Flow Space


Designing a generalists-centered task management software that simplify their daily workflow.

Flow Space


Designing a generalists-centered task management software that simplify their daily workflow.

Flow Space


Designing a generalists-centered task management software that simplify their daily workflow.

OVERVIEW

Flow Space

Task management software that integrates generalists' personal productivity methods

Modern professionals are often versatile, juggling hybrid roles, side jobs, or freelancing. These individuals, known as generalists, face difficulties managing their various workloads efficiently, which disrupts their daily workflow and productivity. Leading them to incorporate multiple productivity methods and applications throughout the day. Recognizing the lack of support for these generalists, we aim to experiment with solutions that seamlessly integrate their preferred productivity methods into task management software.

Modern professionals are often versatile, juggling hybrid roles, side jobs, or freelancing. These individuals, known as generalists, face difficulties managing their various workloads efficiently, which disrupts their daily workflow and productivity. Leading them to incorporate multiple productivity methods and applications throughout the day. Recognizing the lack of support for these generalists, we aim to experiment with solutions that seamlessly integrate their preferred productivity methods into task management software.

Role

UX Research

UI Design

User Interviews
Wireframing

Prototyping

Project type

Solo passion project!

Duration

2 weeks

Software

Figma, Adobe Illustrator

Role

UX Research

UI Design

User Interviews
Wireframing

Prototyping

Project type

Solo passion project!

Duration

2 weeks

Software

Figma, Adobe Illustrator

THE PROBLEM

An Overwhelm

Generalists often have a diverse responsibilities and dynamic workflows. Because of this they often experience task and information overload to manage their daily projects.

THE SOLUTION

A Simple Structure

A streamlined task management software that is structured around generalists preferred way of working and productivity management.

THE PROBLEM

An Overwhelm

Generalists often have a diverse responsibilities and dynamic workflows. Because of this they often experience task and information overload to manage their daily projects.

THE SOLUTION

A Simple Structure

A streamlined task management software that is structured around every generalists preferred way of working and productivity management.

OVERVIEW

Flow Space

Task management software that integrates generalists' personal productivity methods

Modern professionals are often versatile, juggling hybrid roles, side jobs, or freelancing. These individuals, known as generalists, face difficulties managing their various workloads efficiently, which disrupts their daily workflow and productivity. Leading them to incorporate multiple productivity methods and applications throughout the day. Recognizing the lack of support for these generalists, we aim to experiment with solutions that seamlessly integrate their preferred productivity methods into task management software.

Jump to design solutions

Role

UX Research

UI Design

User Interviews
Wireframing

Prototyping

Project type

Solo passion project!

Duration

2 weeks

Software

Figma, Adobe Illustrator

Role

UX Research

UI Design

User Interviews
Wireframing

Prototyping

Project type

Solo passion project!

Duration

2 weeks

Software

Figma, Adobe Illustrator

THE PROBLEM

An Overwhelm

Generalists often have a diverse responsibilities and dynamic workflows. Because of this they often experience task and information overload to manage their daily projects.

THE SOLUTION

A Simple Structure

A streamlined task management software that is structured around generalists preferred way of working and productivity management.

THE PROBLEM

An Overwhelm

Generalists often have a diverse responsibilities and dynamic workflows. Because of this they often experience task and information overload to manage their daily projects.

THE SOLUTION

A Simple Structure

A streamlined task management software that is structured around every generalists preferred way of working and productivity management.

QUICK SNAPSHOT

QUICK SNAPSHOT

DESIGN PROBLEM

DESIGN PROBLEM

How can we enhance the work environment for generalists while integrating their personal productivity methods into their daily task management, enabling them to achieve a better flow state for each task?

How can we enhance the work environment for generalists while integrating their personal productivity methods into their daily task management, enabling them to achieve a better flow state for each task?

How can we enhance the work environment for generalists while integrating their personal productivity methods into their daily task management, enabling them to achieve a better flow state for each task?

  • AS/IS

    Typical day in the life of a full time self-starter

    Their day typically revolve around client meetings and prepping for their clients, anytime in between are used for day to day operational work. Their day are focused on client meetings and operational work are done throughout the day - resuming on the morning after. Usual self-starter users priorities reminders for their tasks when they start and when they are supposed to end since they are juggling a lot of roles for their business and a lot hidden tasks can go amiss and they are responsible for their own deadline.

