An App Concept - UX, Design Process, UX Research
An App Concept - UX, Design Process, UX Research
An App Concept
UX, Design Process, UX Research
Wishbone - an App Concept
Wishbone
The Task
The Task
University of Washington, Paul G. Allen School of CS
Human Centered Interface Class - Principle Project
Create an product (wearable or app) that tracks something that is rooted in a problem that is profoundly human
The Approach
The Approach
Traverse through the entire design process - Research, Define, Design, Prototype, Test and Launch
The Approach
Traverse through the entire design process - Research, Define, Design, Prototype, Test and Launch
The Task
Create an product (wearable / app) that tracks something that is rooted in a problem that is profoundly human
The Problem - Conflict Resolution
The Problem - Conflict Resolution
The Problem - Conflict Resolution
Conflict is unavoidable in interpersonal relationships and many people have a hard time navigating conflict. Consequences of unhealthy conflict include sacrificing ones' own values, physical or emotional abuse, lack of follow through, miscommunication and disconnection between those involved. We decided to focus on interpersonal conflict rather than conflict as a whole. Workplace conflict is heavily covered, so we excluded that in our design.
Big or small almost everybody has experienced some form of conflict with friends, family, or significant others. Resolution may end up being very messy or leads to undesirable outcomes due how it is dealt with. 57% of divorced couples said that conflict was a reason for divorce.
Conflict is unavoidable in interpersonal relationships and many people have a hard time navigating conflict. Consequences of unhealthy conflict include sacrificing ones' own values, physical or emotional abuse, lack of follow through, miscommunication and disconnection between those involved. We decided to focus on interpersonal conflict rather than conflict as a whole. Workplace conflict is heavily covered, so we excluded that in our design.
Big or small almost everybody has experienced some form of conflict with friends, family, or significant others. Resolution may end up being very messy or leads to undesirable outcomes due how it is dealt with. 57% of divorced couples said that conflict was a reason for divorce.
Our Solution
Our Solution
Our Solution
Wishbone facilitates meaningful resolution through a blend of personal and cooperative reflection. Ultimately, leading both parties to identify and agree upon action points to effectively address the needs of the other.
Design Process
Key Features
Design
Research / Define
Once we decided on non-professional conflict, we interviewed numerous experts, such as psychology professors and seasoned family therapists.
Some of the key findings we found were:
Validation/recognition of emotions and feelings of both parties is important to healthy conflict resolution
Time and space to cool down or pause and process is a valuable practice in defusing situations
Conflict intensity and handling is dependent on level of comfort/intimacy/trust with the other person
Communication of needs and emotions between people in conflict is important
Seeking the advice of other people/sources to validate their feelings before engaging in active conflict
Once we decided on non-professional conflict, we interviewed numerous experts, such as psychology professors and seasoned family therapists.
Some of the key findings we found were:
Validation/recognition of emotions and feelings of both parties is important to healthy conflict resolution
Time and space to cool down or pause and process is a valuable practice in defusing situations
Conflict intensity and handling is dependent on level of comfort/intimacy/trust with the other person
Communication of needs and emotions between people in conflict is important
Seeking the advice of other people/sources to validate their feelings before engaging in active conflict
Design / Prototype
Design / Prototype
Design / Prototype
Prototyping included lo-fi paper prototyping and hi-fi prototypes on Figma. This is where we nailed down mechanics of sharing journals wth the other parties, as well as increasing accessibility by including talk-to-text options for processing and sharing.
Prototyping included lo-fi paper prototyping and hi-fi prototypes on Figma. This is where we nailed down mechanics of sharing journals wth the other parties, as well as increasing accessibility by including talk-to-text options for processing and sharing.
Key Features
Process Your Emotions
One of the biggest takeaways in conflict resolution is the importance of processing your own emotions before delving into someone else's. These two features gently guide a user through their emotions and thoughts, as well as gives them a recorded log, so over time, they can see how powerful emotions can be in the moment and can change with time.
One of the biggest takeaways in conflict resolution is the importance of processing your own emotions before delving into someone else's. These two features gently guide a user through their emotions and thoughts, as well as gives them a recorded log, so over time, they can see how powerful emotions can be in the moment and can change with time.
