Simply Focus
A minimalistic time management app designed to boost productivity through focused work intervals.
Context & Challenge
In today's fast-paced and technology-filled world, staying focused and productive is becoming increasingly challenging. With countless distractions like email, social media, and instant messaging vying for our attention, it's more important than ever to have effective time management tools. The Pomodoro Technique is a widely recognized method for boosting productivity, which involves working in focused intervals of time, with short and long breaks.
This case study focuses on the design of a minimalistic Pomodoro timer app that aims to solve the common problem of time management and help users increase their productivity. By using the Pomodoro Technique, the app offers an efficient solution to maintain focus during work, minimize distractions, and maximize results.
The Pomodoro Technique
The Pomodoro Technique is a time management method developed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s. It uses a timer to break work into intervals, typically 25 minutes in length (called Pomodoros), separated by short and long breaks.
User Research
In order to create a Pomodoro timer app that meets the needs of its users, it was important to gain a deep understanding of their habits, motivations, and pain points. My user research was designed to answer the following questions:
- Who are our target users and what are their goals when using a Pomodoro timer app?
- What are the biggest challenges they face when trying to stay focused and productive?
- What are common user complaints about current Pomodoro timer apps on the market?
User Research
The approach taken for the user research involved a combination of contextual inquiry and interviews, in order to gain a comprehensive understanding of the target users and their needs.
Contextual inquiry provided valuable observations of users in their natural working environment, as they performed tasks related to time management and productivity. This allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of their work habits and challenges they face when trying to maintain focus and productivity.
The interviews were in-depth one-on-one conversations with users, designed to gather a deeper understanding of their needs, pain points, and preferences in regard to time management and productivity tools.
By combining both contextual inquiry and interviews, I was able to gather a well-rounded view of my target users and the information necessary to create an app that meets their needs.
Findings
My research revealed that the primary target users for the Pomodoro timer were knowledge workers such as programmers, writers, and project managers who faced distractions and needed a structured approach to time management.
The biggest challenges faced by these users in maintaining focus and productivity were distractions from email, social media, and instant messaging, as well as difficulty in accurately estimating task duration.
One of the common user complaints about current Pomodoro timer apps on the market is the lack of customization options. Many users found the rigid structure of the traditional Pomodoro Technique to be inflexible and wanted the ability to adjust the length of the work and break intervals to better fit their work style. Additionally, some users expressed dissatisfaction with the clunky user interface, finding it difficult to navigate and use.
Based on these findings, I was able to develop a clear understanding of the needs and goals of my target users, which guided the design of the app.
Persona
To bring together all the insights gathered from the user research, I have created a comprehensive user persona that embodies the characteristics, goals, and pain points of the target user for the app.
User Flow
Based on the insights gained from the user research, I created a user flow that streamlines the app's navigation and makes essential features easily accessible from two key screens: the Timer Screen and the Settings Screen. The design is kept simple and minimalistic to provide users with a smooth and intuitive experience.
Wireframes
To bring my design concepts to life and evaluate their effectiveness, I created low-fidelity wireframes of the app's interface. These wireframes serve as a visual representation of the user flow and helped me to test and iterate on my ideas before moving on to high-fidelity designs. Here is the final representation of the wireframes.
Visual Design
After incorporating users’ feedback and refining the wireframes, I moved on to designing the visual style of the app. The aim was to create an aesthetically pleasing and user-friendly interface that would enhance the overall user experience. This involved making decisions about color palette, typography, and other design elements. The end result is a polished and cohesive visual style that effectively communicates the essence of the app and sets it apart from the competition.
Summary
To wrap up, creating an effective Pomodoro timer app involves taking into account the unique characteristics and needs of its users. This requires a thorough understanding of their work habits, motivations, and the obstacles they face in their pursuit of productivity and focus. Through user research and design iterations, I was able to identify common challenges faced by users and create a user-centered app that streamlines the navigation and makes essential features easily accessible. By using a minimalistic design and keeping the focus on user experience, I believe that this app will provide a seamless and intuitive solution for users looking to improve their focus and productivity.
© 2025 Bogdan Furs