GEMI
Empowering ADHD Users Through Gamified Goal-Tracking and Reward Systems
Case-study
Product Design
Overview
The GEMI project explores the societal implications of ADHD's rising prevalence and the gap in accurate understanding, aiming to create a digital solution to improve focus, organization, and promptness for individuals with ADHD.
Project Info.
Duration
8 Months
8 Months
Advised by
Prof. Li, Xinyi
Scope of Work
Product Design, Branding, UX Research, Art Direction
Tool
Figma, Adobe CC, Blender
Skills: UX Research, Mobile Product, Figma
Role: Product Designer
Duration: August 2023―May 2024
Team: Yun Cho
The Problem
Many adults with undiagnosed ADHD struggle in relationships and blame themselves, often leading to low self-esteem, depression, and poor mental health.
Many adults with undiagnosed ADHD struggle in relationships and blame themselves, often leading to low self-esteem, depression, and poor mental health.
The Solution
Design a self-tracking app tailored for individuals with ADHD, combining reliable information, holistic management tools, and personalized support to help users take control of their symptoms and thrive with confidence.
Design a self-tracking app tailored for individuals with ADHD, combining reliable information, holistic management tools, and personalized support to help users take control of their symptoms and thrive with confidence.
Key Features
Finding individual Needs&Pains
Users undergoes a brief self-assessment to determine their primary objective for enhancing productivity and identify the most significant barriers preventing them from achieving this goal
Users undergoes a brief self-assessment to determine their primary objective for enhancing productivity and identify the most significant barriers preventing them from achieving this goal
Keep yourself from Distraction
Upon entering the Cave, you can immerse yourself in work without distractions from productivity-draining apps like social media. Additionally, you can see your friends' live focus statuses, fostering positive competition and motivation—especially for those with ADHD.
Upon entering the Cave, you can immerse yourself in work without distractions from productivity-draining apps like social media. Additionally, you can see your friends' live focus statuses, fostering positive competition and motivation—especially for those with ADHD.
Collect Your Gems
By consistently jotting down daily notes and leveraging our instructional tutorials, your 'Organi' gemstone will gradually transform, reflecting your progress. Accumulate these evolving gemstones as a testament to the barriers you've successfully overcome on your journey.
By consistently jotting down daily notes and leveraging our instructional tutorials, your 'Organi' gemstone will gradually transform, reflecting your progress. Accumulate these evolving gemstones as a testament to the barriers you've successfully overcome on your journey.
Research
Research
User Research / Survey
Asking 117 people about ADHD
I conducted two surveys to better understand ADHD from different perspectives.
[1] Involved 110 participants across a range of age groups and examined common perceptions and general understanding of ADHD.
[2] Focused specifically on individuals with ADHD, exploring their sources of motivation and the challenges they encounter.
User Research / Survey
Survey Result Visualization
ADHD Struggles
Perception about ADHD
User Research / Survey
Asking 117 people about ADHD
I conducted two surveys to better understand ADHD from different perspectives.
[1] Involved 110 participants across a range of age groups and examined common perceptions and general understanding of ADHD.
[2] Focused specifically on individuals with ADHD, exploring their sources of motivation and the challenges they encounter.
User Research / Survey
Survey Result Visualization
User Research / Survey
Asking 117 people about ADHD
I conducted two surveys to better understand ADHD from different perspectives.
[1] Involved 110 participants across a range of age groups and examined common perceptions and general understanding of ADHD.
[2] Focused specifically on individuals with ADHD, exploring their sources of motivation and the challenges they encounter.
User Research / Survey
Survey Result Visualization
ADHD Struggles
Perception about ADHD
Research/ Overview
Research/ Overview
Scientific understanding → Digital intervention
Scientific understanding → Digital intervention
A visual framework explaining ADHD-related challenges and how specific app features can address them. It breaks down the relationship between brain function issues in ADHD, the real-life challenges those cause, and potential digital solutions.
A visual framework explaining ADHD-related challenges and how specific app features can address them. It breaks down the relationship between brain function issues in ADHD, the real-life challenges those cause, and potential digital solutions.
Ideate/ Storyboard
Ideate/ Storyboard
A journey to find their inner gemstones
A journey to find their inner gemstones
Ideate/ Sitemap+Wireframes
Ideate/ Sitemap+Wireframes
Designed to avoiding distractions with minimal information
Designed to avoiding distractions with minimal information
Takeaway
Takeaway
The Power of Empathy
At first, I focused on practical, task-based solutions to help users stay organized and improve focus. But soon, I realized that connecting with users on a deeper level was key. By making GEMI a companion on their journey, I used storytelling alongside thoughtfully designed tools to transform the experience from simply functional to truly engaging and supportive. This approach showed me how powerful empathy and understanding can be when tackling the real-life challenges of ADHD.
The Power of Empathy
At first, I focused on practical, task-based solutions to help users stay organized and improve focus. But soon, I realized that connecting with users on a deeper level was key. By making GEMI a companion on their journey, I used storytelling alongside thoughtfully designed tools to transform the experience from simply functional to truly engaging and supportive. This approach showed me how powerful empathy and understanding can be when tackling the real-life challenges of ADHD.