feedback
Charity Donation Screen
Points earned from focus sessions can be redeemed for real-world impact.
Converts points directly into charity donations (e.g. $10 to the Heart Foundation)
Connects focus with purpose, turning digital wellbeing into social good
Reinforces long-term engagement by linking personal progress to collective benefit
Settings Screen
A simple settings hub for managing the NFC tag and app preferences.
Option to re-link or replace the physical tag (“Lost your wallet?”) just in case you ever lose your physical wallet (creates design friction)
Compact layout for intuitive navigation
Final Solution: Tap Out
A hybrid focus app that turns physical detachment into digital mindfulness.
The final prototype brings together focus tracking, streak motivation, and charitable rewards into one seamless ecosystem.
Below are the key interfaces that illustrate the full experience:
Focus Timer Screen
When the NFC wallet is detached, the Focus Timer activates automatically.
Users see real-time progress of their current session, encouraging uninterrupted attention.
Calm, minimal interface to reduce cognitive load
Focus session must reach 15 minutes to earn a streak and charity points.
Focus Statistics Screen
A data-driven overview showing users how their focus habits on social media evolve over time.
Displays total focus hours, average session length, and consistency
Helps users reflect on progress without introducing guilt
Light visual hierarchy to emphasise calm awareness over competition
Friend Streaks + Leaderboard
Users can connect with friends to maintain focus together (motivation).
Leaderboard ranks friends by streak length, promoting friendly accountability
Concept with further iteration: Weekly resets prevent discouragement and invite new starts
Streak Milestone Screen
Daily focus achievements are celebrated through streak milestones.
Reinforces consistency rather than perfection
Encourages intrinsic motivation via positive feedback
Charity Donation Screen
Points earned from focus sessions can be redeemed for real-world impact.
Converts points directly into charity donations (e.g. $10 to the Heart Foundation)
Connects focus with purpose, turning digital wellbeing into social good
Reinforces long-term engagement by linking personal progress to collective benefit
Settings Screen
A simple settings hub for managing the NFC tag and app preferences.
Option to re-link or replace the physical tag (“Lost your wallet?”) just in case you ever lose your physical wallet (creates design friction)
Compact layout for intuitive navigation
Final Solution: Tap Out
A hybrid focus app that turns physical detachment into digital mindfulness.
The final prototype brings together focus tracking, streak motivation, and charitable rewards into one seamless ecosystem.
Below are the key interfaces that illustrate the full experience:
Focus Timer Screen
When the NFC wallet is detached, the Focus Timer activates automatically.
Users see real-time progress of their current session, encouraging uninterrupted attention.
Calm, minimal interface to reduce cognitive load
Focus session must reach 15 minutes to earn a streak and charity points.
Focus Statistics Screen
A data-driven overview showing users how their focus habits on social media evolve over time.
Displays total focus hours, average session length, and consistency
Helps users reflect on progress without introducing guilt
Light visual hierarchy to emphasise calm awareness over competition
Friend Streaks + Leaderboard
Users can connect with friends to maintain focus together (motivation).
Leaderboard ranks friends by streak length, promoting friendly accountability
Concept with further iteration: Weekly resets prevent discouragement and invite new starts
Streak Milestone Screen
Daily focus achievements are celebrated through streak milestones.
Reinforces consistency rather than perfection
Encourages intrinsic motivation via positive feedback
Charity Donation Screen
Points earned from focus sessions can be redeemed for real-world impact.
Converts points directly into charity donations (e.g. $10 to the Heart Foundation)
Connects focus with purpose, turning digital wellbeing into social good
Reinforces long-term engagement by linking personal progress to collective benefit
Settings Screen
A simple settings hub for managing the NFC tag and app preferences.
Option to re-link or replace the physical tag (“Lost your wallet?”) just in case you ever lose your physical wallet (creates design friction)
Compact layout for intuitive navigation
What Design Principles Did I Apply?
Calm by Design
—> Soft teal palette and generous white space support mental clarity.
Motivation with Meaning
—> Every minute focused contributes to tangible impact.
Seamless Interaction
—> The physical NFC trigger removes the need for manual activation.
Key Takeaways
Reflection — What I Learned
Working with engineers taught me how to communicate design rationale and advocate for research-backed decisions in a solution-first environment. It deepened my understanding of balancing user needs with technical feasibility.
The judges praised the design’s polish and innovation but noted it leaned toward restriction rather than empowerment — a reminder that effective design fosters agency, not control.
Next Steps — How I’d Improve It
If given more time, I’d conduct user testing to further iterate on our current designs, seeing what and how we can improve on our solution.
I’d also explore lighter hardware formats (like a detachable tag or keychain) and prototype NFC integration on iOS for real-world testing.
