case study:
zzzentertain
TIME ROLE
2 weeks UX Research
Business Competitive Analysis
Branding
Prototype
People struggling with restless nights may have problems with concentration and mood, and their everyday activities may seem more challenging. Focused on addressing this issue, I explored a simple solution that will help users achieve better sleep and enjoy more energized and productive days.
High-fidelity prototypes of Zzzentertain
PROBLEM
Sleep is a fundamental aspect of our well-being and it influences our physical and mental health. A quality night’s sleep should be a necessity because it is contributing to our performance during the day, it improves mood and overall resilience. Unfortunately, nowadays a lot of people are sufferring from not getting enough quality sleep feeling fatigued and tired.
RESEARCH
While conducting secondary research, surveys and interviews, my goal was to understand the sleep patterns of my users. I focused on exploring their pre-sleep routines and discovering practices that could contribute to a better sleep quality.
SURVEY INSIGHTS
Research
My survey, completed by 55 users, revealed a common issue: waking up feeling tired. Following, I conducted in-person interviews to understand the WHYs behind bedtime phone/TV use and irregular sleep schedules. The goal was to understand patterns and habits.
"Watching TV helps me relax and forget about what happened during the day, it doesn't require much thinking, so I can just sit on the couch and watch a movie."
BUSINESS COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS
Before moving on to the next steps, I took a look at competitors whose focus is to improve the sleep experience for their users. I have noticed that most of the brands are offering ways to relax, since stress is a main factor of sleep disorders. Many of them offer features like meditation, bedtime stories and calming sounds.
From the research I've done, I learned that users don't like to have their phones on when they are falling asleep. Many of them tried meditation but it requires consistent practice. Additionaly, competitor apps allow users to track their mood and conduct daily check-ins to evaluate both their emotional state and sleep quality.
Calm, Sleep Cycle & Headspace
USER PERSONA
PROBLEM STATEMENT & HOW MIGHT WE
Busy professionals need a way to take care of their sleep quality because they don’t wake up refreshed which influences their health and productivity during the day.
How Might We help busy professionals to improve their sleep quality to have healthier and more productive day?
IDEATION
Recognizing the need to encourage alternatives to TV watching for relaxation, I aimed to promote productivity and help users discover potential hobbies. The app's concept involves suggesting engaging pre-sleep activities, with an added feature allowing users to track friends, fostering motivation and shared accomplishment.
LOW-FIDELITY & MID-FIDELITY
I created a low-fidelity prototype focusing on key features. This included screens for activities, profile showcasing progress and a calendar, and a community section. Since the app suggests activities to be done outside and during concept testing this was not clear for the users, I chose a different starting activity to clarify this concept.
Moving to mid-fidelity, on the profile page I decided to replace the calendar with graphs so the progress is easier to read. Additionally, I received feedback during concept testing to change the names for the community and education sections, so they're more clear.
Low-fidelity & Mid-fidelity
BRAND ATTRIBUTES
The style I created is all about a playful and inviting atmosphere. My aim was to achieve a clean design and entertaining at the same time. The selected color palette is calming, tranquil and fun.
For typography, I chose Comfortaa — a font that reflects friendliness and modernity. Consistent with this style, I chose round shapes for the icons. The buttons I designed are not only visually appealing but also smooth, featuring two rounded corners with different radius.
I incorporated a lot of illustrations that add a sense of fun into the visual language.
Brand Attributes for Zzzentertain
HIGH-FIDELITY
My application features two user flows. The first is for new users who have just downloaded the app. These users initiate their journey by completing a questionnaire. Next, they select an activity and exit the app to engage in the chosen activity outside of the app. The second flow comes into play when a user returns to the app the following day.
First Flow
Second Flow
High-fidelity prototype of Zzzentertain
DARK MODE
I introduced a dark mode version of the app, specifically designed for users who prefer darker color schemes, especially during nighttime use. This dark mode is crucial as the reduced brightness minimizes eye strain, promotes a more comfortable viewing experience in low-light conditions and helps users unwind before bedtime, contributing to a quicker and more conducive transition into sleep.
Dark mode prototype of Zzzentertain
LEARNINGS
In this project I had to conduct a full research where I could improve my skills in writing questionnaires and conducting interviews. I realized it is very important part to fully understand the issue because it will help us to implement the best solution possible.
NEXT STEPS
My next step is to add a button in the home page screen with the feature that currently appears as a pop-up window for users to submit their activity. Having it on the home page will make sure that users won't miss this feauture and they will be able to add information any time.
I would also like to work more on the chart to be more clear so users could better understand their sleeping progress.
