The project at a glance

The research and process behind each step are in the collapsed sections at the end of the page.

Three decisions that shaped the dashboard

01

A sidebar for every study tool

The decision

Move the study tools into a sidebar where every item has an icon and a clear label. The most-used tools stay visible; the rest open under “See More”.

Why

Students had trouble finding essential resources on the old, text-heavy page. A goal was to make study resources easy to reach with a sidebar and clear labels, so users can quickly locate and focus on their materials.

02

Colour-coded study modules

The decision

Group the course into “Study by Subject” cards, each with its own colour, completion percentage and number of items due.

Why

The old layout lacked clear organization. Colour-coded sections and progress indicators create a clean layout that reduces cognitive load and helps users prioritize at a glance.

03

Progress and a reason to come back daily

The decision

Put program progress and a streak counter at the top, with today's daily passages, flashcards and upcoming live sessions on the same screen.

Why

Students had limited ways to track their advancement, which can hinder motivation. The goals were visible progress for each subject, and interactive elements like daily passages and live session schedules to encourage regular study habits.

What the research showed

I compared two indirect competitors, Duolingo and Busuu, and three direct ones, Blueprint, Bootcamp.com and UWorld, across first impressions, features, accessibility, user flow, navigation, brand identity, tone and content.

Where the insights went

Five key insights came out of the analysis. Three shaped this version of the dashboard; two are still open.

• Simplify navigation

  In the design A sidebar with an icon and a label for every study tool. Decision 01

• Progress tracking and gamification

  In the design A program progress bar and a streak counter in the welcome header. Decision 03

• Guided prompts

  In the design Today's daily passages give a place to start at every login. Decision 03

• Boost accessibility

  Still open Scalable text, colour-coding options and dark mode are listed under next steps.

• Personalization

  Still open Study recommendations based on past activity are listed under next steps.

The proposed dashboard

This design came together based on input from the company, users and developers. We stuck with existing components to keep the look and feel consistent across the board. The final layout reflects the company's specific requests, which is why there are currently two navigation bars: a temporary setup, kept on the company's and developers' feedback.

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1. A sidebar with an icon and a label for every study tool.
2. Program progress, visible as soon as the page opens.
3. Colour-coded subject cards with completion and items due.
4. Today's daily passages and flashcards, one step from home.
5. Upcoming live sessions with a “Count me in” button.
6. The existing top bar, kept for now at the company's and developers' request.

Graveyard

Earlier dashboard layouts that tested different ways to arrange subjects, passages and sessions. None of them made it to the final design, but each one taught us something about the final layout.

• Here liesLayout 01Turn me over

  Layout 01

• Here liesLayout 02Turn me over

  Layout 02

• Here liesLayout 03Turn me over

  Layout 03

• Here liesLayout 04Turn me over

  Layout 04

• Here liesLayout 05Turn me over

  Layout 05

• Here liesLayout 06Turn me over

  Layout 06

Hover over or tap a stone to see what it buried.

What I would explore next

• Gamification

  Daily streaks, badges for milestones, or points users can earn for completing sections to boost engagement.

• AI-driven personalization

  AI-driven suggestions for “Next Steps” based on user progress and learning patterns, making study recommendations smarter and more tailored.

• Detailed progress tracking

  A breakdown of progress within each subject and goal-setting options, so users can track their weekly and monthly targets.

• Social and interactive elements

  Peer study groups or forums, RSVP options for live sessions with reminders, and a leaderboard for friendly competition.

• Accessibility

  Dark mode and font size adjustments for improved readability.

• Study planning

  A personalized study plan generator and a recap of weekly and monthly accomplishments to help users stay organized.

Everything behind the decisions above, collapsed to keep the page short.

KickoffIntroduction, problem statement and goals

Introduction

This case study covers the redesign of the Jack Westin homepage with the goal of crafting a friendlier, more engaging, and efficient experience for all users. The project honed in on navigation and usability challenges in the existing design, aiming to give MCAT students smoother, more intuitive access to the tools and resources they need.

My roleMy role involved analyzing user needs, researching competitive solutions, and designing improvements to make navigation clear and easy, helping users get to key resources without the hassle.