Takeaway — What This Means for Me
This project reinforced that designing for digital wellbeing isn’t about blocking technology; it’s about crafting rituals that make presence effortless.
It also showed me that multidisciplinary collaboration is key to bringing meaningful, feasible products to life. It was a really insightful experience to work with non-designers, which I have never done before!
More Projects
UI / UX Design
Focus App Reducing Social Media Distraction
A hybrid physical-digital focus app that transforms the act of stepping away from your phone into a rewarding, mindful ritual.
Year :
2025
Client :
University Designathon
Project Duration :
48 hours
My Role :
UX/UI Designer & Product Lead
Why This Matters?
Every day, the average Australian spends 6.38 hours on their phone.
That’s roughly a quarter of our waking life — often consumed by endless scrolling.
86.5% of adults have at least one social-media account, yet many admit they struggle to control their usage.
This case study explores how physical interaction can help users reclaim focus and make digital mindfulness effortless.
Overview
In a team of 3 Engineers and 2 Interaction Designers, I was UX/UI Designer and Product Lead, designing a fully-prototyped solution using Figma.
The Challenge
To create a digital solution that makes critical and mindful digital engagement effortless, sustainable, and empowering.
Our Outcome
A hybrid focus system combining a MagSafe-attached NFC wallet and an app. Detaching the wallet automatically starts a focus timer that rewards users with charity-convertible points and social motivation.
My Role & Contributions
I led the UX research synthesis, app information architecture, and interface design.
I also facilitated the engineers’ understanding of the Double-Diamond process, bridging feasibility and design reasoning.
Problem Framing
“I wish I didn’t go on it in the morning but it's hard not to go on…”
“I'm not happy that I use social media so often.”
“Because I use Instagram to connect with others, I end up doom scrolling.”
“When i put my phone somewhere in another room, it makes me more likely to not touch my phone. It’s like not keeping snacks at home… Out of sight, out of mind.”
What do all of these have in common?
Core Insight
People know social media harms focus but still CAN'T STOP using it. They CRAVE a physical trigger and tangible boundaries to change digital behaviour, not just another digital restriction.
So…
How Might We …help users detach from social-media distractions in a way that feels effortless, habitual, and meaningful?
Competitor Insights - Finding the Gap in the Market
Competitor Takeaways
Gamification builds habit, but must connect to real-world value.
Enforcement alone isn’t enough. Autonomy keeps users empowered.
Minimalism supports focus, but needs motivation to stay relevant.
Design Opportunity
Combine Forest’s engagement through leaderboards and rankings, Brick’s "digital detox" physicality, and Flipd’s discipline through blocking specific distracting apps into one hybrid experience — introducing a physical trigger that encourages focus while rewarding meaningful impact through charity points.
Ideation → Concept
Although an engineer proposed an initial “NFC wallet” idea, I reframed it through user needs:
Turning distraction off should feel as satisfying as turning a light on.
We brainstormed hybrid experiences linking physical detachment + digital reward.
Early sketches evolved into a focus ecosystem: NFC-triggered timer → streak → charity points → social motivation.
We visualised this process through a site map for the app design:
I then designed low-fidelity wireframes and iterations using the sitemap as a guide:
Final Solution: Tap Out
A hybrid focus app that turns physical detachment into digital mindfulness.
The final prototype brings together focus tracking, streak motivation, and charitable rewards into one seamless ecosystem.
Below are the key interfaces that illustrate the full experience:
Focus Timer Screen
When the NFC wallet is detached, the Focus Timer activates automatically.
Users see real-time progress of their current session, encouraging uninterrupted attention.
Calm, minimal interface to reduce cognitive load
Focus session must reach 15 minutes to earn a streak and charity points.
Focus Statistics Screen
A data-driven overview showing users how their focus habits on social media evolve over time.
Displays total focus hours, average session length, and consistency
Helps users reflect on progress without introducing guilt
Light visual hierarchy to emphasise calm awareness over competition
Friend Streaks + Leaderboard
Users can connect with friends to maintain focus together (motivation).
Leaderboard ranks friends by streak length, promoting friendly accountability
Concept with further iteration: Weekly resets prevent discouragement and invite new starts
Streak Milestone Screen
Daily focus achievements are celebrated through streak milestones.
Reinforces consistency rather than perfection
Encourages intrinsic motivation via positive feedback
Charity Donation Screen
Points earned from focus sessions can be redeemed for real-world impact.
Converts points directly into charity donations (e.g. $10 to the Heart Foundation)
Connects focus with purpose, turning digital wellbeing into social good
Reinforces long-term engagement by linking personal progress to collective benefit
Settings Screen
A simple settings hub for managing the NFC tag and app preferences.
