MASTREMIND

calendars customizability Digital Calendars reminders tasks

by Stefan Inzer

PROBLEM

HOW MIGHT WE IMPROVE THE EXPERIENCE OF USING DIGITAL CALENDARS?

Calendars keep people organized and productive. But digital calendars lack customizability and flexibility, and are limited in their functionality. It is common for people to have multiple calendars, but such a decentralized system is potentially counterproductive. Calendars are a universal tool, so improving calendar interfaces and functions will help users in all aspects of their productivity.

RESEARCH

USER INTERVIEWS

After interviewing people who regularly used calendars, the following insights were gained:

— Users like a division of private and work life

— Weekly + Monthly interfaces are rarely used

— Google Calendar doesn't separate tasks from events

— There is more value to handwritten objects

— Users don't have time to build a calendar from scratch

— Physical Calendars take up too much space

— Users would like a customizable template for calendars

— Digital Calendars send reminders and be synced with others'

“I wish google calendar had a better daily or weekly interface. It honestly looks really ugly and I can get really confused. I wish there was a task list or a todo list connected to the app so then I can just combine my physical and online workspace together instead of having to use multiple forms of similar things.”

SECONDARY RESEARCH

A 2008 article showed that physical calendar are desirable for three things: they leave a paper trail, allowing users to keep track of the past, they are quick to view, and they are easily annotated and customized.

11 years later, however, a study revealed that digital calendars have become widespread amongst users of all ages and in both professional/personal settings. Previous concerns about using technology have all but diminished.

“An Exploratory Study of Calendar Use”

(2008)

“Personal Productivity Management in the Digital Age: Measures from Research and Use of Conventional Tools” (2019)

USER

USER PERSONA

JOURNEY MAP

IDEATION

DIVERGENT THINKING

Ideas brought from divergent thinking included:

1. Show both specific events and tasks in an application

2. Automate reminders to complete tasks during user's free time

3. A calendar that quizzes users on what they have to do

4. "work mode" and "personal mode"

5. A calendar with three levels of calendar customization

6. AI that predicts future schedules

7. Open source calendar

CONVERGENT THINKING

I will create a new calendar platform, designed for productivity, that allows users to customize the look of the calendar and use calendar modules, catered to their needs. This calendar will also feature Remind. Remind motivates a user to complete tasks through gradually understanding the user's habits.

PROTOTYPE

LOW-FI PROTOTYPE

MID-FI PROTOTYPE

TESTING

INSIGHTS

LOW-FI FEEDBACK:

— Default settings must have widespread appeal: "I think the taskbox is too large. I know you can change the size and all, but I think it should be smaller by default."

— Responding to the Remind feature seemed tedious for users; it has to be a simplified process.

MID-FI FEEDBACK:

— View/Edit toggle and settings symbol are confusing; users are unsure which one is used for customization

— Titles for tasks seems redundant—most people will simply read out the entire task

— Wording ("THURS" TO "THU", "Configuration" too verbose)

FINAL PROTOTYPE