AFFINITY MAPPING + IDEATION
THE PROBLEM
THE PROBLEM
💡 While my affinity mapping didn't consist of just these few stickies…here are some key ideas that helped with our ideation process.
⚠️ Students struggle to maintain focus mainly due to constant digital distractions from smartphones and social media. These interruptions, along with stress, lack of motivation, and poor study habits, make it difficult for students to concentrate and be productive in their academic work.
⚠️ Students struggle to maintain focus mainly due to constant digital distractions from smartphones and social media. These interruptions, along with stress, lack of motivation, and poor study habits, make it difficult for students to concentrate and be productive in their academic work.
While collaborative study sessions with friends and peers boosts motivation, there is no effective way to ensure everyone stays focused and on task.
👎
The fragmentation caused by having to manage tasks across multiple platforms, leading to a lack of structure and disorganization during study sessions.
😿
☹️
Inability to stay off digital devices and resist distractions like notifications, which severely disrupt focus.
Social media + digital distractions
Lack of motivation
Stress/ anxiety
Lack of structured study habits
Noisy environment
Top 5 factors that affected one’s ability to focus
Listening to music or white noise
Creating a dedicated study space
Turning off notifications or “DND”
Setting specific study goals or time
Strategies currently used to improve focus
Tools or apps used to enhance productivity
Planner
Calendar
To do lists
Notion
Face time friends for study session
“One thing that has helped me lock in is putting my phone in my drawer so I can’t see it. Out of sight out of mind.” - Isaiah Liggins, High School senior
Several students mentioned the importance of turning off their phones or using Do Not Disturb (DND) modes to maintain focus, particularly during study sessions. Locking the phone away or out of sight is a popular method for avoiding distractions.
A common theme is the lack of motivation and organization, which directly impacts their ability to focus and remain productive. Students often mention that study goals or clear time blocks are helpful but challenging to maintain consistently.
Some students report struggling to resist the urge to check their phones, especially for notifications or social media updates.
Focaura is a customizable study and focus app that turns your phone from a distraction into your best productivity tool. With focus modes, social study sessions, streak tracking, and more, it makes staying on task engaging, measurable, and fun.
Focaura is a customizable study and focus app that turns your phone from a distraction into your best productivity tool. With focus modes, social study sessions, streak tracking, and more, it makes staying on task engaging, measurable, and fun.
PROJECT CONTEXT
As the sole designer on the project, I led the end-to-end design process—from user research and competitive analysis to wireframes and high-fidelity prototypes. I focused on creating an intuitive, engaging experience across the home dashboard, customizable focus modes, and community-driven features like Focus Together.
INTERVIEWS + SURVEYS
INTERVIEWS + SURVEYS
INTERVIEWS + SURVEYS
✍️ I conducted a google forms survey asking students in high school and college about their experiences/ challenges with productivity + technology.
✍️ I conducted a google forms survey asking students in high school and college about their experiences/ challenges with productivity + technology.
✍️ I conducted a google forms survey asking students in high school and college about their experiences/ challenges with productivity + technology.
🎤 Additionally, I conducted one-on-one interviews with the students to further understand the influence of technology in productivity and the idea of “locking in.”
🔑 Here are some key takeaways.
🎤 Additionally, I conducted one-on-one interviews with the students to further understand the influence of technology in productivity and the idea of “locking in.”
🔑 Here are some key takeaways.
🎤 Additionally, I conducted one-on-one interviews with the students to further understand the influence of technology in productivity and the idea of “locking in.”
🔑 Here are some key takeaways.
CURRENT ACADEMIC LEVEL
CURRENT ACADEMIC LEVEL
CURRENT ACADEMIC LEVEL
WEEKLY # OF HOURS SPENT STUDYING
WEEKLY # OF HOURS SPENT STUDYING
WEEKLY # OF HOURS SPENT STUDYING
THE PROBLEM
⚠️ Students struggle to maintain focus mainly due to constant digital distractions from smartphones and social media. These interruptions, along with stress, lack of motivation, and poor study habits, make it difficult for students to concentrate and be productive in their academic work.