Acknowledge
Each Other's Feelings
Processing feelings independently has it's own benefits, like cooldown, mnidfulness, trauma processing, but those emotions also need to be shared and acknowledged with the other person. Vulnerable communication showed up numerous times in our expert's experience.
We also recognize that this medium of asynchronous sharing can be weaponized, but we are sure to emphasize our definition of vulnerability: not necessarily sharing more, but sharing appropriately.
Acknowledge
Each Other's Feelings
Processing feelings independently has it's own benefits, like cooldown, mindfulness, trauma processing, but those emotions also need to be shared and acknowledged with the other person. Vulnerable communication showed up numerous times in our expert's experience.
We also recognize that this medium of asynchronous sharing can be weaponized, but we are sure to emphasize our definition of vulnerability: not necessarily sharing more, but sharing appropriately.
Expert Opinions
Expert Opinions
With such nebulous and misunderstood topics like conflict resolution and social emotional processing, we understand that users seek credibility behind these guides. These "expert takes" are directly referencing our research from multiple certified therapists and professors, only including information that showed up multiple times.
We also acknowledge that Wishbone is a high-commitment app, meaning it requires high buy in from the users. If they want to write something hurtful or unproductive, we have nothing to stop them, but hope that these expert guides empahsize the importance of such and encourage them to use wishbone thoughtfully.
With such nebulous and misunderstood topics like conflict resolution and social emotional processing, we understand that users seek credibility behind these guides. These "expert takes" are directly referencing our research from multiple certified therapists and professors, only including information that showed up multiple times.
We also acknowledge that Wishbone is a high-commitment app, meaning it requires high buy in from the users. If they want to write something hurtful or unproductive, we have nothing to stop them, but hope that these expert guides empahsize the importance of such and encourage them to use wishbone thoughtfully.
Process Your Own Emotions
One of the biggest takeaways in conflict resolution is the importance of processing your own emotions before delving into someone else's. These two features gently guide a user through their emotions and thoughts, as well as gives them a recorded log, so over time, they can see how powerful emotions can be in the moment and can change with time.
Design Choices: Emojis may seem informal, but we wanted something familiar, casual, and approachable so people would actually fill out the emotions, and be able to expand their emotional vocabulary. Emoticons do a great job of being expressive and diverse.
Expert Opinions
With such nebulous and misunderstood topics like conflict resolution and social emotional processing, we understand that users seek credibility behind these guides. These "expert takes" are directly referencing our research from multiple certified therapists and professors, only including information that showed up multiple times.
We also acknowledge that Wishbone is a high-commitment app, meaning it requires high buy in from the users. If they want to write something hurtful or unproductive, we have nothing to stop them, but hope that these expert guides empahsize the importance of such and encourage them to use wishbone thoughtfully.
Acknowledge
Each Other's Feelings
Wishbone facilitates meaningful resolution through a blend of personal and cooperative reflection. Ultimately, leading both parties to identify and agree upon action points to effectively address the needs of the other.
Style Choices
Font: Very unobtrusive and contemporary, but too reminiscent of any academic or workplace standardized fonts, as a way to separate workplace conflict from personal conflict. A more casual, vulnerable, personal feel.
Color Palette: I wanted the color Palette to be a muted version of the colors in the feelings wheel, and chose purple as the primary color because it has the weakest preexisting association to an emotion.
Personal Pictures: I wanted the pictures of loved ones to show up multiple times throughout the Wishbone flows, because in conflict and in technology, we can separate the words we are writing from the people we are (in theory) saying them to or about. Incorporating pictures can be an instantaneous grounding moment.
Design
Maddie Chan
Font: Very unobtrusive and contemporary, but too reminiscent of any academic or workplace standardized fonts, as a way to separate workplace conflict from personal conflict. A more casual, vulnerable, personal feel.
Personal Pictures: I wanted the pictures of loved ones to show up multiple times throughout the Wishbone flows, because in conflict and in technology, we can separate the words we are writing from the people we are (in theory) saying them to or about. Incorporating pictures can be an instantaneous grounding moment.
Color Palette: I wanted the color Palette to be a muted version of the colors in the feelings wheel, and chose purple as the primary color because it has the weakest preexisting association to an emotion.