Tasked by the founders, our team assessed the Affirmation Studio app’s user interface to propose improvements. Through eight moderated sessions, we examined the mobile app's usability, identifying key areas for enhancement. Our focused report outlines actionable recommendations to boost user experience, aiming for a seamless journey in achieving a positive mindset and fulfilling life goals. This effort reflects our commitment to refining and elevating the app’s impact.
March - May 2023
UX Research
UI Design
Moderated User testing
Zoom, Figma, Google Suit, Adobe Creative Clouds
Our journey began with a promising kickoff meeting, during which we collaborated with Affirmation Studio's founder and co-founder to understand the usability of the application and identify any issues that might confuse or frustrate users, with particular attention to the positive statement section.
Our group strategically allocated tasks, each member concentrating on distinct facets of the study and testing to ensure comprehensive insights into the app's user experience. My primary role involved transforming our ideas and procedural steps into visual interpretations, facilitating a clear and engaging understanding of our findings and recommendations.
Our usability research utilized moderated user testing to capture real interactions with the Affirmation Studio app, aiming to uncover user pain points, motivations, and needs. We engaged eight participants in a mix of remote (via Zoom) and in-person sessions at Pratt Institute, involving both graduate participants and interpreters. Each session lasted between 30-60 minutes, encompassing a pre-test questionnaire, task-driven evaluations, and a post-test questionnaire to delve into users’ experiences and feedback.
Participants provided insights into their interests, preferences, and wellness practices, setting the stage for personalized task-focused experiences.
Highlighted usability challenges, offering a window into the app’s impact on user experience.
Seven tasks were designed around application interaction and AI engagement, reflecting Affirmation Studio’s goals and user preferences.
Challenges with finding settings and desiring sound previews.
Appreciation for sound variety yet overwhelmed by options.
Difficulties in accessing AI affirmations and navigating icons.
Requests for separate music and affirmation volume controls and clearer AI functionality.
The primary insight was the app’s complexity and user confusion, particularly around the AI-generated affirmations feature. Our analysis identified four main usability concerns:
The need for clearer guidance on using AI features was evident.
Lack of awareness about AI-generated affirmations hindered engagement.
Users sought more control over sound settings and preferences.
Users struggled with the app’s interface, finding it non-intuitive.
To address these issues, we recommend simplifying the user interface, enhancing feature visibility, offering detailed audio customization options, and improving instructions for engaging with AI capabilities. These steps aim to refine the user experience, making the app more accessible and enjoyable for its audience.
The user had problems with the onboarding screen, which was unfriendly, especially difficult to leave, and lacking in content and explanation of each focus area. The app's positive attitude is not reflected in the onboarding user interface because the background was dark, which evokes sadness.
The onboarding screen should be designed to look more cheerful and welcoming and also offer users the choice to leave the application at any moment. Additional context and details should be included in the onboarding process.
The amount of misleading and confusing icons rendered it difficult for users to see the interface. As a result, users had problems identifying the functions and navigating the screen since they were unsure of where to click first. Two rows of icons clutter this landing page.
The focus area, audio settings, favorites, and settings icons can be rearranged. The font and background can be changed using the settings menu. The landing page should have icons only for the primary actions.
The lack of clarity and intuitiveness in the icons made it tough for users to navigate paths. Additionally, there were multiple ways to get to the main area, which confused people. The users found it difficult to edit and delete particular affirmations. Users were required to repeatedly browse through the same screens.
Include an 'Explore Focus Area' as a search bar at the top and eliminate the focus area floating indicator from the bottom. The playlist of affirmations should use a delete by swiping right option. It should make affirmations easy to select or delete for users.
Users found the current voice to be quite melancholy and expressed a desire to change the settings for the voice. They were overwhelmed with all the different audio settings and found it time consuming to customize.
Provide an option to customize the voice including gender, speech speed, etc. Customization should combine the ambience, binaural beats, and audio customization all at one time. Additionally, there should be a preview and visual representation of the sound.
“I like the suggestion of combining three different audio taps, customization of beats and ambiance. We also suggested making improvements by making better beats and ambiance. This is pretty interesting, we can make the customization a separate tab as well. I like the music selections, the preview, play, and pause. I notice a detail there of the state change.“
- Kerry Siderakis, co-founder of Affirmative studio
This project marked my first foray into Moderated Usability Testing (MUT), presenting unique challenges in balancing participant observation with interpreter communication. Despite these hurdles, our collaborative team effort led to successful testing and valuable insights. This experience underscored the importance of understanding specific user needs and targeting appropriate user groups.
The positive client feedback and the practical application of our recommendations affirmed the project's impact. We anticipate these changes will significantly improve app usability, enhancing user experiences during challenging times and fostering positivity. This project not only advanced my skills in usability testing but also highlighted the potential of digital tools in promoting mental well-being.
