Anticipate
A case Study
CREATOR
A behavioural tool designed for individuals like freelancers. This project was all encompassing from research to design, testing & prototyping, branding, UI and animation.
(01) THE SOLUTION
Sustainable Self Directed Productivity.
Anticipate
Let your personal motivations and reasons drive, justify, and guide your actions for days and months to come.
Freelancing was a great decision,
this is your next.
Core User Story
“Now that I'm freelancing I feel like I go from drowning to in a drought.”
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‘Anticipate’ is a behaviour focused tool which ensures people with self-directed careers, achieve their goals.
Tested and built directly with directors, freelancers and designers every part of the design hinges around personal meaning. This in combination with insights on human behaviour creates a productivity tool thats quite different to what's currently out there.
Tested and built directly with directors, freelancers and designers every part of the design hinges around personal meaning. This in combination with insights on human behaviour creates a productivity tool thats quite different to what's currently out there.
MY ROLE:
Research & Prototyping, Product/Visual Design,
Branding.
Deliverables:
Productivity App, (additional: style guide, GV sprint doc)
Timeline
8 weeks
(02) The Problem
Freelancing is not the dream
people think it is...
Why a 50% Freelance Population matters...
The lifestyle of the freelancers has become increasingly glorified but when we look closer the misconceptions compound. Attracted by the idea of working on your own schedule and being selective of projects or clients, too often it ends up being the exact opposite.
Why does this matter? Few, let alone 50%, can maintain this purely self propelled work-style sustainably, resulting in less income and even lower satisfaction than traditional positions. Let’s change that.
Why does this matter? Few, let alone 50%, can maintain this purely self propelled work-style sustainably, resulting in less income and even lower satisfaction than traditional positions. Let’s change that.
3 Realities of Freelancing
01
The Competition can Kill
With only the top 10-20% of freelancers typically flourishing, this highly competitive landscape results in less income or lower job satisfaction.
Cases where both happen are not uncommon either with some quitting their jobs entirely.
02
Nature of the Job
For more people everyday, being self-directed is unavoidable and though it may have benefits, there are some serious downsides to this lifestyle.
This only increases the urgency to iron out the kinks and pitfalls of this arrangement as this demographic explodes.
03
Lack of Regulation
It's the wild west out there and there is little to no support or standards for these people.
Work theft or scamming is regular, no minimum wage or conditions.
(02) THE Research
The Research
For every project, I start with face to face interviews. It always reveals the most genuine insights and details about the problem space. This also allows me to become properly invested in the project.
Interviews
Of the 15 people interviewed throughout the project a freelance product designer and a multi-disciplinary director were huge contributors to this project. With both positions hinging on self direction as a determining factor of success, their input became the most influential during the research phase.
“None of the services actually help you follow through.”
- Ming, Freelancer
Key Theme Obtained: Accountability
The freelancer having experienced most of the tools supporting productivity platforms and noted all the experiences he could be defined as “passive”.
This meant users could input all the data and then go about the day and ignore it entirel.
“Every project has a project management system whether it be trello, asana or slack. But it's just scheduling... None of the services actually help you follow through.”
This meant users could input all the data and then go about the day and ignore it entirel.
“Every project has a project management system whether it be trello, asana or slack. But it's just scheduling... None of the services actually help you follow through.”
“ Honestly... over commit and under deliver.”
- Martin, Director
Key Theme Obtained: Real Time Prioritisation
Admittedly he was only half joking, elaborating that this an unavoidable part of his job.
In reality this actively put him in a conscious act of prioritising tasks that are urgent or require multiple check stages of completion.
In reality this actively put him in a conscious act of prioritising tasks that are urgent or require multiple check stages of completion.
“A large part, is about how you phrase it.”
- Martin, Director
Key Theme Obtained: Phrasing and Framing
When managing people the director spoke in-depth about the change of outcome when phrasing was considered. By using “start” or “try this” versus “get this done” the management of behaviour had drastically different results when promoting productivity.
This was actually later heavily supported in secondary research and articles.
This was actually later heavily supported in secondary research and articles.
Critical & Secondary Research
Wanting to ground these interview insights with the wider experience of freelancing I moved to secondary sources for a more diverse perspective on productivity. A large contributor to the project was Simon Sinek’s ‘Start with the why’.
This framework was focused creating user investment for both leaders and organisations, presenting a clear conceptualisation of what structures our behaviour.
