Key Takeaways
Through working on HighFive, I learned the true value of “when in doubt, try it out.” Testing and iteration became my go-to approach, allowing me to make informed design decisions based on real user feedback. Instead of guessing, I let the results guide me, which ultimately made the design stronger and more user-centered. Embracing this process taught me that great design isn’t about getting it right the first time—it’s about learning, adjusting, and improving every step of the way.
Did you know that 80% of people abandon their New Year's resolutions by February?
Problem Statement
How can we help young adults stick with their personal goals by giving them the right support and a fun way to stay motivated?
Trends
Increased Screen Time
Digital Distractions
Mental Health Concerns
Research and Insights
9
Design Ideas
Prototypes
7
Participants
24
Concept Development
From the very start, we embraced the motto “when in doubt, test it out.” This project was all about trying things, seeing what worked, and learning from real users to improve our designs. Rather than waiting until everything was polished, we dove right into prototyping and testing as part of our research process. We wanted real feedback to guide us.
Theory of change
Three Major Insights
Visible progress boosts motivation.
Accountability improves consistency.
Gamification enhances engagement.
More Testing and Iteration
We explored several key features, like the buddy system, rewards, and progress tracking. To simulate the buddy system, we created a Slack channel and manually prompted users to interact with each other, as if they were using the app. This gave us valuable insights into how the buddy system could work and what kind of interactions users found motivating.
Users loved the idea of earning stars and rewards, but they wanted the progress bar to be more central, so we adjusted that.
01
The buddy system worked well for accountability, but users felt they needed more flexibility, and opportunities to introduce the “emergency break” feature.
02
Now Introducing...
Buddy System
Key feature 01:
The heart of HighFive is the buddy system. We knew that having someone to share the journey with makes a big difference, so we designed the app to pair users with a friend or accountability partner. You and your buddy can set goals together, check each other’s progress, and give each other a nudge when needed.
Gamification System
Key feature 02:
We wanted to make achieving goals fun and rewarding, so we built in a gamification system. Every time you complete a task, you earn stars, badges, and even unlock special milestones. Users loved this during testing—it gave them that extra push to keep going. By turning goal-setting into a game, we helped make the process feel less like a chore and more like a series of small, satisfying wins.
A moment to celebrate
Key feature 03:
We know how important it is to feel recognized for your hard work, so we built moments of celebration into the app. Every time you hit a big milestone, the app celebrates with you—fun animations and visuals pop up to mark your achievement.
Results and Impact
HighFive made a real difference for the users who tried it out. Having someone to check in with and celebrate their progress made all the difference. Users also loved the gamification—earning stars and badges gave them a sense of accomplishment and made the journey more fun.
Next Steps
Moving forward, we plan to:
• Further personalize the app experience to tailor it to different types of goals.
• Partner with wellness and educational organizations to expand HighFive’s user base.
• Introduce group challenges and community features to increase engagement.
Overview
An app designed to help young adults achieve their personal goals through the power of social support, engaging gamification, and personalized progress tracking.
Project Type
Academic/Student Project - CCA MDES Social Lab Class
Design for Social Impact
Project Date
May-August 2024
My Role
UX Designer, User Researcher, Interaction Designer
Teammate
Emma Chuang
See my other projects...
We’ve all been there—whether it’s trying to pick up a new hobby, learn a language, or get fit, keeping up with personal goals can be tough, especially with work and school taking up so much time. Many people set goals but lose motivation along the way, mostly because they feel like they’re going at it alone.
The Challenge
Prototyping and Testing
Instead of separating design from research, we did both at the same time. Each prototype went through rounds of user testing, where we gathered feedback, tweaked the designs, and tested again. This made the project very iterative and helped us quickly narrow down the best solutions.
When in Doubt, Test it out!
