Designing a Productivity App People Actually Want to Open: ProcrastiNation
This case study examines how my team identified gaps in existing productivity tools and designed ProcrastiNation to help users stay focused through gentle social accountability. Research revealed that motivation often breaks down before work even begins, especially for creative and self-directed tasks.
Product Designer
15 Weeks
Figma
Shriya Chipde, Anvita Shah
OVERVIEW
The Problem Space
Many people want to focus but modern work environments are filled with distractions, especially social media. Existing productivity tools emphasize timers, discipline, or analytics, often feeling isolating or rigid. At the same time, social platforms provide connection but actively pull attention away from meaningful work.What if staying focused felt as easy and as motivating as texting a friend “let’s work” and actually following through?
This question became the foundation for ProcrastiNation: an anti‑social‑media productivity app where focus feels collaborative, encouraging, and emotionally supportive.
THE PROBLEM
Productivity Tools Track Time but Rarely Support People
Our research revealed a consistent tension:
- Productivity apps help track time but feel isolating and rigid
- Social platforms feel motivating but destroy focus
- Creative and open‑ended work is especially hard to start and sustain
Users wanted accountability and encouragement but without pressure, comparison, or interruption.
OUR PROCESS
From Attention Crisis to Design Direction
User Research
We began with a mixed‑methods research sprint:
- Surveyed 22 participants (students, creatives, early‑career professionals)
- Conducted 7 in‑depth interviews to understand work habits, distractions, and motivation triggers
User interviews Revealed that
- Users are highly distractible, Especially via Social Media
- Performs Best with Structure, Deadlines, and Clear Tasks
- Creative and Ambiguous Work Is Harder to Initiate and Manage
- Needs Both Social Motivation and Solo Focus Time
- Overwhelmed by Multitasking; Benefits from Single-Task Focus
Synthesis and Design Opportunity
Who is our User?
Nikita is working on her personal design portfolio after work hours. She wants to stay consistent and creative without distractions or burnout. Her sessions often start with excitement but can lose momentum without external accountability or structure.
Let’s look at Nikita’s Journey......
Now that we understood our users and their pain points, let’s look at what some of our competitors our doing.
THE SOLUTION
Designing Focus as a Shared Experience
This led us to a core design direction: Build a focus system, not just a timer, one that blends presence, progress, and encouragement.
Moodboard
Styleguide
ProcrastiNation introduces Focus Bubbles, shared or solo work sessions where users can focus together without interrupting one another.
Core features include:
- Focus Bubbles: Time‑boxed work sessions with visible progress bars
- Micro‑Encouragements: Silent cheers and reactions that motivate without distraction
- Social Accountability: Work alongside friends or peers without comparison
- Progress Dashboard: Streaks, summaries, and visual feedback
- Gamified Rewards: Badges and milestones that reward consistency, not perfection
The design emphasizes warmth, calm, and support, positioning the app as a daily companion rather than a productivity enforcer.
To visualize our idea, we started by mapiing out the core flow and 2 subflows.
Brainstorming ideas through sketches
Turning Low Fidelity
TESTING THE IDEA
What Motivated Users and What Confused Them
We conducted moderated usability tests using a high‑fidelity Figma prototype.
What worked well:
- Users immediately understood how to start a solo focus session
- The progress bar metaphor felt motivating and satisfying
- Visual design was described as “cute,” “calming,” and “non‑judgmental”
- Session summaries reinforced a sense of accomplishment
Key usability challenges:
- Social features (adding friends, joining shared bubbles) needed clearer hierarchy
- Dashboard metrics felt abstract without plain‑language explanations
Refining the Experience: Making Focus Feel Clear and Supportive
01. Clarifying Social Hierarchy
Reduced visual weight of chat and elevated session CTAs
02. Improving Language & Labels
Added subheadings for confusing terms (e.g., “Co‑Bubbles” → “Join a Breakout Rooms”)
THE OUTCOME
A Productivity Tool Users Wanted to Come Back To
Onboarding
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Set Focus Goals
-
Create Focus Bubbles
-
View Weekly Reports
- Work With Friends
-
Set Focus Plan
-
Track your Focus Sessions
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Set Up Focus Sprints
-
Customize your Focus Bubble
-
Block Distractions
- Join Shared Focus Sessions with Friends
- Chat with Friends
- Join Virtual Breakout Rooms
- Work with Friends
- Live encouragements
-
Optional breakout brainstorm rooms
- Join Active Focus Bubbles
- Track Task Progress
- Set Up Task Goals
- Earn Rewards and Badges
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View Task Streaks
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React to Friends
REFLECTION
What This Project Taught Me About Motivation
-
Designing for well‑being means reducing pressure—not adding more tools
- Small moments of encouragement can drive long‑term habits
- Focus improves when users feel supported, not judged
If We Had More Time.....
- Feature Test Focus Bubble Layouts
- Add deeper focus tools
- Audit accessibility