Pomodoro Timer & ToDo Planner

Mobile Application | Published | 2022

The Pomodoro Timer & ToDo Planner is an app designed to aid in time management and focus while working or studying. I've combined the Pomodoro timer with agile project management principles to create a unique productivity app. Users can efficiently manage their tasks and increase their productivity with this app.

Project Duration

6 months

My Role

UX Designer

My Responsibilities

Ideating, user research, visual design, wireframing, prototyping, usability testing, publishing, monitoring data

The Problem

The Pomodoro technique is an effective way to manage time. It has the potential to complement Agile project management methods. However, there are not many apps available on the Android market that effectively combine these two approaches.

The Solution

The Pomodoro Timer & ToDo Planner is an application that offers both a timer function and project/task management features. It empowers users to manage their time, create projects, plan tasks, and track their progress towards achieving their goals.

Understanding

User research

I conducted phone interviews with potential users to understand their needs and preferences. Additionally, I researched existing Pomodoro app reviews to identify common frustrations experienced by my target user group. During this process, several findings were revealed:

In-app Experience

Users find advertisements and in-app purchase pop-ups to be distracting and inconvenient.

Functionality

Users have a low tolerance for functionality issues, such as alarms not working on time or statistics displaying inaccurate information.

Features

People who require a timer while working also need additional planning features to help them manage their time more effectively.

Visual Design

Potential users tend to be attracted to simple, visually appealing designs.

User personas

"I have the desire to change the way I am living my life."

- Vega Giménez

Competitive audit

The Design Process

Information architecture

Paper wireframes

My initial focus was determining how to present the information within the app. Once I had created the Information Architecture (IA) diagram, I continued to work on designing the main screens.

Iteration

Usability studies

I defined my primary user tester group and tested the app multiple times during the process, from paper wireframes to digital prototypes.

Study Type

Unmoderated, explorative usability study

Location

Czech Republic (remote)

Participants

7 participants (4 female, 3 male)

Age range: 20-35

Visual Design

Users want to see a more modern approach in terms of visual design. During the beginning of the design process, the app seemed traditional to them.

User Flow

There were gaps in some user flows. After usability studies, I added some shortcuts to create a smooth user experience.

Hierarchy

Some users mentioned there wasn't a clear hierarchy between components, so they sometimes couldn't focus.

Functionality

There were functionality issues which disturbed the user experience. I checked every problem and handed them over to the software engineer.

I worked on creating a cleaner visual design.
I replaced some components to improve the visual hierarchy.
I made changes to some labels to improve their clarity and understandability.

I redesigned the cards in both the tasks and projects sections.
I changed the 'Add a new task' button because some users were mistaking it for part of the card behind it.
I used elevation to create borders instead of lines.

I reduced the number of coloured elements in the app to take advantage of the colour white.
I utilized whitespace to make the design clear and visually appealing.
I improved the user experience by replacing some screens. For instance, I relocated 'Plan' from the analysis section to the left navigation for easier accessibility.

The Solution

The design system

User flows

Flow #1 - Start Pomodoro

Flow #2 - Add a new task

Planning, Analysis, and Insights

Project management is an essential component of the app. Users can create daily and weekly plans and track project deadlines. The app counts and organizes every Pomodoro session by time, task, and project. Additionally, it provides valuable insights to facilitate a better review of data.

Try on Android

Try on iOS

Impact

“The application is simple and well-designed. I found everything easily I was looking for as if I'd designed it.” – Participant E

Going Forward

What I learned:

One of the biggest challenges and gains of the project was taking it from the ideation phase to a finished product. I learned an enormous amount throughout the process.
As the sole designer, it was difficult for me to spot bugs and poor design decisions. To address this, I conducted usability studies several times to help me view my project objectively.
Collaborating with an engineer from a different background gave me valuable experience in communication and collaboration.
I made decisions on which functions to include in the app; however, some user reviews revealed that some of these decisions were not the right ones. This experience reminded me again that I am not a user and helped me learn to incorporate user feedback more effectively in the future.

Next steps:

I plan to add more functions, such as a "do not disturb" mode and background sounds, to improve the user experience.
I will also add more sound settings to give users more customization options.
I have some ideas to enrich the app, including a one-person planning session, a retrospective questionnaire for finished projects, and a timeline diagram for tracking focus time during the day.
After analyzing Google Analytics for a few months, I planned to use notifications more effectively to improve user retention and engagement.
Finally, I hope to create a community where people can share ideas for making daily life easier. I believe this community will help me advertise Pomodoro Timer & ToDo Planner and be an inspiration for my future projects.