🗑️ Divergent thinking
Gamified focus
planner
Gamified
task
tracking app
Desk Buddy w
Timer
motivational
notifications
lights that
change based
on
focus
levels
proximity based
phone locking system
Smart locks
on
Apps
Lock in - lock screen: app where you can customize focus modes
💡
🪩 Convergent thinking
Low effort
high effort
Low Impact
High Impact
Motivational notifications
Lights that change based
on focus levels
Lock in Lock Screen
Proximity based phone locking system
Smart lock on apps
Gamified task
tracking app
Gamified Focus
planner
Desk buddy with timer
🧩 Introducing....
🧩 Introducing....
Focaura!!!
Focaura!!!
Focus with Friends
Track Work Sessions
Discover Others
All-in-One Homepage
Personal Profile
Custom Focus
SOLUTION
SOLUTION
REFLECTIONS
REFLECTIONS
Thanks for visiting my digital playground!
Social media + digital distractions
Lack of motivation
Stress/ anxiety
Lack of structured study habits
Noisy environment
Top 5 factors that affected one’s ability to focus
Strategies currently used to improve focus
Listening to music or white noise
Creating a dedicated study space
Turning off notifications or “DND”
Setting specific study goals or time
Planner
Calendar
To do lists
Notion
Face time friends for study session
Tools or apps used to enhance productivity
“One thing that has helped me lock in is putting my phone in my drawer so I can’t see it. Out of sight out of mind.” - Isaiah Liggins, High School senior
Several students mentioned the importance of turning off their phones or using Do Not Disturb (DND) modes to maintain focus, particularly during study sessions. Locking the phone away or out of sight is a popular method for avoiding distractions.
A common theme is the lack of motivation and organization, which directly impacts their ability to focus and remain productive. Students often mention that study goals or clear time blocks are helpful but challenging to maintain consistently.
Some students report struggling to resist the urge to check their phones, especially for notifications or social media updates.
Low effort
high effort
Low Impact
High Impact
Motivational notifications
Lights that change based
on focus levels
Lock in Lock Screen
Proximity based phone locking system
Smart lock on apps
Gamified task
tracking app
Gamified Focus
planner
Desk buddy with timer
🗑️ Divergent thinking
🗑️ Divergent thinking
🪩 Convergent thinking
🪩 Convergent thinking
Gamified focus
planner
Gamified focus
planner
Desk Buddy w
Timer
Desk Buddy w
Timer
motivational
notifications
motivational
notifications
lights that
change based
on
focus
levels
lights that
change based
on
focus
levels
proximity based
phone locking system
proximity based
phone locking system
proximity based
phone locking system
proximity based
phone locking system
Smart locks
on
Apps
Smart locks
on
Apps
Lock in - lock screen: app where you can customize focus modes
Lock in - lock screen: app where you can customize focus modes
💡
💡
Gamified
task
tracking app
Gamified
task
tracking app
🚧
Focaura was my first time building a design system from scratch. Creating consistent components and styles across the platform helped establish a clear visual language, while a focus on accessibility and responsive design ensured the app remained user-friendly across all devices.
💡
Without direct developer collaboration, I relied heavily on feedback from peers and usability testing to guide my design decisions. Iterating on key features—like the home dashboard, custom focus modes, and Focus Together—allowed me to continually refine the user experience based on real user pain points and behaviors.
🫂
Designing thoughtful interactions was essential for helping users stay oriented and engaged. Accounting for various states (e.g., active sessions, completed tasks, distractions) helped create a smooth and intuitive experience, especially in productivity features where context matters.
Thanks for visiting my digital playground!
Focaura is a customizable study and focus app that turns your phone from a distraction into your best productivity tool. With focus modes, social study sessions, streak tracking, and more, it makes staying on task engaging, measurable, and fun.
All-in-One Homepage
Personal Profile
Custom Focus
All-in-One Homepage
Personal Profile
Custom Focus
Focus with Friends
Track Work Sessions
Discover Others
PROJECT CONTEXT
As the sole designer on the project, I led the end-to-end design process—from user research and competitive analysis to wireframes and high-fidelity prototypes. I focused on creating an intuitive, engaging experience across the home dashboard, customizable focus modes, and community-driven features like Focus Together.
