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We embarked on this project after noticing a common behavior among people in our community. Many tend to automatically open Instagram or Youtube to watch reels, almost as if it has become a subconscious habit. Given that smartphones are essential for various aspects of daily life, merely keeping the phone away doesn't solve the issue.
Uninstalling social media apps is a drastic step, especially since these platforms play a significant role in people's social interactions. Through our research, we identified a need to allow mindful phone usage, leading us to develop solutions aimed at fostering conscious smartphone habits.
Our Approach : Research and Problem Identification
Problem Statement
Our smartphones today have been designed to give us maximum information in minimum time, often leaving us overwhelmed. Many times, we open our phones to respond to an important text, and find ourselves scrolling through instagram. Taking in all the information and complexity the phone throws at us, every single time it is opened results in ‘digital fatigue’ and frustration.
Identified Opportunity
The desire to break free from this cycle and experience a minimal lifestyle is not uncommon. We all have been through phases when we uninstall our most addictive social media application, and install apps that limit our screentime. Some people also choose to shift to phones with minimum functionality for a certain period of weeks to months. But living without certain features of a smartphone is a disability in today’s world, where a large number of daily services like transport, payment, or food are digitally implemented.
Design Brief
This calls for a design intervention that can enable people to experience the minimal lifestyle they wish for, without compromising on full funtionality of their smartphones.
Solution : Lock Screen Minimal User Interface
Initial prototype which were redesigned after user testing.
Concept
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Minimal Android UI on lock screen Increases, focus and mindfulness.
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User need not open full functionality of smartphone every time they wish to perform a simple task.
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Makes smartphone experience lighter and simpler.
Limited number of apps for quick access from lock screen. Apps on home screen are customizable by the user.
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Minimum or condensed version of apps designed for
android minimal UI.
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Monochrome Theme that uses OLED display to give a minimal feel.
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Larger Text to improve accessibility.
Control flow
First Prototype : User Testing
User Groups Considered for Testing:
Users who aren’t technology savvy and take time to get adjusted to new features.
Users who frequently experiment with their phone and are passionate about customizability.
An average user whose technology learning curve is neither too slow or fast.
Minimal phone user who actively finds the need to reduce screen time.
Smartphone addicted person who has 6+ hours screen time in a day.
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Users prefer minimal UI to be a lock screen feature rather than a launcher from which either delays or removes original home screen accessibility. Users do not mind the monochrome theme of the UI, rather they appreciate it. The prototype succeeds in creating a lighter phone experience in most ways, however, some key features (like notifications, settings and camera as mentioned) prove to be disruptive
as they do not follow the already set mental model of android phones.
Final Outcome
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How does it work?
Your lock screen gives you quick access to certain
priorty applications set by you in a UI that’s minimal
and easy to use. The feature allows you to access basic
applications and features without having to open your
phone’s main home screen everytime, just to get distracted.
Android Focus gives you an overall lighter experience,
making you a more mindful smartphone user.
Can I customise my priorty apps?
Yes! You can choose which applications go on your
minimal lock screen. Each application has reduced
themselves to certain minimum features to fit into
Android’s Minimal UI and is available in monochrome.
Can I uninstall it?
Android Focus is just an additional lock screen
launch feature offered by android that can be enabled
or disable from settings anytime.
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