  • AS/IS

    Typical day in the life of a full time self-starter

  • Typical day in the life of a full-time professional with a side hustle

    Their day heavily revolves around the current permanent full-time job while the side-hustle work has to be done in between them or throughout the night with its main operational work done on the weekends. The professional value productivity and doing things as efficiently as possible so that both roles are fulfilled. Users also point out that having an archive of tasks pending and completed are needed so none of their projects and subtasks are not taken care of.

  • Typical day in the life of a full-time professional with a side hustle

  • Typical day in the life of a versatile worker (multiple roles at one workplace)

    The versatile worker are more sporadic with their workload since their days are often unpredictable. While they usually have a main milestone they have to accomplish throughout the week, usually other subtasks present themselves, and the worker have to drop their main work and take care of the main most pressing matter on the day. This can be an impromptu teem/client meeting, a sudden presentation, etc. For this professional, categorizing tasks based on their priority scale is very important since that is how they structure their day to day.

  • Typical day in the life of a versatile worker (multiple roles at one workplace)

  • AS/IS

    Typical day in the life of a full time self-starter

    Their day typically revolve around client meetings and prepping for their clients, anytime in between are used for day to day operational work. Their day are focused on client meetings and operational work are done throughout the day - resuming on the morning after. Usual self-starter users priorities reminders for their tasks when they start and when they are supposed to end since they are juggling a lot of roles for their business and a lot hidden tasks can go amiss and they are responsible for their own deadline.

    Check on emails +task

    First morning meetings

    Prep for first meeting

    Start work

    Work Session 2

  • AS/IS

    Typical day in the life of a full time self-starter

  • Typical day in the life of a full-time professional with a side hustle

    Their day heavily revolves around the current permanent full-time job while the side-hustle work has to be done in between them or throughout the night with its main operational work done on the weekends. The professional value productivity and doing things as efficiently as possible so that both roles are fulfilled. Users also point out that having an archive of tasks pending and completed are needed so none of their projects and subtasks are not taken care of.

    Check on emails

    Side hustle work

    Side hustle work

    Main Work Session 1

    Commute

  • Typical day in the life of a full-time professional with a side hustle

    I like to reflect back on what I have/have not accomplished from the week. I have to use my physical journal for that

  • Typical day in the life of a versatile worker (multiple roles at one workplace)

    The versatile worker are more sporadic with their workload since their days are often unpredictable. While they usually have a main milestone they have to accomplish throughout the week, usually other subtasks present themselves, and the worker have to drop their main work and take care of the main most pressing matter on the day. This can be an impromptu teem/client meeting, a sudden presentation, etc. For this professional, categorizing tasks based on their priority scale is very important since that is how they structure their day to day.

    Gym + Breakfast

    Role 1 - Main Work Session

    Role 2 - Work Session

    Team meeting

    Check on emails

  • Typical day in the life of a versatile worker (multiple roles at one workplace)

    ‘I usually do the hard tasks first thing in the morning, that’s the thing that I want to see first in my homepage so it makes it clearer for me’

    ‘I don’t use every feature in my project management software’

  • How might we’s

    Key Insights

    Information Overload

    Users who prioritize seeing their most important task in the morning are still struggling to identify the button/feature that can achieve due to the homepage arrangement lacking clarity

    Need for versatility

    Users resort to using their physical journals to reflect on weekly tasks because their current management software lacks this feature or is not easily customizable, being too rigid in its structure.

    Distractions

    Users find it difficult to quickly update their daily task progress on the software due to an abundance of confusing and irrelevant features that distract them from their task.

  • User Research

    Their Current Project Management Software

    Why Users Rate It Highly

    Could be improved

    A lot of collaboration tools, in-task chats are very useful

    Too complex for beginner users of project management software

    Customizable, flexible

    Steep learning curve, too many features

    User Experience customization, Kanban board and Gantt chart integrated

    Steep learning curve

    Too little feature

    UI has too much clutter

    Designed around the concept of a Kanban Board

    Not as intuitive as other software

  • User Research

    Their Current Productivity Method

    Time Blocking

    Pomodoro Method

    Eisenhower Matrix

    Time Tracking

    80/20 Rule

    Task Batching

    Eat The Frog

    To/Be

    Oppurtunities

    Use card sorting results to simplify page navigation and create an information structure that matches users' understanding and priorities. This improves the discoverability and functionality of essential features.

