
SPACE
UX Case Study
Work within
the time you have.

PROJECT OVERVIEW
The capacity to concentrate is crucial, influencing individuals' cognitive processes, decision-making, and overall mental well-being. The research underscores how succumbing to distractions can develop into a detrimental habit, leading to a decline in effectiveness at work or in academic pursuits.
Spaces endeavors to facilitate users in achieving focus through customizable focus sessions, a comprehensive overview of daily/weekly progress, and the ability to block notifications, among other features. Nonetheless, sustaining user commitment to these tools and realizing significant goal attainment remains a challenge.
This project's objective is to develop a focus application with impactful features that align with users' requirements, ultimately enhancing their ability to concentrate effectively.
RESEARCH GOALS
WHAT
Investigate the main factors that affect people’s concentration while working/studying.
WHY
Understand people’s motivations, behaviors, and frustrations toward staying focused.
WHICH
Attain a comprehension of people's inclinations and expectations regarding focus applications.
QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
User Survey

01
What caused you to be distracted while working/studying?
Tiredness (67.9%), Notifications (61.9%)
Stress (51.2%), Noise (39.3%)
03
What's your feeling of being distracted?
After being distracted, most people feel frustrated, stressed, or angry.
When dealing with these negative feelings, most of them choose to take a rest (76.2%)
02
What, if any, sounds do you like to hear while working/studying?
56.7% of participants prefer music
45.2% of participants prefer no sound
30.1% of participants prefer ambient sounds
04
If you had wishes for things that would make you more efficient at working/studying, what would you wish for?
Motivation, consistency, strategy
Independent space
Music, ambient sound
No Noise
QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
User Interview
I engaged in user interviews with six participants: Teli, John, William, Taffy, Hsiyuan, and Sophie. Following the interviews, I organized and classified the data into Empathy Maps, creating an individual map for each person and a collective map encompassing all participants.






Teli
25, College student
Focus rate: 6/10
William
22, College student
Focus rate: 5/10
John
27, Graduate student
Focus rate: 10/10
Hsiyuan
24, Graduate student
Focus rate: 8/10
Sophie
21, College Student
Focus rate: 2/10
Tammy
30, Data Scientist
Focus rate: 9/10
What do they think/feel?
Feel lonely study alone.
Group study is like mutual supervision
Prefer study alone doing difficult tasks
Feel angry and annoyed after being distracted.
Need motivation/reward
Focus Apps are new distractions
What do they hear?
Pomodoro Technique
Listening to music is not helpful
Friends are using the app Forest
What do they say/do?
Exercise, remove phone, use timer
Join online study groups(Discord/Slack)
When feel stressed:
- Social Media/ larger community
- Go exercise and socialize
- Shopping
- Don’t know what to do
What do they see?
In online study groups, people choose to join the channels that interest them, asking questions or just keep quiet.
Start using Forest because friends are using.
PAINS
Poor self-discipline and motivation
Interruptions from environment
Distractions come from devices
Stress and fatigue
GAINS
Rewards/motivation
Silenced study group
Need help when feel stressed
Need friends to use the same focus app together
RESEARCH FINDINGS
COMMUNITY
When working/studying with others, people are more likely to stay motivated and get less distracted by devices
Most people are not willing to share negative emotions with people familiar but with a larger community.
People tends to use apps which their friends are using
MITIVATION
People are motivated by seeing their improvements and accomplishments
When presented with a reward, the anticipation it creates fosters dedication to completing the focus session.
Competition leads to motivation
PERFORMANCE
It’s easy for people to start getting focused, but hard for them to keep consistent
People are too eager to change that they overestimate their ability to stay focused without using a scientific method
People’s actions toward change are often accompanied by the risk of getting new distractions
USER PERSONA
Amy
Youngs
21, College Student
Columbus, Ohio
GOALS
Increase her focus time and keep track of her improvements
Need friends who have same goals with her
Need rewards after completing a task
Amy, a solo-living college student, encounters challenges maintaining focus during her study sessions. While desiring a study group to boost motivation, she apprehensively contemplates potential interruptions. Despite trying various spaces, none have proven effective in helping her reach her goals. Amy aspires to derive a sense of accomplishment and motivation through enhanced focus, alongside forming connections with like-minded friends who share similar objectives.
PAINS
Poor self-discipline and motivation
Want to have a study group, but worry about being interrupted by others
Need music to block noise, but choosing and switching music become new distractions
Illya Mousavijad
30, Data Scientist
San Diego, CA
Illya, a remote data scientist, grapples with spending over 10 hours daily on his job due to challenges in maintaining consistent high efficiency. This struggle leaves him feeling perpetually tired and stressed, exacerbating the situation. Eager to break free from this cycle of fatigue and stress, Illya is motivated to explore ways to enhance his focus, ultimately allowing him to dedicate more quality time to his family.
GOALS
Find ways to release stress from work
Using scientific method to stay focused
Balance between work and life
PAINS
Work in low efficiency because of tiredness
Want to block notifications, but worry about missing important messages
Can’t stay focused when feeling stressed, and not sure how to deal with it without telling the family
USER FLOW
Flow 1: Pomodoro timer with start / break reminder
Illya wants to use the scientific method to improve his focus ability. He needs to know when to start working and when to take a break.

User Flow 2: Show improvements & cumulative focus hours / Share in community
Illya wants to use the scientific method to improve his focus ability. He needs to know when to start working and when to take a break.

User Flow 3: Environment sounds / Light music
Amy wants to find music that can help her be better focused in study. She wishes to play and switch them easily.

DIGITAL WIREFRAME
POMODORO TIMER

IMPROVEMENTS & SHARE

ENVIRONMENT SOUNDS / LIGHT MUSIC

USER TESTING
Issue: Users are not familiar with the Pomodoro Technique
Fix: Add a help button explaining what Pomodoro timer is and the process of completing a full session.

Issue: Users are not able to create their playlist
Fix: Add a “Favorite” category in the filter. Once users click the “like” button, the sound will be added to the playlist.

Issue: Users want to share outside the app with their social media community.
Fix: Allow users to download and share their improvements both inside and outside of the application.
