Kaeru (2023)
Description
Reigniting Passion and Joy in Busy Lives Through Personalized Hobby Engagement
role
UI, UX
Type
Personal Project
Technologies
Figma, Google Forms
Introduction
- Overview of the project: This initiative seeks to address the growing sense of burnout among millennials by encouraging them to reconnect with activities that spark joy and creativity, reminiscent of their childhood pleasures. Drawing from personal experiences, the project aims to integrate these joyful activities into their current lifestyle, combating monotony and fostering a life that aligns more closely with their true selves.
- Role: Project Lead and Innovator
- Timeline: 5 months (Jun - Sep '23)
- Core Responsibilities: Conceptualization of the project, conducting research through surveys, designing the solution framework, and overseeing the development of a platform to facilitate easy integration of joyful activities into daily life.
Problem Statement
Millennials face the challenge of balancing professional obligations with personal satisfaction, often prioritizing job stability over engaging in fulfilling activities. This focus on survival can lead to a monotonous routine and burnout, as personal interests and hobbies get sidelined. With rising statistics indicating that over 30% of millennials report suffering from depression and related mental health issues, this project addresses the critical need to reintegrate joy and personal growth into their lives, aiming to improve overall mental well-being and promote a healthier, more balanced lifestyle.
Goals
The main goal is to create a solution that empowers millennials to break free from the cycle of monotony by rediscovering and integrating activities that foster joy, creativity, and a sense of personal fulfillment into their everyday lives. By doing so, the project aims to encourage individuals to live more authentically, aligned with their true selves rather than conforming to external expectations.
Value Proposition
The proposed solution involves developing a platform that provides millennials with personalized recommendations for activities that align with their childhood interests and current lifestyle preferences. By leveraging insights gained from targeted research, this platform will serve as a bridge between the user’s current obligations and their forgotten passions, offering a tangible way to reintegrate joy and creativity into their daily routines.
Research
- Method: Google Forms Survey
- Participants: 11 millennials
- Objective: To gather insights into the work-life balance of millennials, exploring the activities they enjoyed during their childhood versus adulthood. The research aimed to understand the barriers that prevent them from engaging in activities that contribute positively to their quality of life, thus informing the development of a solution tailored to their needs.
Participant Insights: Balancing Responsibilities with Personal Fulfillment
The feedback gathered from our research participants paints a detailed picture of the common hurdles and unanimous value placed on personal hobbies and interests. This section breaks down the key insights, emphasizing the challenges faced and the unanimous agreement on the value of personal activities, alongside the collective desire for a solution.
Challenges Identified
- Lack of Time: A significant number of participants cited time constraints as the primary barrier to engaging in hobbies or interests.
- Insufficient Energy: Many mentioned that after fulfilling their daily responsibilities, they lacked the energy needed for personal activities.
- Overwhelming Responsibilities: The pressure of juggling multiple responsibilities leaves little room for personal time, making it challenging to pursue interests that bring joy.
Recognized Value of Personal Activities
- High Importance: Despite these challenges, participants universally acknowledged the high value of personal activities, rating their importance to their quality of life as 10/10.
- Source of Joy: Personal hobbies and interests are seen as vital sources of happiness and fulfillment, distinctly separate from work and obligations.
Desired Solution Features
- Daily Activity Tracking: Participants expressed a strong desire for a tool that allows them to track their daily activities in a way that is both motivating and organized.
- Reflective Space: A dedicated area within the app for reflection was highlighted as a way to encourage consistent engagement with personal hobbies and interests.
- Progress Monitoring: The ability to monitor progress over time was seen as a key feature that would help users see the value in investing time in personal activities, even amid a busy schedule.
Conclusion: The Need for Kaeru
The insights derived from participant feedback underscore the necessity of an app like Kaeru, designed to help individuals find balance. By addressing the outlined challenges and incorporating the desired features, Kaeru aims to empower users to more effectively integrate meaningful personal activities into their lives, enhancing overall well-being and satisfaction.
Prototype and Wireframe
Overview of the Scheduling System
This system is designed to assist in time management, featuring a user-friendly interface where tasks are organized within the left column. Tasks are differentiated into two types: regular tasks, marked in a darker gray, and "Kaeru" tasks. "Kaeru" tasks are categorized into four distinct activities:
- Engage: Dedicate time to actively pursue a hobby.
- Refuel: Perform activities beneficial to your health, such as exercise.
- Reflect: Engage in self-reflection through prompted questions.
- Absorb: Learn by watching YouTube videos related to your hobbies.
Upon completion of a Kaeru task, a point is awarded and displayed in the Kaeru icon section. This point system is designed to visually track progress and encourage the integration of these positive activities into daily routines, regardless of schedule constraints.
Future Steps
- Onboarding improvements: Continual refinement of the onboarding process to make it even more engaging and informative.
- Personalized progress insights: Development of features that track and celebrate progress in hobbies and interests.
- Enhanced adoption strategies: Expanding marketing efforts to reach a wider audience and exploring partnerships with related platforms.
Reflection: User-Driven Design in Shaping Kaeru
The Shift in Perspective
The research phase was eye-opening, revealing a gap between my perception of users' needs and their actual challenges and desires. Participants expressed a struggle not just with finding time for personal activities but also with energy and overwhelming responsibilities. What they valued most was not an extensive list of features but simplicity, ease of use, and support in integrating meaningful activities into their packed schedules. This feedback was a turning point, leading to a significant shift in how I approached the design of Kaeru. It became evident that creating a visually appealing app was only half the battle; the true measure of success would be its usability and relevance to users' real-life challenges.
The Power of Empathy in Design
Incorporating user feedback into Kaeru's development process taught me the power of empathy in design. By putting myself in the shoes of the users, I gained a deeper understanding of their daily lives and the barriers they face in pursuing personal fulfillment. This empathy-driven approach allowed me to refine Kaeru's features to better address these barriers, making the app not just a tool for tracking hobbies but a companion in users' journeys toward a more balanced life. Empathizing with users' problems became the cornerstone of the design process, ensuring that Kaeru was not only aesthetically pleasing but also genuinely useful and supportive.
Looking Forward
Reflecting on the development of Kaeru, I am reminded of the dynamic nature of design and the importance of remaining open to change. User feedback has been instrumental in shaping Kaeru, turning it into an app that truly resonates with its intended audience. I am committed to maintaining this user-centered approach, leveraging direct input and empathy to guide further iterations. This journey has reinforced my belief in the significance of user-driven design and its impact on creating products that not only meet but exceed user expectations, enriching their lives in meaningful ways.