Top 5 factors that affected one’s ability to focus
Social media + digital distractions
Lack of motivation
Stress/ anxiety
Lack of structured study habits
Noisy environment
Listening to music or white noise
Creating a dedicated study space
Turning off notifications or “DND”
Setting specific study goals or time
Strategies currently used to improve focus
Planner
Calendar
To do lists
Notion
Face time friends for study session
Tools or apps used to enhance productivity
A common theme is the lack of motivation and organization, which directly impacts their ability to focus and remain productive. Students often mention that study goals or clear time blocks are helpful but challenging to maintain consistently.
Some students report struggling to resist the urge to check their phones, especially for notifications or social media updates.
Several students mentioned the importance of turning off their phones or using Do Not Disturb (DND) modes to maintain focus, particularly during study sessions. Locking the phone away or out of sight is a popular method for avoiding distractions.
“One thing that has helped me lock in is putting my phone in my drawer so I can’t see it. Out of sight out of mind.” - Isaiah Liggins, High School senior
Low effort
high effort
Low Impact
High Impact
Motivational notifications
Lights that change based
on focus levels
Lock in Lock Screen
Proximity based phone locking system
Smart lock on apps
Gamified task
tracking app
Gamified Focus
planner
Desk buddy with timer
Inability to stay off digital devices and resist distractions like notifications, which severely disrupt focus.
☹️
The fragmentation caused by having to manage tasks across multiple platforms, leading to a lack of structure and disorganization during study sessions.
😿
While collaborative study sessions with friends and peers boosts motivation, there is no effective way to ensure everyone stays focused and on task.
👎
Focaura was my first time building a design system from scratch. Creating consistent components and styles across the platform helped establish a clear visual language, while a focus on accessibility and responsive design ensured the app remained user-friendly across all devices.
🚧
Without direct developer collaboration, I relied heavily on feedback from peers and usability testing to guide my design decisions. Iterating on key features—like the home dashboard, custom focus modes, and Focus Together—allowed me to continually refine the user experience based on real user pain points and behaviors.
💡
Designing thoughtful interactions was essential for helping users stay oriented and engaged. Accounting for various states (e.g., active sessions, completed tasks, distractions) helped create a smooth and intuitive experience, especially in productivity features where context matters.
🫂
IDEATION
IDEATION
Streamline the process of managing focus and productivity through a platform that transforms digital distractions into structured tools that enable users to easily organize tasks, reduce distractions, and successfully collaborate with peers, ultimately enhancing motivation and accountability.
⚠️ THE CHALLENGE
REFLECTIONS
THE SOLUTION
Thanks for visiting
my digital playground!
☹️
Inability to stay off digital devices and resist distractions like notifications, which severely disrupt focus.
The fragmentation caused by having to manage tasks across multiple platforms, leading to a lack of structure and disorganization during study sessions.
😿
While collaborative study sessions with friends and peers boosts motivation, there is no effective way to ensure everyone stays focused and on task.
👎
Streamline the process of managing focus and productivity through a platform that transforms digital distractions into structured tools that enable users to easily organize tasks, reduce distractions, and successfully collaborate with peers, ultimately enhancing motivation and accountability.
⚠️ THE CHALLENGE
⚠️ THE CHALLENGE
Streamline the process of managing focus and productivity through a platform that transforms digital distractions into structured tools that enable users to easily organize tasks, reduce distractions, and successfully collaborate with peers, ultimately enhancing motivation and accountability.
While collaborative study sessions with friends and peers boosts motivation, there is no effective way to ensure everyone stays focused and on task.
🫂
The fragmentation caused by having to manage tasks across multiple platforms, leading to a lack of structure and disorganization during study sessions.
💡
🚧
Focaura was my first time building a design system from scratch. Creating consistent components and styles across the platform helped establish a clear visual language, while a focus on accessibility and responsive design ensured the app remained user-friendly across all devices.
PROJECT CONTEXT
As the sole designer on the project, I led the end-to-end design process—from user research and competitive analysis to wireframes and high-fidelity prototypes. I focused on creating an intuitive, engaging experience across the home dashboard, customizable focus modes, and community-driven features like Focus Together.