Paced
I led the design of Paced experience between January 2021 and February 2022
My main role was helping first to define and implement the key features for app,
and second with the team to make first realize in app store in 6 months.
The app launched globally on September 2021.
My main role was helping first to define and implement the key features for app,
and second with the team to make first realize in app store in 6 months.
The app launched globally on September 2021.
Background
In 2020, the Paced became a part of Palta, a company that is founding, finding, and funding digital health and well-being products like Flo (the global leader in female health apps), Prisma (app of the year 2016), Simple Fasting (#1 fasting app in the US).
The first version of Paced presented a personal productivity tool with a time-blocking approach with auto-planning.
Challenge
As a product designer, I designed a unique daily planner that truly understands users, helps plan a day in this respect: maximize productivity without neglecting personal life, sleep, rest.
In 2020, the Paced became a part of Palta, a company that is founding, finding, and funding digital health and well-being products like Flo (the global leader in female health apps), Prisma (app of the year 2016), Simple Fasting (#1 fasting app in the US).
The first version of Paced presented a personal productivity tool with a time-blocking approach with auto-planning.
Challenge
As a product designer, I designed a unique daily planner that truly understands users, helps plan a day in this respect: maximize productivity without neglecting personal life, sleep, rest.
Paced before the design changes
January 2021
A point of view
While conducting our first design sprint, we found a lot of areas for implementing. There were a lot of "features" to parse and their conceptual metaphors were needed a consistent and holistic.
We came up with a plan to split the project into next phases:
Phase one: Developing the key concepts: energy line with prediction of burnout + circadian rhythms based on sleep data to improve the productivity and quality of planning.
Phase two: UX overhaul for 'add new block' feature
Phase three: Developing the onboarding and make first release in App store
While conducting our first design sprint, we found a lot of areas for implementing. There were a lot of "features" to parse and their conceptual metaphors were needed a consistent and holistic.
We came up with a plan to split the project into next phases:
Phase one: Developing the key concepts: energy line with prediction of burnout + circadian rhythms based on sleep data to improve the productivity and quality of planning.
Phase two: UX overhaul for 'add new block' feature
Phase three: Developing the onboarding and make first release in App store
Energy line
Together with the medical Adviser from Palta, we have created the formula which help build relevant energy line based on data about sleep, activities and breaks. Our idea was to help user see the general energy trend and inform about current and coming state.
Together with the medical Adviser from Palta, we have created the formula which help build relevant energy line based on data about sleep, activities and breaks. Our idea was to help user see the general energy trend and inform about current and coming state.
In our first version, the energy line was split together with the time, and with tap the small tip appear. But already after first release and user testing, we redesign this feature.
In the second version, the point become significant button which defined by color of current energy state + tap on point brings up modal window which shows interactive energy trend for all day+tip.
Circadian rhythms
Based on circadian rhythms and sleep patterns, we've divided a day into three zones: focus, creativity and wind-down. The tool shows when concentration is the highest and when it's better to take a rest.
'Add new block'
'Add activity' is the key point for planning, because it effects on the energy line. We wanted to make this feature for user very simple with ability to add short breaks. Analyzing different planners, we decided to make all fields preselected, what allows adding block in one click. Also, if app sees what user want to add 3 h work block, it suggests split it and add 15-min breaks.
'Add activity' is the key point for planning, because it effects on the energy line. We wanted to make this feature for user very simple with ability to add short breaks. Analyzing different planners, we decided to make all fields preselected, what allows adding block in one click. Also, if app sees what user want to add 3 h work block, it suggests split it and add 15-min breaks.
Color hierarchy
Going through the two visual versions, we faced a big challenge with color. After several failed iterations, we decided to build a color hierarchy based on three different levels:
a) for basic UI & circadian rhythms, use heavy/cold,
b) for energy line use dense/bright
c) for activities, use soft/light.
Going through the two visual versions, we faced a big challenge with color. After several failed iterations, we decided to build a color hierarchy based on three different levels:
a) for basic UI & circadian rhythms, use heavy/cold,
b) for energy line use dense/bright
c) for activities, use soft/light.
Avoiding guesses in onboarding
Onboarding became for us the playground field in user testing. Using The UserTesting tool, we have reduced the first version with 12 steps till the 6 steps, and increased number of 'Google calendar connection' till the 20% in the end.
Onboarding became for us the playground field in user testing. Using The UserTesting tool, we have reduced the first version with 12 steps till the 6 steps, and increased number of 'Google calendar connection' till the 20% in the end.
App store
The app launched on September 2021.
The app launched on September 2021.