Problem statement

The current Jack Westin dashboard for paid users feels dense and overly text-focused, making it challenging for users to find essential resources or monitor their progress. The layout lacks clear organization, with few interactive features and limited ways for users to track their advancement, which can hinder their motivation to stay engaged.

A redesign is necessary to enhance navigation, establish a clean visual hierarchy, and improve accessibility, creating a more supportive and efficient study environment for MCAT preparation.

Goals

• Improved navigation

  Make essential study resources easily accessible with a sidebar and clear labels, allowing users to quickly locate and focus on their materials.

• Enhanced visual organization

  Use colour-coded sections and progress indicators to create a clean, easy-to-navigate layout that reduces cognitive load and helps users prioritize at a glance.

• Boosted engagement

  Introduce interactive elements, like daily passages and live session schedules, to encourage regular study habits and increase daily usage.

• Progress tracking and motivation

  Add visible progress bars and completion indicators for each subject, helping users track their achievements and identify areas for improvement.

ResearchCompetitive audit and key insights

Competitive analysis

Five platforms, two indirect and three direct competitors, rated on the same criteria. Scroll sideways to see the full audit.

• Competitor
• DuolingoIndirect
• BusuuIndirect
• BlueprintDirect
• Bootcamp.comDirect
• UWorldDirect

Key insights

Simplify navigation

A cleaner layout with a sidebar with icons could make it easier for users to find what they need without feeling overwhelmed.

Progress tracking and gamification

Add progress bars, daily tasks, or streaks to keep users motivated and engaged.

Boost accessibility

Add scalable text and colour-coding options so it's inclusive for everyone.

Guided prompts

Include a “Today's Tasks” or “Next Steps” section to give users a sense of direction each time they log in.

Personalization

Incorporate personalized study recommendations based on past activity.

MoodboardLearning apps and dashboards that felt light, organized and rewarding

Moodboard

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The project at a glance

The research and process behind each step are in the collapsed sections at the end of the page.

Three decisions that shaped the app

01

A to-do list built on subtasks

The decision

Tasks appear in the priority you choose, marked with different colours. Only high-importance tasks use the outlier colour. When adding a task you can break it into subtasks. This is the salami tactic: a series of small actions that add up to a result that would be difficult to achieve all at once.

Why

In my survey of 29 people, 72% said they struggle with task management and 86% find to-do lists helpful. Breaking big tasks into smaller tasks was among the most helpful strategies respondents named.

02

Fokus Mode: one task at a time

The decision

Fokus Mode makes it possible to do one task at a time without distractions, and to track your progress.

Why

In the same survey, 65% reported problems regulating attention and 41% said they jump between tasks. Someone in my qualitative research said: “I'm having trouble focusing. I start a task and switch to another task without realizing it, so at the end of the day I haven't completed any of the tasks.”

The idea behind it

Completing one task at a time should lower stress, and seeing progress should increase motivation. In the words of Alex Walz: “It's the idea that we can achieve greater success, while doing less work, by approaching complex problems one step at a time.”

03

A gamified play challenge

The decision

A task can be played as a timed challenge. Its subtasks appear as a path with a timer and a pause button, and you move through them one at a time.

Why

Experts say intrinsic motivation can be hard for people with ADHD and external motivation can help, so I added a play challenge. I haven't tested whether it motivates people. It was part of the informal lo-fi test, which found usability issues only.

What the research showed

What testing changed

I shared the lo-fi prototype with friends and family, as I didn't have access to participants with ADHD at the time. Each participant was asked to complete two tasks: adding a new task and using Fokus Mode. This helped me gather initial usability feedback, identify areas that needed improvement, and assess whether the app was intuitive and easy to navigate. I documented the findings and used them to inform the next iteration of the design.

• Users need an explanation for the play challenge

  In the hi-fi Before it starts, the challenge screen explains how to begin and how to move to the next subtask. Decision 03

• Users need more customization options when adding a task

  In the hi-fi Add task has keep active, repeat, priority, alarm, reminder and challenge options. Decision 01

• Users need a pause button on the play challenge

  In the hi-fi The running challenge has a pause button below the subtasks. Decision 03

• Users need a progress bar to see their progression

  In the hi-fi The task screen shows progress as a ring with completed subtasks (01/03). Decision 02

The hi-fi prototype

I took care of every graphic detail and kept the structure and sequence of operations developed from the earlier conclusions.

