2023
Neptune: Managing burnout within the workforce via healthy coping mechanisms
Neptune is a small project and exercise of mine I started on June 2023. This application is all about managing stress and helping adults cope with burnout along with the pressures of being in the workforce.
The Challenge
The Status quo
Filipino adults are having a hard time accessing new ways to regulate their stress. Most often, adults will tend to prefer to stay within their comfort zone. Neptune is all about exposing new ways to ease stress and encouraging users to seek out professional help so they may relieve their tension.
My role
My role was to conduct a short-term research assignment regarding the management of workforce stress through a mental health application. I acted as a researcher, graphic designer, and product designer for this project.
Short-term goal:
Give primary users a way to get away from work for at least a few minutes.
Mid-term goal:
Give users a routine wherein they can relieve work-related stress by exploring the application's features.
Ultimate goal:
For users to maintain a work-life balance and bring healthy habits learned from the application to their job.
Research
Identification and Ideation
In preparation for the project, I had to understand exactly what the application needed to do. This involved identifying key stakeholders, defining the project's scope, and conducting a review of relevant literature. The first thing I did was study about burnout and understand who are the biggest groups who experience it. During this process, I delved into research papers that explored the burnout statistics in the workforce and which fields commonly experience it. Additionally, I examined the current circumstances surrounding ways to manage burnout and stress amongst adults as well as look at other similar projects. I needed to see where the gaps were within the market and how my application could fill them.
Proposed application components and information architecture
Neptune information architecture and app features
Neptune users and profile creation
User research and profile creation
It was important to understand who the application will serve and what exactly users will want to accomplish when using the application. Following this, I derived what components that can work together to help users manage their burnout. I did this by examining a group of volunteers who were all within different stages of their career. Collecting insights from them gave me a clear vision of who the stakeholders were.
Neptune brand journey
Neptune brand journey
After creating the mood board and brand assets, I proceeded to create a style guide to have key components, cards, local text styles, local color styles, and local variable styles ready when I create the high-fidelity prototype. Using Figma's tools and local style feature, I was able to create sections for a style guide to organize all necessary components. Below are pictures of how I arranged Neptune's style guide.
Neptune lo-fi prototype and interaction flows
Prototyping
Lo-fi wireframes and interaction flows
To create the low-fidelity prototype, sketches of the application’s pages were done on paper. This was done to get a general gist of what the application’s UI will look like. These sketches were then translated into a primitive wireframe using Figma.
Testing & Results
Testing procedure
This prototype was informally tested due to time constraints and users mentioned that they found the application easy to navigate, welcoming and accessible, as well as pleasing to the eyes due to it's unique visuals. Testers also found the journal feature innovative and the emergency help button significant to the core of the application.
However, testers commented on having a light mode and dark mode would make the application more accessible to more demographics. They also mentioned they wanted more moods for the mood journal and that a physical journal can be added as well to make the app integrate more in their life.
Findings
Further development could see rigorous testing and proper testing on app’s efficacy and visuals. Neptune can also add more features like sleep tracking and community spaces. Lastly, Neptune’s visuals could be further integrated to the applications UI system. Comments made by the informal testers can be integrated as well, especially the mention of having a dedicated dark and light mode.
Neptune testing results and findings
Neptune application pages
Reflection
My thoughts on this short application concept…
Second Skin, the research project, is very much a labor of love. I look fondly on the year I spent making it. My peers thought I was strange because I found the RRL and general research part of the project to be enjoyable. If I were to remake this now, I would do more robust testing with more participants and would refine the spacing and styling of the application to make it more straight-forward. The graphic and colorful approach is unique but I think I could refine it.