This theory has three core areas of understanding:
This framework was focused creating user investment for both leaders and organisations, presenting a clear conceptualisation of what structures our behaviour.
This theory has three core areas of understanding:
- The "WHY" is established as what drives human behaviour.
- The roles of "WHAT" and "HOW" and how they serve the "WHY".
- What is the effect or properly prioritising the "WHY".
This distinct separation and relationship between output or proof (the what), method (the how), and reason (the why), allowed me to more clearly analyse user’s behaviours and thoughts.
Later this was also used create the basis of feature generation and evaluation (see Synthesis). Other sources that perpendicularly supported these insights ranged from Steve Job’s internal speeches to the issues on ‘Work’ and later ‘Play matters’ from the New Philosopher.
These other sources highlighted the vairety of perspectives and focal points of productivity leading to a pivotal HMW.
Later this was also used create the basis of feature generation and evaluation (see Synthesis). Other sources that perpendicularly supported these insights ranged from Steve Job’s internal speeches to the issues on ‘Work’ and later ‘Play matters’ from the New Philosopher.
These other sources highlighted the vairety of perspectives and focal points of productivity leading to a pivotal HMW.
How Might We: bring out the "Why" at each step of the experience?
This personal goal proved to be really valuable by first ensuring that I targeted each point of the experience and secondly, in considering the various types of solution in a structured method.
Competitors Analysis
Taking insights up to this point I conducted some preliminary prototyping testing. It was great to receive high positive engagement but the problem space at this point was still felt really complex and overwhelming.
So in order to begin breaking it down, I wanted to understand what had already been so heavily explored, and try to see what everyone else was missing.
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- Good task completion feature, although not much for uncompleted
- Good day to day work but has very poor long term relevancy.
- Time X dollar driven, effective only the user is monetarily driven and not much else.
- Visually cluttered, all options & activity constantly shown.
- Almost no hierarchy, making it hard to understand importance.
- Basically 0 Long term planning or accountability
- Lacks Information Hierarchy
- Better flow between views "Timeline" & Calendar
- Much more appealing visual design and feel.
- Team focused first, with NO Tracking or results.
- A simple but core product used by majority of users, but the most 'passive' of all the platforms.
- Sequencing and scheduling is simple and widely used but does little to ‘Help’ user.
- Connectivity with products gmail, and other work related tools is great.
Major Insights
- Either short term or long term focused, lacking the connection and context between the two.
- Visually and/or functionally cluttered with little information hierarchy.
- Basically no prioritisation logic or ranking for inputs.
- All are passive 1-way experiences.
- Little to no reporting or results features.
- Built for teams and large businesses!
How Might We Have They: brought out the "Why" at each step of the experience?
Of the many platforms, a few had genuinely interesting and effective features, however they all almost had engagement breaking designs when it came to driving the individual. Even after accounting for their team centric designs, it's hard to pass on the fact that teams are made up of individuals reinforcing my desire to focus on individual workers.
This exercise was extremely helpful, as dealing with ‘productivity’ can often feel very intangible. Using segmentation of the experience of the previous HMW drove the evaluation of these other tools.
This exercise was extremely helpful, as dealing with ‘productivity’ can often feel very intangible. Using segmentation of the experience of the previous HMW drove the evaluation of these other tools.
(03) Synthesising Insights
Paralysed Progress
I had too many insights and no way to make use of them.
Too heavy to move...
At this point I had information from across the board. Results from behavioural experiments like 5am starts to living by a pomodoro timers, as well explorations into methodologies like sprints and even scrum. All had returned interesting data much like interviews, prototyping sessions and co-creation methods.
All of this in conjunction with a myriad of articles, books and speeches was overwhelming. Stuck between the fact that any part of this research could be the pivotal insight to create genuinely effective solution.
All of this in conjunction with a myriad of articles, books and speeches was overwhelming. Stuck between the fact that any part of this research could be the pivotal insight to create genuinely effective solution.
Getting out of the hole...
Instead of attempting to test every potential feature, with time I did not have and risk of further paralysis, I decided adapt the productivity frameworks to create tool for analysis.
The realisation that I needed a specialised sense making tool like as this without a doubt saved the project. Its goal of adapting insights into a criteria was to disseminate the most effective interventions to improve behaviour.
This framework was simple, it would guide the main motivation or reason behind a particular feature, evaluate its delivery or method, and affirmed what it would result in. I then added its source or inspiration up to scrutinise the context for validity in the final product!
