SyncStudy | Personal Project
A web application to maximize productivity in group studying
OVERVIEW
Timeframe
Oct - Nov 2024 (2 months)
My Role
UX Researcher
Product Strategist
UX Designer
Team
Lam P. (Developer)
Me!! (Designer)
Tools
Figma
Notion
BACKGROUND
SyncStudy: a Buildspace project
SyncStudy was developed during UW Cseed’s six-week Buildspace program, a space designed to empower students to turn ideas into impactful projects.
Every Tuesday, Lam and I worked alongside peers and mentors in a supportive and motivating environment, providing us the perfect place to bring SyncStudy to life.
PROBLEM
Group study sessions fall short of their true potential.
I look up to see my friends talking. My eyes go back to my computer as I resume trying to finish my calculus homework. However, my curiosity gets the better of me as I remove one airpod to listen in to the conversation. My calculus homework might be the last thing on my mind now…
This wasn’t a one-off experience— it was a pattern throughout spring quarter. After talking with friends, I realized they faced the same issue: although group study sessions boost motivation and connect peers, they often fall short of their potential. Issues such as unstructured planning, side conversations arising, and an overall lack of accountability detract from the potential in productivity.
The problem wasn’t just mine—it was a common frustration among my peers. As I dug deeper, I realized that this was a challenge that many students face, and I became determined to find a solution.
OBJECTIVE & SOLUTION
To design a streamlined tool that fosters productivity and accountability during group study sessions, while maintaining the social connection that motivates college students. The tool aims to strike a careful balance— offering robust features without becoming a distraction itself.
COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS
Current tools lack the balance between focus, accountability, and social connection
Existing Group Study Products
Cuckoo
Focuses on syncing Pomodoro timers for real-time group productivity. Its simplicity and lightweight design cater to users looking for minimal distractions.
LifeAt
Blends study community features with interactive virtual study rooms and goal-setting tools, appealing to those who seek collaboration and structure.
FocusMate
Prioritizes accountability through 1:1 virtual coworking sessions, pairing users based on their goals and work styles.
StudyStream
Leverages community-driven motivation with gamified achievements, creating a virtual study atmosphere for students.
Distinct Market Gaps
1
Focus on In-Person Groups
Most tools prioritize connecting strangers or online coworkers rather than in-person study groups
2
Transparent Task Sharing
Competitors lack shared to-do lists with real-time progress updates, a crucial feature for group accountability
3
Non-excessive Features
Competitors overwhelm users with excessive features like chat, music, and gamification, distracting from the core purpose of productivity.
SURVEYS
Gathering initial data on study habits
To gain a holistic understanding of student study habits and challenges, I surveyed over 40 college students. The survey aimed to uncover key pain points in their study processes, specifically regarding solo and group study dynamics.
Key Questions:
Do you prefer working/studying alone or with others?
What challenges, if any, do you face when working/studying with friends or in a group?
Why do you work/study with friends or in a group?
On a scale of 1 to 5, how productive do you feel when you work/study with friends or in a group?
One major insight from the survey revealed that while majority of students prefer working with others rather than alone, 46.4% rated their productivity in group settings as 3/5, compared to 53.6% who rated their productivity alone at a 4/5. This indicates that, although students enjoy the social and motivational benefits of group study, they are not achieving their desired productivity levels in these settings.
INTERVIEWS
Diving deeper into the group studying experience
To gather more detailed insights into college student’s experiences with group studying, I conducted eight 1:1 structured interviews with survey participants either in person or through zoom. I asked each participant 10 questions, with each interview lasting roughly 30 minutes.
Key Questions:
Are there aspects of group study that affect your motivation/energy levels compared to studying alone?
What are some challenges you’ve encountered while studying in groups?
How do you and your group typically structure or plan a study session?
Are there any areas where you feel existing tools fall short when it comes to group studying?
INSIGHTS
Group study is highly effective for motivation and accountability but often struggles with social distraction and a lack of structure
Based on the user research (surveys & interviews) and the secondary research (internet search & competitive analysis), three key issues emerged:
Maintaining Focus During Group Study
While group study fosters motivation and accountability, many users struggle to stay focused due to a lack of structured activities or clear boundaries. The absence of tools to help manage time or tasks often results in distractions, with participants finding it difficult to maintain momentum or avoid off-topic discussions.
Lack of Structure in Group Sessions
Group study sessions can often feel too unstructured, which leads to wasted time and low productivity. Some participants value flexibility, but without a clear framework, discussions can veer off course, derailing progress and reducing the effectiveness of the study time.
Insufficient Accountability Systems:
Group study relies heavily on accountability to stay productive, but many users report that accountability mechanisms are weak or ineffective. Without specific measures to track progress or hold participants responsible, the overall productivity of the group suffers, and motivation dwindles over time.
