Android Tasks App

MOBILE / ANDROID

PRODUCT DESIGNER

Good Technology

Abstract

An important feature for our enterprise users is the ability to manage their tasks via their mobile device. While there are many consumer task apps on the market, our solution would allow users to securely sync their Exchange or Domino tasks to their Good for Enterprise app.

Role & Objective

  • Lead Android designer, sole designer responsible for the design from conception to release.
  • Worked closely with Engineering/QA and Product ensure alignment on all requirements and deliverables.
  • Led the user research including applying learnings from foundational user studies and interviews and conducting user testing sessions.
  • Focused specifically on designing for task list vitas, task entry, past due tasks, reminders and notifications

ROLE & OBJECTIVES

TASK LIST VISTAS ALLOW USERS TO MAKE DECISIONS BASED ON DIFFERENT TIME FRAMES

  • Users only care about the current weeks’ tasks, and so we removed “Next Week” and “Future” categories
  • Not all tasks are time-sensitive, and therefore a “No Due Date” category was included
  • The “Overdue” count under “All Tasks” is to help remind the user of pending items. The longer a task goes pending, the more unlikely it will be completed.

QUICK ENTRY

User Goals & Task Flows

  • Transcribed in an informal manner (ie. jotted down, scribbled)
  • Inputted while in task transition or from a string of mental reminders

"Brain Dumping"

  • Tapping keyboard ‘DONE’ key to create additional task, avoiding having to bring up the keyboard every time
  • User has the option to tap the ‘Accept’ icon or native back button to dismiss keyboard

Screen Analysis & Info Design

The placement of newly created items at the top of the list fulfilled some key user goals:

  • Creates a reminder to complete a task, regardless if it’s due Today
  • Similar to sticking a post-it reminder in immediate view

FULL CREATE & EDIT

User Goals & Task Flows

The ability to create or edit a task with full details gives the user control of task settings: Priority, Start, Reminder Date/Time, and Notes. There was an earlier iteration that didn’t require a secondary screen, but development schedules didn’t allow for it.

Screen Analysis & Info Design

The fields are sorted by priority, based on user feedback. Start Date and Notes are not often needed, hence they are placed at the bottom of the form.

REMINDERS & NOTIFICATIONS

User Goals & Task Flows

  • Users rarely ever set a specific time
  • Getting a task recorded was more important than setting a due date/time
  • Users preferred to have a reminder already preset so as to not lose track of them. I chose Today as the default date to give tasks immediate attention.
  • Users preferred to be reminded of tasks at the beginning of a due date. I chose 9:00 AM as the default time.

Screen Analysis & Info Design

  • Included the overdue count in the notification to keep the user informed of pending items
  • For a single notification, the user will transition to the full detail of that task
  • For a stacked notification, they user will transition to the list view of all tasks

PAST DUE TASKS

User Goals & Task Flows

Users expected past due tasks to carry over to each following day that they aren’t completed, ensuring they don’t get overlooked.

Screen Analysis & Info Design

The placement of past due tasks at the top of All Tasks, Today, and This Week helps the user visualize their workload and decide how to tackle past due items in relation to other pending tasks.

COMPLETING TASKS

User Goals & Task Flows

  • The psychological effects of completing a task is similar to those of finishing a level in a game
  • The experience has to give the user a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment

Screen Analysis & Info Design

When the user taps on a checkbox, the task title gets a strikethrough, the due date is replaced by the completed date, and the task disappears after a slight delay. This is an experience similar to crumbling a handwritten task before throwing it away.