Habit Aware

Through design strategy, support was provided to HabitAware in enhancing their approach to managing body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs). The focus was on creating a holistic, user-centered design that contributes to self-care, and emotional well-being, and ultimately improves the lives of individuals affected by BFRBs.

problem

For folks managing body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs), clear and consistent tools are essential.

Through my research, I discovered three primary challenges:

  1. Limited Functionality: KeenLite’s lack of features compared to Keen2 led to user frustration and dissatisfaction.

  2. User Misconception: The similar product names of Keen2 and KeenLite caused users to assume that both products shared identical capabilities, which wasn't the case.

  3. Brand Identity Confusion: The unclear branding and feature set made it challenging for users to understand how KeenLite fits into HabitAware’s ecosystem.

human-centered understanding

KeenLite subscribers expect an intuitive and effective app that delivers on-the-go support from their Apple Watch. However, the app's limited development and confusing branding could risk alienating users, leaving them feeling discouraged or dissatisfied instead of supported. Given the subscription fee, the Apple Watch app should offer functionality comparable to the Keen2 bracelet. While some limitations may exist, these should be the only exceptions, and the interface must, at the very least, remain intuitive and user-friendly to meet expectations.


Key Findings

  1. User Expectations:

    • Subscribers expect an intuitive and seamless experience, especially from the Apple Watch app.

    • The app should offer similar value and functionality to the Keen2 bracelet, justifying its subscription cost.

    2. Current Challenges:

    • Limited development and unclear branding risk alienating users, potentially causing feelings of discouragement or dissatisfaction.

    • Functionality limitations should be minimal and well communicated to users.

Strategy

  1. Strategic App Integration

    • The KeenLite app, a critical component of the user experience, required specific updates to boost engagement. A more intuitive user interface, updated notifications, and improvements to personalized insights were identified as areas for strengthening the app's value.

  2. Clarifying Product and Messaging:

    • There’s a need to clearly define the brand’s value proposition, especially for the Keen bracelet and its associated apps, to improve user understanding and eliminate confusion

  3. Consistency Across Channels

    Align communication and functionality across various touchpoints (website, apps, social media) to serve a unified purpose while avoiding content overload.

Journey Map:

  • Discovery, Research, Compare, Choose, Use, and Recover It highlights user goals, actions, emotions, thoughts, and touchpoints to better understand their experience managing body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs) with HabitAware's offerings.

Techniques

  • Experience Map

  • Rapid Prototyping

  • Deep-dive Research

  • Design Strategy

  • Stakeholder Interview

methods

Tools

  • Figma

design process

Subscribers expect an intuitive and effective app that delivers on-the-go support from their Apple Watch. However, the app's limited development and confusing branding could risk alienating users, leaving them feeling discouraged or dissatisfied instead of supported. Given the subscription fee, the Apple Watch app should offer functionality comparable to the Keen2 bracelet. While some limitations may exist, these should be the only exceptions, and the interface must, at the very least, remain intuitive and user-friendly to meet expectations.

The branding is consistent in conveying that KeenLite complements, rather than replaces, the Keen2. The messaging now emphasizes that KeenLite (renamed to KeenWatch: Companion) is part of the larger HabitAware ecosystem. I preserved the core features that fit within the constraints of the Apple Watch while enhancing the user interface to make it more intuitive and accessible, in line with users' on-the-go needs. The interface was streamlined for quicker, more efficient interactions, offering immediate visual feedback after each action. Additionally, I improved integration with the Keen phone app to ensure a seamless transition between both platforms.

summary

Through the redesign, KeenLite was rebranded as KeenWatch: Companion and repositioned as a complementary app to the Keen2 bracelet. Key improvements included:

Improved User Interface:

  • Simplified the UI for intuitive, distraction-free interactions.

  • Added immediate visual feedback loops for user behavior tracking.

  1. Enhanced Features and Integration:

    • Strengthened app integration with Keen2 for seamless data sharing and synchronized notifications.

    • Upgraded personalized insights and actionable prompts to deliver more user value.

  2. Consistent Communication Across Touchpoints:

    • Unified messaging and functionality across the website, apps, and customer service to avoid confusion and maintain brand alignment.

During this project, I realized that I sometimes expanded the scope beyond what was necessary for a design strategy. While my initial goal was to develop a focused strategy for HabitAware, I occasionally found myself exploring additional features or redesign elements that were outside the project’s core objectives. This experience underscored the importance of maintaining a clear focus, particularly when working on design strategies.

key takeaways