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Overview
WHY?
The most notable quote from ancient times is the one shown on the left. Socrates and his followers showed us the importance to know ourselves, and how happy and virtuous is the person who knows himself.
OK... And now what?
After reading the ancient books that debated about this concept, I felt the need to create an app that would convey this knowledge to me. An app that would provide the most in depth knowledge of myself in an easy-to-follow way.
Understanding
Who would use this app?
The NEED
We live in a world where 4.7 Billion people are on the social media, constantly distracted by what others think, do or believe. There is of course a benefit in this overwhelming access to information, but the lack of self-knowledge makes the most of the people have identity crises or low self value*. But a place is needed for everyone to not follow someone else but understand himself.
The UNDERSTANDING
However, the time spam of those people are limited, the way to interact is lazy, and their patience is almost none existent*. This app would have to consider this user, someone who need to be engaged, interested and has quick access to what is proposed by the app.
The Social Dilema, Authors: Dr. Jacqueline Sperling
Social Media and Mental Health, Authors: Lawrence Robinson and Melinda Smith, M.A.
But most importantly...
31.4 gigabytes
Every month, 31 GB of data are collected from you. From every choice you make, every text you write or every photo you take.
If we do not know ourselves, someone or something knows.
You are Data
So lets make an app
Research
Interview
The first approach to find out how people reflect on themselves was to interview people that have the habit of writing a diary. I decided to first talk to 5 people in my network. In the recruitment, I tried to have people different in age most difficulty in sex, since I noticed that a dairy was used by mostly women.
When preparing the script, I kept the questions open enough for the participant to elaborate on their relationship with their wardrobe. In this phase, it was especially important for me to be unbiased and open so that I could spot the pain points.
Personas
Competition
After analyzing what are the needs of our user, it is important to analyze what are they already using.
Bravery
This app fits well with the habit guy, it brings a competitive approach to the self-knowledge, almost as if joining an adventure, with lots of data and training.
Headspace
This app fits well with the spiritual one. It provides a calm and meditative space. With lots of different approaches to meditation. Having it as a main goal to make it accessible and adaptive to any necessity
My Approach
A Chat app for your many selfs
One thing that is missing is this understanding of self. The conversation within. With this in mind, I decided to build a chat app that allows the user to talk with their past and ask their future self.
The answers and content from the diary would be collected to transform in an AI chatbot the user would be able to talk with in the future.
So your (28 years old) would be able to talk with your 25 years old self.
Design
Time Machine
My first sketches were focused on brainstorming an idea that would directly address this issue I found in the lack of self-knowledge people had nowadays.
Challenge
After finally having an idea, I focused on how to make it simple and easy to use. It felt almost like a workout, where every new draft it got simpler and easier to use.
The first lofi version had a big focus on the idea, but not so much on the usability. The design was too
complicated.
Lo fi Design
After that, I started brainstorming ways to make it easier. The issue was with the amount of text and color.
Medium fidelity Design
High fidelity Design
With this final design, I try to achieve a warm feeling and clean lines with a simple interface so that the user has a space for himself.
Flow
Flow
Evaluation & Iteration
After the prototype was finished, Mory went through a set of usabibilility tests.
My Past
The users were confused on how would they be able to talk with their past self even though they just downloaded the app.
Clarification on the user chronology.
Conversation
They weren't as engaged with the chat as expected.
Create more ways for the past to interact with the present.
Visual Design
Reflection
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The Importance of Persistence
There were many variations of how to make this idea into an app. I had to constantly let go of ideas I liked because I knew they would not work. There is always a new way to create something, do not stop at your first idea.
The Voice of The User
There are some good points the users shows me while testing the prototype. Without them, I would not know this issue would even appear.