dash is a system that uses
tags to store and organize information for users.
OVERVIEW
dash is a medium to dump information, regardless of it's importance. Using the intuitive tagging system, information can be filtered and categorized under relevant tags. It is an adaptive and dynamic system, enhanced with reminders and calendar features.
People with ADHD face several difficulties in today's fast paced world, and one such problem is forgetfulness. Most digital solutions (such as reminders, notes, and calendar events) do not cater to this group of people, and as a result, they still find it difficult to remember small things that eventually add up, negatively impacting their quality of life. People with ADHD need a system that feels intuitive to use and helps the user organize their lives without creating another obstacle.
PROBLEM STATEMENT
85% of interviewees had several notes with the exact same title, but different content, which included text and images.
"I have like 7 grocery lists with so many things I forgot to buy!"
"Sometimes I find scraps of paper with things I needed to do - I feel like I have so many small to-dos but I forget where and when I wrote them down"
INSIGHT 1
62% of interviewees depend on various digital solutions to schedule and plan their day. However 38% of interviewees reject these apps altogether because they feel more like an obstacle due to the amount of time consuming they are. 33% of interviewees stated that they use these solutions to procrastinate actually doing the task.
"I cannot live without my google calendar because it tells me exactly what to do, where to be, and when to be there."
"I'm pretty good at remembering important meetings and classes, but I forget small things like when I run out of ketchup, and I end up ketchup-less for weeks until I remember to buy ketchup WHEN I'm at the grocery store"
INSIGHT 2
"I have a to-do list that is super long. I keep adding to it, but I look at it so much I'm basically desensitized to it. I'll get to the task eventually when it becomes important but for now, it lives in this long list"
INSIGHT 3
INSIGHT 4
Adults with ADHD show a specific capacity reduction of response selection.
"I automatically dismiss a reminder when I'm in the middle of something because it can distract me. I try to set the reminder for a later hour, but the same thing happens - it's a vicious cycle."
To understand this topic better, I conducted 21 interviews: 11 in-depth 1 hour interviews and 10 casual topic-focused interviews. I also read several research papers to make myself an expert on this topic. I then generated insights that helped shape my design process and guided me to the solution.
USER RESEARCH
Most interviewees and respondents in online surveys/research papers mentioned several applications that they commonly used. As a result, I created a 2x2 matrix to analyze the competitors and find opportunity spaces.
COMPETITOR ANALYSIS
1
2
Since the task has not been noted down, there is a high chance the user will forget the task until it becomes urgent and impacts the user's quality of life.
The user builds familiarity with the action of dismissing a reminder, and as a result, it becomes almost subconscious, making the consecutive dismissals easier and almost immediate.
After analyzing the interview data and going over secondary research resources, I created a typical journey map for people with ADHD to find the pain points when assigned a task.
USER FLOW
After 2 months of thorough research, I came up with clear design goals based on the insights and common interviewee responses that came up during my research. I also gathered several secondary research sources to support the research insights that I came up with.
DESIGN GOALS