    Add a 'review' page/feature to replace users' physical journals. This feature should not only track new tasks but also archive past achievements, making the software a versatile all-in-one solution for project management.

    Try integrating users' current productivity methods into existing task management software to streamline the overall task management process.

  • How might we’s

    Key Insights

    Information Overload

    Users who prioritize seeing their most important task in the morning are still struggling to identify the button/feature that can achieve due to the homepage arrangement lacking clarity

    Need for versatility

    Users resort to using their physical journals to reflect on weekly tasks because their current management software lacks this feature or is not easily customizable, being too rigid in its structure.

    Distractions

    Users find it difficult to quickly update their daily task progress on the software due to an abundance of confusing and irrelevant features that distract them from their task.

  • User Research

    Their Current Project Management Software

    Why Users Rate It Highly

    Could be improved

    A lot of collaboration tools, in-task chats are very useful

    Too complex for beginner users of project management software

    Customizable, flexible

    Steep learning curve, too many features

    User Experience customization, Kanban board and Gantt chart integrated

    Steep learning curve

    Too little feature

    UI has too much clutter

    Designed around the concept of a Kanban Board

    Not as intuitive as other software

  • User Research

    Their Current Productivity Method

    Time Blocking

    Pomodoro Method

    Eisenhower Matrix

    Time Tracking

    80/20 Rule

    Task Batching

    Eat The Frog

    To/Be

    Oppurtunities

    Use card sorting results to simplify page navigation and create an information structure that matches users' understanding and priorities. This improves the discoverability and functionality of essential features.

    Add a 'review' page/feature to replace users' physical journals. This feature should not only track new tasks but also archive past achievements, making the software a versatile all-in-one solution for project management.

    Try integrating users' current productivity methods into existing task management software to streamline the overall task management process.

  • How might we’s

    Key Insights

    Information Overload

    Users who prioritize seeing their most important task in the morning are still struggling to identify the button/feature that can achieve due to the homepage arrangement lacking clarity

    Need for versatility

    Users resort to using their physical journals to reflect on weekly tasks because their current management software lacks this feature or is not easily customizable, being too rigid in its structure.

    Distractions

    Users find it difficult to quickly update their daily task progress on the software due to an abundance of confusing and irrelevant features that distract them from their task.

  • User Research

    Their Current Project Management Software

    Why Users Rate It Highly

    Could be improved

    A lot of collaboration tools, in-task chats are very useful

    Too complex for beginner users of project management software

    Customizable, flexible

    Steep learning curve, too many features

    User Experience customization, Kanban board and Gantt chart integrated

    Steep learning curve

    Too little feature

    UI has too much clutter

    Designed around the concept of a Kanban Board

    Not as intuitive as other software

  • User Research

    Their Current Productivity Methods

    Time Blocking

    Pomodoro Method

    Eisenhower Matrix

    Time Tracking

    80/20 Rule

    Task Batching

    Eat the Frog

    User Research

    User Card Sorting Snapshot

  • To/Be

    Oppurtunities

    Try integrating users' current productivity methods into existing task management software to streamline the overall task management process.

DESIGN SOLUTION

You are a user of a project management software, Flow Space

You are a user of a project management software, Flow Space

You use this product everyday to manage your multiple jobs, stay on top of your personal tasks, while maintaining productivity and quality of work

You use this product everyday to manage your multiple jobs, stay on top of your personal tasks, while maintaining productivity and quality of work

You use this product everyday to manage your multiple jobs, stay on top of your personal tasks, while maintaining productivity and quality of work

You use this product everyday to manage your multiple jobs, stay on top of your personal tasks, while maintaining productivity and quality of work

  • Current overarching milestones

    Task Breakdown

    DASHBOARD

    Productivity methods implemented: Eat the frog, time tracking, pomodoro method.

  • Pomodoro button & Start button

    Kanban board breakdown

    Deadline reminder

    Attachments & subtasks

    KANBAN BOARD

    Productivity methods implemented: Kanban method, Eat the frog, time tracking, pomodoro method.

  • Do Later

    Not urgent & Important

    Delegate

    Urgent &

    Not Important

    Eliminate

    Not Urgent &

    Not Important

    Do First

    Urgent & Important

    PRIORITY TASK BOARD

    Productivity methods implemented: Eisenhower method.