Everything behind the decisions above, collapsed to keep the page short.

KickoffThe problem, goals, my first questions, what ADHD is, and the six stages

The problem

People need a way to make to-do lists and tasks easier. The problem lies in a lack of focus and motivation. Fokus is meant to help people focus and stay motivated by gamifying their tasks.

There are many benefits of current task management applications, but people who get distracted easily or want to focus on their work, such as people with ADHD, want to see their tasks in order and finish them without jumping between tasks and getting stressed.

Goals

• Single tasks to lower stress levels
• Make a to-do list
• Get better at task prioritization
• Increase dopamine levels with gamification in the app
• Split enormous tasks into smaller tasks

Project brief

Following a goal-directed design process, I rounded out key questions that would drive the rest of the process, listing my initial assumptions about the users and the product.

1. Who is our primary audience?
2. What do our users need the most?
3. Which users are most important to the business?
4. Which common features will be necessary in the product?

What is ADHD?

ADHDAttention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

ADHD is a neurobehavioral disorder that includes a combination of persisting problems such as difficulty paying attention, hyperactivity, forgetfulness and impulsive behavior.

ADHD Hyperactive-Impulsive Type

Characterized by symptoms of impulsivity and hyperactivity.

ADHD Inattentive Type (ADD)

May involve more symptoms of inattention and disorganization.

ADHD Combined Type

A mix of both types.

Six stages

The work moved through six stages, from strategy to testing.

1. StrategyProblemGoals
2. EmpathizeInterviewsPain pointsPersonas
3. DefineJobs to be doneFunctionalities
4. IdeateUser flowWireframesLo-fi prototype
5. PrototypeMockupsHi-fi prototype
6. TestUser testingFeedback

ResearchSurvey results, interviews, competitor analysis and pain points

Survey

To collect numerical data, I published an online survey in ADHD community forums. A total of 29 people responded. These figures describe this group only.

Each percentage is the share of the 29 respondents who gave that answer. Answers marked with a decision fed straight into the design.

Which subtype of ADHD have you been diagnosed with?

• 65%Combined type
• 19%Inattentive type
• 16%Hyperactive-impulsive type

Do you find to-do lists helpful?

• 86%Yes→ Decision 01

What do you struggle with the most?

• 72%Task management→ Decision 01
• 65%Regulating attention→ Decision 02
• 62%Time management
• 60%Disorganization
• 55%Forgetfulness
• 41%Jumping between tasks→ Decision 02

What is the most helpful strategy you use to alleviate the symptoms of ADHD/ADD?

• Break big tasks into smaller tasks → Decision 01
• Follow a routine
• To-do lists
• Alarms and reminders
• Journaling
• Setting goals
• App blockers
• Timers
• Writing everything down

Qualitative research

To better understand the needs and check my assumptions, I interviewed friends and family about their daily use of spreadsheets, and I read an ADHD community page to gain insight on the topic.

• I'm having trouble focusing. I start a task and switch to another task without realizing it, so at the end of the day I haven't completed any of the tasks.
• I feel so unmotivated to start a task if I find it boring or overwhelming.
• Since I am a forgetful person, spreadsheets help a lot to write down what I need to do.
• Spreadsheets help me to list my tasks in order of importance. It's comforting to know what to do in order during today.
• I started using spreadsheets years ago and I can confidently say that without it I would never have finished my degree, found my apartment or gotten my current job.

Competitor analysis: StudyBunny

Many apps already try to solve some of the problems Fokus targets. A competitive analysis helped me understand their advantages and disadvantages, the points to take into account, and the crucial features. I chose StudyBunny because I aim to gamify Fokus.

StudyBunny

Strengths

• Keeps track of focused time without distractions
• Flashcards for the tasks at hand
• Timers for specific tasks

Weaknesses

• Outdated UI
• Doesn't remind you of the task if you get distracted
• Doesn't stop notifications or calls

Opportunities

• Create a clear, linear and straightforward process for making a to-do list
• Incorporate new intuitive UI elements while keeping a familiar experience
• Gamify the app to keep the user motivated

Pain points

• Problems focusing on the task
• Disorganization and problems prioritizing
• Forgetfulness
• Time blindness
• Trouble multitasking
• Lack of motivation and procrastination
• Poor planning
• Poor time management

Defining the appPersonas, needs, how might we, jobs to be done and functionalities

Personas

Imagining a person who combines the characteristics and needs of potential users helps put their perspective on the project. I created two hypothetical people that summarize the context, needs, frustrations and goals of users. They are not research participants.

