Chingoo is flexible, friendly, and fun. It provides a safe space for users to pursue their goals and promote mental wellness, all at their own pace. It was named after the Korean word for friend, Chingoo (친구), representing the laid-back, encouraging partner that everyone needs.
Overview
MY ROLE
UI/UX Design
DURATION
5 Months
PROJECT TYPE
Solo Case Study
TOOLS
Figma
Overwhelmed students fail to prioritize their mental wellness and personal goals. Having made this same tradeoff, it raised the question of — why can’t we have both?
THE PROBLEM
THE SOLUTION
Create a platform where students can keep themselves accountable through gamification tactics.
WHITE PAPER RESEARCH -
ACCOUNTABILITY DOES NOT LOOK THE SAME FOR EVERYONE.
While delving into my white paper research, I stumbled upon a statistic from The American Society of Training and Development: your chances of successfully accomplishing a goal increase to 95% when you have a “specific accountability partner to report to.”
Although this statistic gave me my first lead, I soon realized that establishing an accountability relationship with peers can come with many challenging variables. According to Verywell Mind, a medically reviewed resource for mental health, motivation can be increased with positive social support.
But what happens when these social interactions are not positive?
STUDENTS REQUIRE ACCOUNTABILITY THAT COMES WITH PRIVACY.
USER INTERVIEWS -
The competition failed to motivate users with an accountability feature.
COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS -
To get a better idea of the issues my interviewees were facing, I analyzed four of the most popular mental wellness / goal setting apps. I found that none of these apps had an accountability feature that did not rely on the consequences of social pressure.
For further insight, I released a survey to the users of these apps. Through this survey I was able to find that 60% of respondents did not use these apps consistently due to a lack of motivation. These two observations became my opportunity for a solution.
FEATURE 1: YOUR NOT SO SOCIAL FRIEND
Users can set goals with a no-pressure virtual friend.
Upon opening the platform, users will be introduced to their virtual buddy Chingoo. Chingoo will guide users through the goal setting process, from setting the timing to mapping out the steps to their success. Once users have set a goal, they will be rewarded XP – tapping into the gamification aspect of the platform.
FEATURE 2: MAKING COMMITMENT FUN
Users can earn XP by committing to their goals, documenting their progress as they go.
As users commit to their goals they will continuously earn XP, allowing them to ‘level up’ their chingoo. The use of gamification here can improve engagement, help users visualize progress, and foster persistence.
Additionally, users will be able to document their feelings in their journal allowing them to keep in touch with their emotions and have a digital record of their progress.
FEATURE 3: CELEBRATING SUCCESS
Earning XP will allow users to level up, unlocking fun new features.
Once a user earns enough XP to level up, they will unlock features that increase the gamification of the platform. Unlockable features could include the ability to customize Chingoo’s color or even dress them up in cool new accessories.
Chingoo also features an entirely optional social platform that allows users to post about their success or even gift XP to their friends.
THE FINAL UI
OUTCOMES AND NEXT STEPS -
This was my first ever case study, and I’m extremely happy to say that it’s done! Diving solo into the UX process from start to finish was definitely a daunting task, but I learned a lot along the way. I was able to produce a balanced platform that addressed my users needs: accountability, motivation, and the removal of social pressure.
OUTCOMES
NEXT STEPS
In the future it would be fun to see Chingoo continue to grow in its gamification. Offering different types of animal characters to represent Chingoo could add a layer of customizability and personalization. Additionally, including new ways to earn XP such as wellness exercises could really take Chingoo to the next level as a fun way to take care of yourself.