  • Bite-sized time slots for

    every tasks

    Color coordinated

    task-batching

    CALENDAR VIEW

    Productivity methods implemented: Time blocking, task batching.

  • Bite-sized time slots for

    every tasks

    Color coordinated

    task-batching

    CALENDAR VIEW

    Productivity methods implemented: Time blocking, task batching.

  • Screenshot of completed

    milestone, projects, and tasks

    Recent reviews

    Overall reviews

    ACHIEVEMENTS

EVALUATION

EVALUATION

Test method - Observational usability testing

(in-person and remote) of 6 project management software users.

Each participant is given four tasks to complete. They were given clear start and end points for each task and were told to narrate their thought process and highlight any areas of confusion if any. Two additional tasks were also performed by the users using their current project management software as a mean to compare design performance and efficiency.

Test method - Observational usability testing

(in-person and remote) of 6 project management software users.

Each participant is given four tasks to complete. They were given clear start and end points for each task and were told to narrate their thought process and highlight any areas of confusion if any. Two additional tasks were also performed by the users using their current project management software as a mean to compare design performance and efficiency.

100% Task Success Rate

100% Task

Success Rate

Overall all user correctly completed tasks by users.

Overall all user correctly completed tasks by users.

70% - Net Promoter Score

70% - Net

Promoter Score

This suggests a strong base of users who are enthusiastic about the design performance of FlowSpace

This suggests a strong base of users who are enthusiastic about the design performance of FlowSpace

00:43 avg. completion time

Time on Task Completion

00:43 avg. completion time

Time on Task Completion

This is done to assess design efficiency and benchmark design performance in comparison to the user’s current software. The final average time-on-task completion in FlowSpace is 5 seconds faster than their usual software on two tasks.

This is done to assess design efficiency and benchmark design performance in comparison to the user’s current software. The final average time-on-task completion in FlowSpace is 5 seconds faster than their usual software on two tasks.

Win

Drag and Drop

The drag and drop function is very intuitive for project management softwares like FlowSpace. It directly correlates to the users mental model inside the work environment where they have to quickly and constantly reorganize, move, rearrange, and reorganize their multitudes of tasks. The drag and drop action help task reorganizing actions visible and immediate and enhance a responsive interface.

Win

Drag and Drop

The drag and drop function is very intuitive for project management softwares like FlowSpace. It directly correlates to the users mental model inside the work environment where they have to quickly and constantly reorganize, move, rearrange, and reorganize their multitudes of tasks. The drag and drop action help task reorganizing actions visible and immediate and enhance a responsive interface.

Loss

The Flow in ‘Guides’ section

Logos with no description result in wasted time and hinder efficiency, at first I wanted the logos to indicate that there are actually no hierarchy as to which productivity view that the users should view first or last. However this only created confusion amongst several users because they use things from top-bottom, left-right. I redesigned the main header to indicate a more personalized view and simplified the logos.

Loss

The Flow in ‘Guides’ section

Logos with no description result in wasted time and hinder efficiency, at first I wanted the logos to indicate that there are actually no hierarchy as to which productivity view that the users should view first or last. However this only created confusion amongst several users because they use things from top-bottom, left-right. I redesigned the main header to indicate a more personalized view and simplified the logos.

PERSONAL TAKEAWAYS

Supporting Solo Work and Team Collaboration

It should encourage collaboration with features like real-time feedback, while also being user-friendly for solo freelancers. By considering both types of users, we ensure that FlowSpace is engaging and easy to use for everyone.

Simplifying Project Management

I understood that FlowSpace should fit seamlessly into users' daily routines without being an added distraction. The software is meant to assist users, not overwhelm them. Also by recognizing that everyone manages tasks differently, I focused on making FlowSpace adaptable and customizable. I realized why observing the ‘as/is’ design stage is so important, especially with projects like FlowSpace since it is vital for a seamless hassle-free integration for the users.

Fostering User Engagement

During usability testing, users consistently mentioned the importance of accessing past projects. This feedback inspired me to consider adding more interactive gamification elements to the redesign. FlowSpace now features review boards and progress trackers to encourage users to stay engaged, motivated, and feel a sense of achievement after finishing their tasks.

©HayyuDesign2024

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©HayyuDesign2024

Resume

©HayyuDesign2024

Resume