H

Hazel, 33

Graphic designer

Works for a big company and takes freelance jobs at the same time. ADD (Inattentive Type): chronic procrastination, struggles with task management.

Goals

• Wants to feel less anxious
• Be more organized
• Be able to complete projects on time
• Gain motivation and confidence

Frustrations

• Gets anxious when she doesn't achieve her goals
• Low self-esteem due to chronic procrastination
• Disorganization
• Forgetfulness

J

Joseph, 29

Music producer

Lives in Germany. ADHD (Combined Type): struggles with attention control and time management.

Goals

• Keep focus
• Feel motivated
• Improve productivity
• Achieve his goals

Frustrations

• Unable to focus when the task is overwhelming
• Loses track of time when hyper-focused
• Unable to prioritize tasks
• Lack of motivation

User needs

I believe that creating an app for adults with ADHD/ADD will help them cope with task and time management and will improve their mental well-being.

• Joseph, a young man with ADHD, needs a way to stay focused and motivated to be able to achieve his goals.
• Hazel, a young woman with ADHD, needs a way to break the cycle of avoidance behavior to be able to finish tasks and meet deadlines successfully, so she feels less anxious.

How might we?

• How might we help a person with ADHD keep focus and finish their daily goals successfully?
• How might we help a person with ADHD/ADD break the cycle of avoidance behavior and finish a task successfully?

Jobs to be done

• Add advanced filtering
• Make doing tasks fun
• Add a subtasks section
• Make a notes section
• Add reminders and alarms
• Make the app easy to use

Functionalities

IdeateScenario, storyboard, sketches and lo-fi wireframes

Key path scenario and storyboard

1. Hazel opens the app.
2. She taps Add task.
3. She fills out the page as she desires and adds tasks to her schedule.
4. She taps the Sort by button to see her tasks in chronological order.
5. She starts her task in Fokus Mode.
6. She finishes her tasks.

Sketches and lo-fi wireframes

The lo-fi prototype shows the structure of the app and the sequence of operations without graphic elements. By creating it I can find out whether my design is intuitive and understandable for the user.

Sketches

• To-do list
• Add task
• Calendar
• Progress
• Fokus Mode
• Well done

Lo-fi wireframes

• Splash
• Log in
• Sign up
• To-do list
• Add task
• Sort by
• Sort by, selected
• Sorted by priority
• Calendar, daily
• Calendar, monthly
• Fokus Mode
• Subtask 1
• Subtask 2
• Subtask 3
• Subtask 4
• Well done

Usability testingMethod, research questions, KPIs and conclusions

Method

At the time I didn't have people with ADHD around me to test with, so I ran some of my family and friends through a lo-fi prototype to better understand their interaction patterns. Each was given the simple tasks of adding a new task and playing Fokus Mode. They were not difficult tasks, but the point was how people thought through the process.

The questions behind the test were: what went wrong, what have I done correctly, and how can I translate user feedback and perceptions into intuitive solutions?

Research questions I set for the test

1. How long does it take a user to complete the given task?
2. What were some of the frustrations users had with the app throughout the process?
3. Do users think the Fokus app is helpful and/or useful?
4. Are there more features that users would like to see included in the app?
5. Would users recommend an app like this to their friends and family?

Planned KPIs

I planned to track time on task, conversion, error rates and SUS but did not collect them.

Conclusions

• Users need an explanation for the play challenge.
• Users need more customization options when adding a task.
• Users need a pause button on the play challenge.
• Users need a progress bar to see their progression.

The project at a glance

From common problems to possible solutions

I looked at what riders write about scooter apps online and turned their common problems into possible solutions.

