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FOKUS

Three smartphones displaying parts of the study-app Fokus interface: The startpage for a logged in user, the log in interface and an interface displaying tasks in Fokus.

MY ROLE INCLUDED:

  • UX RESEARCH
    • |
  • UI DESIGN
    • |
  • USABILITY TESTS
    • |
  • ACCESSIBILITY SPECIALIST

How might we help students manage their studies in a structured and motivating way to reduce stress and improve their performance?

Problem

Students often struggle with focus, time management, and planning their studies effectively. Many experience anxiety and stress due to ineffective study techniques and a lack of structured support. This problem is even more pronounced among students with cognitive difficulties such as ADHD or executive dysfunctions. The absence of a clear study structure leads to procrastination, last-minute stress, and difficulties in meeting deadlines.

Solution

Fokus is a study planning app that helps students break down their assignments into manageable tasks, creating a structured timeline that promotes productivity. The app offers visual tracking, and motivational reminders, ensuring students stay on track while minimizing anxiety and procrastination.

Research & ideation

Both qualitative and quantitative research through surveys, interviews and secondary research were conducted to gain insights into what challenges the students face.

Key findings

  • 85% of students submit assignments on time, but 73.4% do so just before the deadline, indicating last-minute stress management.
  • 66.7% have difficulty maintaining focus during studies.
  • 61.3% struggle with managing multiple tasks at once.
  • 57.7% experience high stress before deadlines.
  • 64% feel mentally exhausted after completing assignments.

Based on this research we created Alex - The overwhelmed student who struggles with procrastination, distractions and last minute stress. What Alex needs to succeed and feel better is clear task breakdowns with visual reminders, progress tracker to stay motivated and on track and motivational prompts to encourage early actions.

A bright orange avatar representing the neutral persona 'Alex'

Alex

"Student"

"I need clear instructions and reminders to stay on track. Otherwise, I easily get stressed and postpone tasks until the last minute."

Visual timeline of a student named Alex managing a two-week assignment. Despite expectations to start early and submit high-quality work, Alex procrastinates due to stress and competing tasks. The journey is shown in four stages: receiving the assignment, trying to start early, last-minute work and submission, and post-deadline reflection. Key pain points include feeling overwhelmed, lack of time, and mixed feelings after submission.

Prototyping

With a user-centered approach we followed an iterative design process gradually refining our interface based on user feedback.

Key features

  • Progress tracker with visual indication to boost motivation
  • Customizable notifications encouring our users to stay on track
  • Distraction-free mode muting notifications and external distractions
  • Dashboard overview to provide a clear, high-level view of assignments and deadlines

Design choices

Choosing a minimalistic approach with structured interface was vital to ensure ease of use while maintaining a motivational and engaging experience. The neutral colorscheme with strategic pops of color highlights progress while ensuring readability through a clean font. The rounded UI elements creates a softer and more inviting feel.

After usability tests we altered the design through progress markers and step by step tracking for clearer visual guidance, moved the motivational quotes from the dashboard to the loading screens instead. We also reduced the amount of text and added inline guidance for clarity.

Three smartphones displaying wireframes of the app Fokus: Dashboard and landingpage, log in page and assignment breakdown-pageTwo smartphones displaying mockups of the app Fokus: Dashboard and welcome-page as well as the uploading-page for assignments.

Key take aways

Students who tested the prototype felt more in control of their studies. Positive feedback confirmed that structured planning and visual progress tracking increased motivation and reduced stress. Research is crucial, we wouldn't have managed with this result if we've neglected the chance to understand our users. There is a great balance with structure and simplicity, too much complexity will overwhelm the users which is why the minimalistic approach suited this app. Lastly: Motivation needs to feel natural. Users responded better to subtle encouragement rather than intrusive motivational elements.

Future development

Fokus was an exciting project built on a strong accessibility perspective. The combination of research, thoughtful UI, and unique AI functionality resulted in a tool that not only genuinely helps students organize their studies but also promotes healthier habits and mental well-being. In the future, I see this app evolving to become even more personalized, integrating social learning through community features and refining the UI design to ensure full WCAG 2.2 compliance.