Option to re-link or replace the physical tag (“Lost your wallet?”) just in case you ever lose your physical wallet (creates design friction)
Compact layout for intuitive navigation
Final Solution: Tap Out
A hybrid focus app that turns physical detachment into digital mindfulness.
The final prototype brings together focus tracking, streak motivation, and charitable rewards into one seamless ecosystem.
Below are the key interfaces that illustrate the full experience:
Focus Timer Screen
When the NFC wallet is detached, the Focus Timer activates automatically.
Users see real-time progress of their current session, encouraging uninterrupted attention.
Calm, minimal interface to reduce cognitive load
Focus session must reach 15 minutes to earn a streak and charity points.
Focus Statistics Screen
A data-driven overview showing users how their focus habits on social media evolve over time.
Displays total focus hours, average session length, and consistency
Helps users reflect on progress without introducing guilt
Light visual hierarchy to emphasise calm awareness over competition
Friend Streaks + Leaderboard
Users can connect with friends to maintain focus together (motivation).
Leaderboard ranks friends by streak length, promoting friendly accountability
Concept with further iteration: Weekly resets prevent discouragement and invite new starts
Streak Milestone Screen
Daily focus achievements are celebrated through streak milestones.
Reinforces consistency rather than perfection
Encourages intrinsic motivation via positive feedback
Charity Donation Screen
Points earned from focus sessions can be redeemed for real-world impact.
Converts points directly into charity donations (e.g. $10 to the Heart Foundation)
Connects focus with purpose, turning digital wellbeing into social good
Reinforces long-term engagement by linking personal progress to collective benefit
Settings Screen
A simple settings hub for managing the NFC tag and app preferences.
Option to re-link or replace the physical tag (“Lost your wallet?”) just in case you ever lose your physical wallet (creates design friction)
Compact layout for intuitive navigation
Final Solution: Tap Out
A hybrid focus app that turns physical detachment into digital mindfulness.
The final prototype brings together focus tracking, streak motivation, and charitable rewards into one seamless ecosystem.
Below are the key interfaces that illustrate the full experience:
Focus Timer Screen
When the NFC wallet is detached, the Focus Timer activates automatically.
Users see real-time progress of their current session, encouraging uninterrupted attention.
Calm, minimal interface to reduce cognitive load
Focus session must reach 15 minutes to earn a streak and charity points.
Focus Statistics Screen
A data-driven overview showing users how their focus habits on social media evolve over time.
Displays total focus hours, average session length, and consistency
Helps users reflect on progress without introducing guilt
Light visual hierarchy to emphasise calm awareness over competition
Friend Streaks + Leaderboard
Users can connect with friends to maintain focus together (motivation).
Leaderboard ranks friends by streak length, promoting friendly accountability
Concept with further iteration: Weekly resets prevent discouragement and invite new starts
Streak Milestone Screen
Daily focus achievements are celebrated through streak milestones.
Reinforces consistency rather than perfection
Encourages intrinsic motivation via positive feedback
Charity Donation Screen
Points earned from focus sessions can be redeemed for real-world impact.
Converts points directly into charity donations (e.g. $10 to the Heart Foundation)
Connects focus with purpose, turning digital wellbeing into social good
Reinforces long-term engagement by linking personal progress to collective benefit
Settings Screen
A simple settings hub for managing the NFC tag and app preferences.
Option to re-link or replace the physical tag (“Lost your wallet?”) just in case you ever lose your physical wallet (creates design friction)
Compact layout for intuitive navigation
What Design Principles Did I Apply?
Calm by Design
—> Soft teal palette and generous white space support mental clarity.
Motivation with Meaning
—> Every minute focused contributes to tangible impact.
Seamless Interaction
—> The physical NFC trigger removes the need for manual activation.
Key Takeaways
Reflection — What I Learned
Working with engineers taught me how to communicate design rationale and advocate for research-backed decisions in a solution-first environment. It deepened my understanding of balancing user needs with technical feasibility.
The judges praised the design’s polish and innovation but noted it leaned toward restriction rather than empowerment — a reminder that effective design fosters agency, not control.
Next Steps — How I’d Improve It
If given more time, I’d conduct user testing to further iterate on our current designs, seeing what and how we can improve on our solution.
I’d also explore lighter hardware formats (like a detachable tag or keychain) and prototype NFC integration on iOS for real-world testing.
Takeaway — What This Means for Me
This project reinforced that designing for digital wellbeing isn’t about blocking technology; it’s about crafting rituals that make presence effortless.
It also showed me that multidisciplinary collaboration is key to bringing meaningful, feasible products to life. It was a really insightful experience to work with non-designers, which I have never done before!