1. Lots of steps to registerRegister with only phone number, name and birthday
2. Can't see the scooter battery without going to scooter detailsShow each scooter's battery status on the map
3. Extra payment for locking time when parkingPause riding for 4 minutes to give time for locking the scooter
4. PrepaidCharge after the ride
5. Allows only one scooter to rentGroup ride: rent multiple scooters, up to 5
6. Can't foresee the amount to be paidSee the amount to be paid when creating a route
7. Can't filter the ride historyFilter ride history by date, price, rating, duration and credit card

Hover over a problem to cross it out.

Four apps, seven features

I compared four scooter apps on the features that came out of the netnography. A ride history filter, a rough cost estimate and pausing a ride were missing from all four.

Feature
Login without registration	Yes	Yes	No	No
Scooter battery status on the map	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Group riding	No	No	No	Yes
Ride history	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Ride history filterMissing from all four	No	No	No	No
Calculate rough costMissing from all four	No	No	No	No
Pause rideMissing from all four	No	No	No	No

Who Kedy is for

Thierry is a hypothetical persona, not a research participant.

Five areas, one map

Home and map, scooter, ride, group ride and menu, with everything reachable from the map.

The flow before the visuals

• Log in
• Sign up
• Phone verification
• Map
• Create route
• Scooter details
• Scan
• Riding
• Ride paused
• Finish ride
• Group ride
• Menu

Red Hat, plum and lime

Red Hat in four weights, a near-black plum palette with a lime accent, and the components behind every screen.

• Ink#09001B
• Grey#8E8E8E
• White#FFFFFF
• Plum#453552
• Lime#B5EB4B

From sign-up to ride history

01

Onboarding and sign in

What it does

A lime splash, a choice between “I'm new” and “I've been there”, then a sign-up with only three fields and a phone verification code.

The problem it answers

Lots of steps to register.

02

Choose a scooter

What it does

Every scooter on the map shows its battery level. Its details show time to arrive, battery, max range, a rough cost and a reserve button, and the map warns about places where parking is forbidden.

The problems it answers

Can't see the scooter battery without going to scooter details. Can't foresee the amount to be paid.

03

Let's go: ride, pause, pay

What it does

Scan the scooter, ride, pause for up to four minutes to lock it, take a photo of the parked scooter, then pay after the ride and rate it.

The problems it answers

Extra payment for locking time when parking. Prepaid.

04

Group ride

What it does

Add several scooters to one rental and ride together, then end all rides at once.

The problem it answers

Allows only one scooter to rent.

05

Ride history

What it does

Every ride with its route, cost, duration, distance and rating, a details page, and a filter panel.

The problem it answers

Can't filter the ride history.

06

Other pages

What it does

Log in for returning riders, the menu, and a wallet with saved cards.

Brief and approach

The homepage

delmareoludeniz.com

Scroll inside the frame to see the full page.

Restaurant page

A photo hero with the restaurant logo, buttons for the food and drink menus, four numbered feature cards and a photo carousel.

delmareoludeniz.com/restaurant

Scroll inside the frame to see the full page.

Mobile layouts

Colour and typography

Selected sections

Brief and approach

The homepage

sunmedlodge.com

Scroll inside the frame to see the full page.

Rooms page

Each room gets a main photo with a thumbnail grid, its capacity and beds, amenity labels and its own WhatsApp button.

sunmedlodge.com/rooms

Scroll inside the frame to see the full page.

Mobile layouts

Colour and typography

Selected sections

Brief and approach

The homepage

tapunuzagider.com

Scroll inside the frame to see the full page.

Packages page

Three package summaries with what each offers and its delivery time, then a comparison table that shows which features each package includes.

tapunuzagider.com/paketlerimiz

Scroll inside the frame to see the full page.

Mobile layouts

Colour and typography

Selected sections

Brief and approach

The homepage

kedwear.com.tr

Scroll inside the frame to see the full page.

From the homepage to the cart

The main shopping path on mobile: browse a category with filters, open a product, then review the cart.

Product and category pages

Product page

Photos, size selection, add to cart, description, shipping and returns, reviews and related products.

kedwear.com.tr/urunler/…

Category page

Search, category and size filters, sorting, a product grid and page numbers.

kedwear.com.tr/urunler/kategori/tisort

Scroll inside each frame to see the full page.

Mobile layouts

Colour and typography

Selected sections