FOCUS – Helping Students Stay Balanced, One Breath at a Time

Project Type: UX Case Study

Team: 2 designers (myself and a partner)

My Role: UX Research, Persona Creation, MVP Definition, Usability Testing, Wireframing

FOCUS is a wellness and productivity app designed specifically for students who are struggling to balance their academic workload with personal well-being. It combines smart task management with mental health tools like guided meditations, mood tracking, and gentle activity reminders.

The goal?

To help students feel less overwhelmed, more in control, and genuinely better—without adding another item to their already packed to-do list.

By offering personalized planning and emotional support in one place, FOCUS empowers students to not only perform better, but live better.

University life is a juggling act—classes, work, deadlines, social life. For many students, stress is a daily companion, and wellness often takes a back seat.

We wanted to build something that didn’t just add to their to-do list—but actually helped them feel better.

So we created FOCUS, a student wellness app that brings together smart task planning, guided meditation, yoga breaks, and daily mood tracking—all in one easy, gentle, supportive space.

We started with interviews and surveys targeting students ages 18–30.

Our goal? To hear real stories—not just stats.

We asked:

How do you currently cope with academic stress?

What helps you relax and recharge?

When was the last time you truly took a break?

Procrastination is a defense mechanism against overwhelm.

Students crave structure but want flexibility.

Many feel guilty when they rest—even when they desperately need it.

Master’s student + part-time tech job

“I need something that helps me stay on track, keeps me motivated, and lets me take short mental breaks without feeling guilty.”

Communications student + Pilates instructor

“Funny enough, I teach self-care, but I can’t seem to practice it myself.”

We didn’t want to build another productivity monster.

We wanted a friendly companion—something that nudges you to breathe, move, and reflect. So we defined these key features:

Smart task planner based on the Eisenhower Matrix (urgent vs. important).

Custom wellness reminders like “Take a walk” or “FIFA break?”

Guided meditations + yoga sessions you can do anytime, anywhere.

Daily mood tracking with bite-sized reflections and insights.

We looked at Notion, MindMeister, and other task/wellness tools.

Most focused on either productivity or mental health—not both.

FOCUS bridges the gap.

Personalization

Mental health + task flow in one place

Calm, student-friendly tone

We prototyped the app and ran remote tests with students.

The tone matters. It needs to be light, not preachy.

Too many features = overwhelm. Clarity wins.

Even 2-minute meditations make a difference.

This project reminded me that great UX isn’t about packing in features—it’s about easing friction and creating moments of human relief.

Students don’t need more hustle. They need space to breathe, reflect, and recharge. FOCUS was our humble attempt to offer that.

UX Research (lightweight, human-centered)

Empathy Mapping & Journey Design

Figma (wireframing, prototyping, UI)

Emotional Design Principles

Usability Testing with Non-Designers

Accessibility & Cognitive Load Consideration

This project reminded me that usefulness isn’t always loud. Sometimes, the best UX feels like a whisper: “You’re doing okay. Let’s take it one breath at a time.”