OPPORTUNITY
A web application that provides a way for group study members to easily stay focused and motivated without requiring constant reminders or social distractions
Shared Task Lists with Real-Time Progress Updates
Synced Group Pomodoro for Coordinated Focus
Progress Visibility and Interactive Updates
IDEATION
Packing features into a single dashboard screen
One challenge we faced was how to integrate all the desired features without overwhelming the user or creating unnecessary distractions. After brainstorming various approaches, we concluded that organizing the app as a central dashboard would offer the best solution. This approach allows all key features to be easily accessible from the main screen, ensuring a clean, focused user experience while keeping everything organized and within reach.
ITERATION
Progressing through User Feedback
After finishing up our initial prototypes, we gathered user feedback on our prototypes. These two major insights highlighted key areas of improvement in our formatting, driving refinements in our designs.
1
Contextualize the progress percentage using hours left in studying
During user testing, we identified that while progress percentages were helpful, they lacked context for how much effort remained. A user with 50% progress and only 30 minutes of study left experiences a very different scenario than one with four hours remaining. To address this, we added a time-based indicator alongside the progress percentage. This change allowed users to better gauge their remaining workload, making the dashboard more actionable and improving motivation by tying progress to concrete timeframes.
2
Reducing dashboard clutter by minimizing visibility of other’s task list
Our initial design displayed each group member’s full task list directly on the dashboard. However, feedback revealed this made the interface overwhelming and less focused. To streamline the experience, we replaced task list visibility with a summarized completion percentage and time remaining for each user. Full task lists were moved to an expandable widget, reducing visual noise while ensuring easy access when needed. This refinement aligned the dashboard with our goal of presenting only the most essential information upfront, enhancing usability and focus.
2 hrs
left
L
5 hrs
left
M
FINAL DESIGNS
Meet SyncStudy!
Synced Group Pomodoro
Every user in the same study room is on the same group pomodoro timer routine. This means that they work and take breaks at the same time. Being on the same timeline prevents distractions while focusing and also ensures they can enjoy their friend’s company while taking their break.
Keep Track of Everyone’s Todos
Every user in the same study room is on the same group pomodoro timer routine. This means that they work and take breaks at the same time. Being on the same timeline prevents distractions while focusing and also ensures they can enjoy their friend’s company while taking their break.
Joining a SyncStudy Room
Users are able to join a specific SyncStudy room by inputting a 5-digit code on the landing page. After quickly inputting their name, their session end time, and their todo list, the user is taken into their room to begin working!
Creating a SyncStudy Room
If a user isn’t joining an existing SyncStudy room, they can quickly create their own room and share the 5-digit code with their friends. The only additional step is setting the initial pomodoro settings, which can always be edited on the main screen in the future.
LESSONS LEARNED
What I learned throughout the BuildSpace program...
1
Balancing Features and Focus is Key
One of the most valuable lessons was the importance of striking a balance between offering robust functionality and maintaining a focused, distraction-free interface. Through user feedback, I learned how to prioritize the most frequently used features on the main dashboard while placing secondary features just a click away. This approach significantly improved usability without overwhelming users.
2
Iteration, Iteration, Iteration
I have had a general vision for the design of the dashboard for a while. When I got my ideas onto Figma, it felt as if my product was already almost there. However, through user testing, I quickly learned that my version flowed the way I would want to use the product-- not how the rest of my users would use it. By listening to users and making adjustments—such as contextualizing progress percentages or decluttering the dashboard—I learned how essential it is to balance my vision with users' needs. This process taught me that even subtle tweaks can drastically improve the functionality and feel of a product.
3
Always Design with Empathy
One of the most valuable lessons I learned is how deeply empathy drives meaningful design. Building this app for users who share similar struggles allowed me to naturally connect with their challenges and think critically about their needs. My ability to place myself in their shoes during the user research phase shaped many of my design decisions. This experience reinforced that the best solutions come from a genuine understanding of the people you’re designing for. Moving forward, even when creating for audiences whose experiences differ from my own, I plan to rely on this empathetic approach to create products that truly resonate.
FINAL THOUGHTS
That’s it!
Wrapping up this project, I reflect on how it started as an attempt to solve a recurring frustration in my own life and grew into an opportunity to address a shared challenge among my peers. This project not only provided me with experience going through the entire product cycle but reaffirmed my passion for creating solutions that genuinely improve people’s lives. As I see my friends use the beta version of the product, I am excited about what other products I can create in the future!
Thank you for reading!
Contact me and let’s journey together
© 2025 Portfolio by Satvik Shreesha