The realisation that I needed a specialised sense making tool like as this without a doubt saved the project. Its goal of adapting insights into a criteria was to disseminate the most effective interventions to improve behaviour.
This framework was simple, it would guide the main motivation or reason behind a particular feature, evaluate its delivery or method, and affirmed what it would result in. I then added its source or inspiration up to scrutinise the context for validity in the final product!
The Result
Identified the 5 Ingredients of Independent Success
- Alignment of goals to actions.
- Accountability.
- Clarity of Purpose.
- Distinction of method, details and driver.
- Reflection is fulfilment.
(04) THE SOLUTION
Freelancing was a great decision,
this is your next.
Thrive on your own.
Anticipate Productivitiy
Let your personal motivations and reasons drive, justify, and guide your actions for days and months to come.
You've just gone off on your own.
Good.
Index
Testing and Iteration
Prototype 1
Whether it be a calendar and notebook or another productivity tools, neither go beyond being a place to plot this information and forget about it.
Self Accountability
In conjunction with other pressures, being self-directed is unavoidable, either because of craft, or their industry. This meant the loss multiple motivators and a key pain point in independent work careers.
Thrive on your own.
Anticipate takes due dates out of the driver seat, because its not time or details that actually motivate us.
Appreciate variety & volume
Review progress of Streams
Drive pride for tomorrow
Sustainable Accountability
A huge downside to working on your own to
Meaning Driven Design
During her travels, Chloe rescues a teapot, an heirloom belonging to Catherine.
Dynamic planning
During her travels, Chloe rescues a teapot, an heirloom belonging to Catherine.
Interaction Design
One day, after a troubling visit from the giant Catherine Clifford, Chloe leaves her
Easy Customisation
Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia
Clear Structure
One day, after a troubling visit from the giant Catherine Clifford, Chloe leaves her
Well Documented
Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia
24/7 Support
One day, after a troubling visit from the giant Catherine Clifford, Chloe leaves her
System Human phrasing
Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia
The Five Core Features
The Stack
Reflection matters
At the end of each day, review everything you have done. This is critical for consistent progress as users are encouraged to read this out-loud in a purposefully run along sentence. This was built to emphasise the variety and volume of their accomplishments
Appreciating your day to day work is just as important as long term pay offs, giving you the fuel to keep going.
Failure to do tasks should fuel you in the moment, success's should be the focus on review for the next day.
Appreciating your day to day work is just as important as long term pay offs, giving you the fuel to keep going.
Failure to do tasks should fuel you in the moment, success's should be the focus on review for the next day.
Streams & Actions
Alignment is control
Anticipate has three core sections, Streams (long term), Tasks (Short term) and The stack (Reflection).
This linked hierarchy provides context to short term tasks by having long term goals structure and restrict day to day planning.
These two sections are built off each other throughout the entire tool, i.e planning, usage and appreciation.
This linked hierarchy provides context to short term tasks by having long term goals structure and restrict day to day planning.
These two sections are built off each other throughout the entire tool, i.e planning, usage and appreciation.
Weight of Actions
Why do it? What happens if you don't?
The design of tasks within Anticipate has 1 priority, empowering the why, this is the only true motivator in self-directed work.
Each task requires 2 statements to be filled, the WHY and the WHAT (the reason and what you actually need to do).
These fields are mandatory, with the WHY being presented as a focus throughout the experience.
Each task requires 2 statements to be filled, the WHY and the WHAT (the reason and what you actually need to do).
These fields are mandatory, with the WHY being presented as a focus throughout the experience.
High Stakes
Positive/Negative re-enforcement
Not all tasks have enough meaning so stakes trigger when a card is not completed.
Different stakes targets different personality traits and concerns i.e. planners, socially driven, sleep prioritising and tv bringers.
Different stakes targets different personality traits and concerns i.e. planners, socially driven, sleep prioritising and tv bringers.
Compromise Reduction
Designed prioritisation
‘Streams’, are purposefully restricted to being entered from the end date backwards.
Final streams such as ‘Testing, Review or Building’ are usually the most important, so give them enough time!
“Often the last things in a project are the most important, yet they most often end up rushed.”
- Freelance Product Designer.
Final streams such as ‘Testing, Review or Building’ are usually the most important, so give them enough time!
“Often the last things in a project are the most important, yet they most often end up rushed.”
- Freelance Product Designer.
