Final Report: Task Management App for
Students
1. Introduction (~1 page)
Design Problem:
Students often juggle multiple assignments, exams, and extracurricular activities across different
platforms, leading to missed deadlines and stress.
Target Users:
Undergraduate and graduate students aged 18–28 who manage coursework and personal tasks
digitally.
High-Level Design:
The Task Management App consolidates class schedules, assignments, and reminders into one
platform.
Key Tasks:
1. Add and manage assignments.
2. Set reminders and deadlines.
3. Organize tasks by subject/course.
4. Collaborate with peers on group projects.
2. Research Methods and Design Methods (~1–2 pages)
Research Methods:
- Interviews: 6 students (3 undergraduates, 3 graduates) were interviewed to explore pain
points in task management.
- Surveys: 25 survey responses collected on preferred features.
- Heuristic Evaluation: Existing apps (Google Tasks, Notion, Trello) were reviewed for usability
issues.
- Micro-Usability Test: Early prototype tested with 3 students.
- Needs Assessment: Identified recurring problems such as fragmented tools and notification
overload.
Design Methods:
- Initial Sketches: Brainstormed multiple layout options.
- Low-Fidelity Wireframes: Created digital wireframes showing task lists and reminders.
- Medium-Fidelity Prototype: Added interaction elements and navigation flows.
[Insert illustrations/screenshots of sketches, wireframes, and prototypes here].
3. User Needs Analysis (~1–2 pages)
Findings:
- Students need a centralized platform for tasks (Interview Quote: 'I use three different apps for
deadlines and still miss things').
- They want prioritization features (Survey: 72% requested priority labels).
- Collaboration is crucial for group projects (Interview: 'It’s hard to know who’s doing what
without constant messaging').
These findings shaped the design goals by emphasizing simplicity, prioritization, and
collaboration.
See Appendix for Personas and Scenarios.
4. Competitive Analysis (~½ page)
Competitors:
- Google Tasks: Simple, but lacks collaboration.
- Trello: Great for group projects, but overwhelming for individuals.
- Notion: Flexible, but steep learning curve.
Best Practices:
- Clean task lists, drag-and-drop organization, mobile notifications.
Opportunities:
- Combine simplicity of Google Tasks with Trello’s collaboration and Notion’s flexibility.
5. Design Goals (~½ page)
1. Centralize academic and personal tasks in one app.
2. Provide clear prioritization and reminders.
3. Support group project collaboration.
4. Minimize cognitive load with a clean UI.
6. Prototype (~up to 10 pages)
Key Tasks:
1. Add a new task.
2. Edit deadlines and reminders.
3. Organize tasks by subject.
4. Share a task with a group.
5. Mark a task as complete.
Screenshots:
[Insert screenshots of dashboard and task creation screen].
Task Flows:
- Adding a task (screenshots linked with arrows).
- Sharing with a group (screenshots linked with arrows).
7. Final Usability Test (~1–3 pages)
Goals:
Evaluate ease of use for adding tasks, organizing them, and sharing with peers.
Participants:
5 students (3 undergrads, 2 grads) from target population.
Process:
Remote usability test with prototype. Participants asked to complete 3 tasks while screen and
audio recorded.
Results:
- Task success rate: 90%.
- Average completion time: 1.5 minutes per task.
- Errors: 2/15 attempts (both related to group sharing).
Key Findings:
1. Students struggled to locate group-sharing feature → Add clearer icon and tooltip.
2. Some confusion about task priority labels → Redesign labels to be more intuitive.
3. Positive feedback on clean interface → Retain minimalist design.
Recommendations:
Clarify collaboration tools, simplify priority system, keep UI clean.
8. Next Steps (~1 page)
1. Refine group-sharing interface.
2. Improve priority labeling.
3. Expand testing with a larger and more diverse student group.
4. Explore calendar integration with university systems.
Appendix
Personas:
- Persona 1: Alice, 19, undergrad biology major, manages multiple labs and courses.
- Persona 2: David, 24, graduate engineering student, juggles research and part-time work.
Scenarios:
- Scenario 1: Alice adds and prioritizes multiple assignments for different courses.
- Scenario 2: David shares tasks with his thesis group to coordinate responsibilities.