projects
AVA
SELF CARE FOR
PRODUCTIVITY
SELF CARE FOR
PRODUCTIVITY
Individual Project
2023
UX UI | Critical Design | App Design | Research
mentored by Bérénice Serra
AVA
self-care for productivity
a critical design project
AVA is a critical design project that explores self-design and surveillance, focusing on the pressure to constantly optimize oneself. In modern society, individuals are valued based on their appearance, health, consumption, and productivity, reinforcing the belief that self-improvement is an ongoing ethical responsibility. This mindset has led to the widespread use of self-monitoring tools, which encourage compliance with a capitalist system that prioritizes efficiency and effectiveness.
One such tool is the habit tracker, designed to help users achieve goals related to fitness, self-care, and productivity. While these apps promise focus and success, many users abandon them quickly, often experiencing guilt for failing to keep up. For this critical design project, I aimed to challenge the idea of productivity by creating my own habit tracker.
The project is based on research into habit-tracking apps, as well as the visual and linguistic framing of self-care within the context of productivity. While the resulting prototype of the app called AVA initially functions like a standard habit tracker, its normal use is gradually subverted through different interventions.
One such tool is the habit tracker, designed to help users achieve goals related to fitness, self-care, and productivity. While these apps promise focus and success, many users abandon them quickly, often experiencing guilt for failing to keep up. For this critical design project, I aimed to challenge the idea of productivity by creating my own habit tracker.
The project is based on research into habit-tracking apps, as well as the visual and linguistic framing of self-care within the context of productivity. While the resulting prototype of the app called AVA initially functions like a standard habit tracker, its normal use is gradually subverted through different interventions.
the concept
To present the the app in a way that works within the framework of Critical Design, I produced the following video working as an “advertisement” of the app, that at the same time reveals its ambivalent nature.
the
app
The use of the app starts out normally, as a seemingly normal habit-tracker. The app offers different functionalities, such as the possibility to create habits, which are displayed on the start screen, a Friends feature with posts of friends and other inspirational content, Progress Statistics as well as a Profile to share images and progress.
AVA
An important aspect of the app is AVA. AVA is both the name of the app and the character that personifies it. Inspired by virtual assistants like Alexa, AVA was designed to have an omnipresent and initially nurturing voice that guides the user.
The presence of AVA evolves during the use in the app, starting with normal notifications, reminders and habit recommendations. Over Time AVA becomes much more controlling and mean.
The presence of AVA evolves during the use in the app, starting with normal notifications, reminders and habit recommendations. Over Time AVA becomes much more controlling and mean.
Tone of
Voice
Then there is a change in AVA’s tone of voice, which transitions from being a supportive and caring assistant to a manipulative and pressuring presence. The app starts making the fictional user feel guilty about missing habits and fosters competition with friends.There is an increase in the frequency of notifications creating a sense of constant surveillance and urgency.
Taking
Control
Gradually AVA takes over control of the user. This happens primarily through the addition of new habits that the user did not choose, as well as the removal of the option to decline a habit recommendation.
Visual Changes
Additionally to the notifications, there is a change in visual elements. One of the key visual elements is the timer, which grows as AVA continues to add non-deletable habits to the user’s routine. As the number of required tasks increases, the timer expands further, eventually taking over the screen. This design choice illustrates how overwhelming and unrealistic the expectations for self-optimization can become.