Quarantine is a spontaneity killer; Refresh is the solution. Refresh is an app that helps users reduce their frustration during life in quarantine. An algorithm based on their preferences generates a unique daily feed for each individual, offering different activities each time they use the app.
Many individuals in quarantine have experienced a drop in mental health because of the stark contrast to regular life. One reason in particular is the lack of spontaneity, leading to days blurring together, and becoming frustrated by the repetitiveness of daily life, feeling “trapped” in the home.
One group looked at in particular were university students, whom many were laid off due to Covid-19 and forced to pass their time differently than usual. As such, the research goal was: How do university students approach their time during quarantine?
What are other noticeable behaviours?
The app should display different activities every time and if similar content is to be repeated, changes should be made to the presentation to “surprise” the user and provide variety (ex. varied illustrations/photography).
In competitor apps that are used to pass time (ex. Instagram, Tiktok), users rarely search for content and are happy with their algorithm-generated feed. This eliminates a need for a Search function in Refresh and filters can be used as a less intimidating tool for indecisive users.
It is important to create expectations to help users make decisions. Tags and information about an activity can be previewed to help users understand and make more enjoyable choices.
During the testing phase, I experimented with a weather identifier that could help users choose between indoor and outdoor activities. However, it was displayed in the wrong context and users didn’t understand what it was for. Instead, this feature was moved to the Filters screen.
After clicking on an activity card, the activity overview would show the summary before the real content. However, during testing I found that users expected to transition to the content right away and didn't understand why there was an extra step. Thus, it was deemed unnecessary to the user flow and cut out.
Colours, typeface, and shape decisions for Refresh were all chosen to keep a soothing, but lively look. The combination of these elements helped Refresh relate to the target audience and keep up with modern UI trends.
Users kick off the start of their algorithms by choosing initial interests so that Refresh can start generating their first feed.
The app will show users 3 activities based on their interests. As users interact with activities, such as completing, clicking, or bookmarking, the algorithm will continue to learn and recommend similar content.
In addition, every so often a user’s feed will suggest them an activity that is outside their set interest categories, but similar enough to spark spontaneity and give a delightful “surprise”.
Since a Search feature has been eliminated based on research conclusions, filters can instead be used to refine the feed. A “Favourite Categories” section is also available from the user’s onboarding information to help cater to their interests.
One of the main challenges that came with Refresh was the abstract user goal: to spark spontaneity. This required an unorthodox solution—redirecting users' focus away from their phones—and the ability to think outside the box. Thus, identifying user goals through research early-on was crucial. To guide users' attention, many design decisions were tailored to focus mainly on the activities so that they wouldn't become distracted by the platform itself.
While Refresh tackled the main issue with a lack of spontaneity at this stage, there are also more ways to help individuals struggling in quarantine. In fact, other individuals can be the biggest source for spontaneity. If I were to continue this project in the future, I would focus on devising a way for users to feel connected—the other major mental health need people were missing from quarantine life.
