FOCUS GEM

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Designing an Engaging Attention-Training App for Teens

Date
October – November 2023

Project Type
UI & Product Design / Solo 

Tools
Figma, Sensor Prototyping  

Location
New York 

Teenagers are significantly impacted by shortened attention spans caused by increased social media usage. Surveyed teens demonstrated an awareness of this problem and reported the desire for an engaging, user-friendly attention-training method. To this end, I designed a self-improvement app to positively enhance teenagers’ attention spans.

This project draws inspiration from a TikTok trend where repetitive, visually stimulating videos are presented alongside informative content to hold users’ attention on a video for longer. However, I aim to extend the utility of this method beyond entertainment. My app combines repetitive and stimulating video with timer-based psychological techniques and insights on the focus benefits of repetitive movements to craft an enjoyable, gamified attention-training method intended to deliver lasting results.

Recently, a TikTok trend has emerged that includes clips from the game “Subway Surfers” alongside more conventional “informative” video content. On average, viewers watch these combination videos for 40 seconds, which is eight times longer than the typical TikTok video. The principle behind this trend is that viewers can switch their focus between either of the two content types when they get bored, without leaving the video itself.

When informative content is combined with repetitive and relaxing stimuli, users tend to spend more time watching the video. What if we applied this technique in a constructive context to enhance people’s focus on work or school?

03 | Discover & Observation

Immediate results from repetitve movements

Many people naturally perform repetitive movements, often called “stimming,” in their daily lives. These actions enhance concentration, release excess energy, and help individuals stay engaged.

Long-term improvement through psychological techniques

Evidence suggests that a person’s ability to pay attention can be improved by progressively pushing the person to higher levels of performance. Two methods for achieving this are the Pomodoro Technique and Cognitive Training games.

Research indicates that teenagers experience the greatest attention impacts from heightened social media usage, resulting in shorter attention spans.

In a survey of 50 teenagers, I found that all expressed a willingness to explore enhancing their attention spans. A large majority leaned towards time management apps as their preferred option to achieve this.

Name : Henry

Gender : Male

Age : 19 years old

Location : New York

Profession : Student

Challenges

- Difficult to concentrate and finish tasks on time
- Easily distracted while working
- Hasn’t found time management apps he can persistently use
- Unable to track attention or train attention span over time
- Lack of supervision and structure in attention-training process

Goals

- Stay focused for longer periods
- Improve time management ability
- Find a fun and sustainable approach to self-improvement
- Unable to track attention or train attention span over time
- Lack of supervision and structure in attention-training process

Focus Enhancement

Help teenagers concentrate and enhance attention over the long term

Training Game

I designed a user-friendly game with level-based objectives and daily focus tracking based on the “Pomodoro Technique,” which involves alternating between work and breaks.

Sensory Regulation

Each training game has a tangible sensor to help users apply “stimming” principles for increased engagement.

Color

The overall color scheme of this app is gender-neutral and is associated with positivity, youth, and relaxation. The high contrast between the light yellow and purple contributes to good readability

Typography

The Exo font is a clean and stylish sans-serif typeface that can enhance the app's visual appeal with a modern look.

10 | UI Design

Users begin the game with a focus test to select the most suitable starting chapter. Completed chapters are available to replay. As the user progresses, the amount of focus time needed to complete a chapter goes up.

Each chapter has a specific duration. Users follow timer prompts to complete five rounds of work and breaks. While the timer is running, the character moves around the landscape in a repetitive walking motion. This acts as a constructive “distraction” to help users focus on their work.

Users can choose from different stimming options and follow tips on how to best leverage stimming for improving focus. This function is optional; users can use the switch to choose their stimming status.

The Me page has user information and progress status. The focus report graph aids users in effectively monitoring and visualizing their progress across different time periods.