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 (Design)
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 & OUTCOME
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 HIGHLIGHTS
CURRENT TOOLS LACK THE BALANCE BETWEEN FOCUS, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND SOCIAL CONNECTION
To learn which spaces SyncStudy can go into, I researched 4 existing group studying products
Cuckoo
LifeAt
FocusMate
StudyStream
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 goals and work styles.
StudyStream: Leverages community-driven motivation with gamified achievements, creating a virtual study atmosphere for students.
Through analyzing existing tools and identifying their limitations, three distinct market gaps emerged.
Focus on In-Person Groups
Most tools prioritize connecting strangers or online coworkers rather than in-person study groups
1
Transparent Task Sharing
Competitors lack shared to-do lists with real-time progress updates, a crucial feature for group accountability
2
Non-excessive Features
Competitors overwhelm users with excessive features like chat, music, and gamification, distracting from the core purpose of productivity.
3
SURVEYS
GATHERING INITIAL DATA ON STUDY HABITS
To gain a holistic understanding of student study habits and challenges, I surveyed over 40 college students.
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.
Junior at UW
Sophomore at UW
Sophomore at GT
Junior at UW
Senior at UW
Junior at BU
Freshman at UW
Sophomore at UW
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 BOOSTS MOTIVATION BUT SUFFERS FROM DISTRACTIONS AND LACK OF STRUCTURE
Based on the user research (surveys & interviews) and the secondary research (internet search & competitive analysis), three key issues emerged:
1
Maintaining Focus During Group Study
Group study fosters motivation and accountability, but without structured activities or clear boundaries, users often face distractions and struggle to stay focused.
2
Lack of Structure in Group Sessions
Group study sessions often lack structure, resulting in wasted time and low productivity. While some appreciate flexibility, the absence of a clear framework can derail discussions and hinder progress.
3
Insufficient Accountability Systems
Group study depends on accountability, but weak mechanisms often undermine productivity. Without clear ways to track progress or ensure responsibility, motivation and effectiveness decline.
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.
2 hrs
left
L
5 hrs
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M
Contextualize the progress percentage using hours left in studying
User testing revealed that progress percentages lacked context for effort remaining. Adding a time-based indicator alongside percentages helped users better gauge their workload, tying progress to concrete timeframes and boosting motivation.
Reducing dashboard clutter by minimizing visibility of other’s task list
Initially, full task lists for all members cluttered the dashboard. We streamlined it by showing a summarized completion percentage and time remaining, moving full lists to an expandable widget. This reduced visual noise and improved usability.
FINAL DESIGNS
MEET SYNCSTUDY!
After implementing the changes from user testing, my design was complete!
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
Users aim to complete their todo list by the end of their session. When they mark a task as complete, their progress increases and other users get to view this notification in the Updates module. Users can also check up on their friend’s task list by expanding on the Group Progress module to effectively hold them accountable.
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 THROUGH THE BUILDSPACE PROGRAM
Balancing Features and Focus is Key: Striking the right balance between functionality and simplicity was key. User feedback helped me prioritize frequently used features on the main dashboard while keeping secondary tools just a click away. This streamlined approach improved usability and minimized distractions.
Iteration, Iteration, Iteration: My initial design reflected how I would use the product, but user testing revealed different needs. Adjustments like contextualizing progress percentages and decluttering the dashboard showed me how small tweaks can drastically improve usability, emphasizing the importance of aligning vision with user needs.
Always Design with Empathy: Designing for users who shared my struggles allowed me to connect deeply with their needs. This empathy shaped many of my decisions and reinforced that the best solutions come from truly understanding the people you’re designing for—a lesson I’ll carry into future projects.
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 a way to address a shared problem in my community. 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!