Suncheck
Suncheck
Suncheck
Are you getting enough sun everyday?
Are you getting enough sun everyday?
Are you getting enough sun everyday?
Suncheck is a mobile app that helps you record and track your daily sunlight intake. This product was created during Google Korea Hackathon 2021. The team got together after the hackathon for its official release. The product was updated and maintained for 6 months.
Suncheck is a mobile app that helps you record and track your daily sunlight intake. This product was created during Google Korea Hackathon 2021. The team got together after the hackathon for its official release. The product was updated and maintained for 6 months.
Suncheck is a mobile app that helps you record and track your daily sunlight intake. This product was created during Google Korea Hackathon 2021. The team got together after the hackathon for its official release. The product was updated and maintained for 6 months.
Role
Lead product designer
Visual designer
With
Full stack SWE
Product designer
Timeframe
July 2021
24 hrs
Role
Lead product designer
Visual designer
With
Full stack SWE
Product designer
Timeframe
July 2021
(24 hours for working prototype)
Context
Context
What we wanted to solve at the hackathon
What we wanted to solve at the hackathon
For the hackathon, our team wanted to solve the issue of increasing levels of anxiety and depression from spending too much time indoors during pandemic lockdowns. After quick initial research we learned that just 15 minutes of exposure to natural sunlight daily could boost our serotonin levels significantly. With this idea, we wanted to build a tool that could track and visualize the time we spend under the sun, so we could easily check and adjust our lifestyles to feel better
For the hackathon, our team wanted to solve the issue of increasing levels of anxiety and depression from spending too much time indoors during pandemic lockdowns. After quick initial research we learned that just 15 minutes of exposure to natural sunlight daily could boost our serotonin levels significantly. With this idea, we wanted to build a tool that could track and visualize the time we spend under the sun, so we could easily check and adjust our lifestyles to feel better
Our Impact
Our Impact
Helping hundreds get through lockdown depressions
Helping hundreds get through lockdown depressions
After launching our app on the Appstore, we saw the app getting popular through quick word of mouth and saw more than 500 downloads in 47 days of launch.
After launching our app on the Appstore, we saw the app getting popular through quick word of mouth and saw more than 500 downloads in 47 days of launch.
500+ downloads on Appstore
500+ downloads on Appstore
200+ upvotes on product hunt
200+ upvotes on product hunt
@ssassyjessy Suncheck User
@ssassyjessy Suncheck User
"After using this app for 9 days, I was noticeably in a better mood :) Thank you guys <3"
"After using this app for 9 days, I was noticeably in a better mood :) Thank you guys <3"
Anny Santiago CTO at Impactful Communications
Anny Santiago CTO at Impactful Communications
"Hey, congratulations on Suncheck!! What an interesting idea! It’s just been 2 days since I’ve got it, but I feel like it’s working on me already. I’ve been trying to get at least 15 minutes of sun during luch break, and it’s imporving my work ehtic in the afternoon. Well done guys!"
"Hey, congratulations on Suncheck!! What an interesting idea! It’s just been 2 days since I’ve got it, but I feel like it’s working on me already. I’ve been trying to get at least 15 minutes of sun during luch break, and it’s imporving my work ehtic in the afternoon. Well done guys!"
500+ downloads on Appstore
@ssassyjessy Suncheck User
"After using this app for 9 days, I was noticeably in a better mood :) Thank you guys <3"
200+ upvotes on product hunt
Anny Santiago CTO at Impactful Communications
"Hey, congratulations on Suncheck!! What an interesting idea! It’s just been 2 days since I’ve got it, but I feel like it’s working on me already. I’ve been trying to get at least 15 minutes of sun during luch break, and it’s imporving my work ehtic in the afternoon. Well done guys!"
Onboarding
Final product
Final product
Record, Track, and Store your daily sun exposure
Record, Track, and Store your daily sun exposure
The home screen shows a visual recorder that gets activated with a simple tap. After every 15 minutes, the recorder changes color indicating visual progress of your daily sunlight intake. With the local weather info and color of the recorder, the user can easily determine if they want to step out side for a quick ray of sunshine.
The home screen shows a visual recorder that gets activated with a simple tap. After every 15 minutes, the recorder changes color indicating visual progress of your daily sunlight intake. With the local weather info and color of the recorder, the user can easily determine if they want to step out side for a quick ray of sunshine.
Final product
Final product
Real-time walking sensor
Real-time walking sensor
Don’t forget to stop recording once you’re back indoors! The app detects the user's movement and sends notifications to remind users to start or stop the recording.
Don’t forget to stop recording once you’re back indoors! The app detects the user's movement and sends notifications to remind users to start or stop the recording.
Final product
Final product
Monthly records + Daily reviews
Monthly records + Daily reviews
The color coded calendar view displays your monthly, weekly sunlight intake at a glance, allowing users to adjust their lifestyle, walk plans accordingly.
The color coded calendar view displays your monthly, weekly sunlight intake at a glance, allowing users to adjust their lifestyle, walk plans accordingly.
Calendar
Calendar
Daily review
Daily review
How we got there
How we got there
How we got there
Kick off
Kick off
MVP ideation + initial research
MVP ideation + initial research
We only had 24 hours to build an MVP. To ideate efficiently, our team wrote down the initial goals we wanted to meet for the MVP. At the end of our ideation phase we decided to create a “sun diary”.
Our MVP had these 3 requirements:
Product has to track data on a daily basis
Tracking of data has to be voluntary
Simple enough to be created in 24 hours
Then to extrapolate the feature list, we ran a card sorting exercise among ourselves and did quick usability testing with hackathon participants to validate our designs fast.
We only had 24 hours to build an MVP. To ideate efficiently, our team wrote down the initial goals we wanted to meet for the MVP. At the end of our ideation phase we decided to create a “sun diary”.
Our MVP had these 3 requirements:
Product has to track data on a daily basis
Tracking of data has to be voluntary
Simple enough to be created in 24 hours
Then to extrapolate the feature list, we ran a card sorting exercise among ourselves and did quick usability testing with hackathon participants to validate our designs fast.
Product alignment
Product alignment
Information Architecture
Information Architecture
To confirm the feasibility with the engineer, I created the information architecture diagram to go over with engineering. After review, we made some quick adjustments and went to developing.
To confirm the feasibility with the engineer, I created the information architecture diagram to go over with engineering. After review, we made some quick adjustments and went to developing.
User flow diagram
User flow diagram
To prevent users from reaching a dead end on our application. I mapped out all the scenarios possible.
To prevent users from reaching a dead end on our application. I mapped out all the scenarios possible.
UX problems post launch
UX problems post launch
UX problems post launch
Content design
Content design
Importance of wording in providing a better UX
Importance of wording in providing a better UX
One of the most mentioned problem after launch was the disconnection between the Records Screen and the word "Calendar". The visual representation of the screen did not resemble a standard calendar, and many felt like it had to be called something else.
One of the most mentioned problem after launch was the disconnection between the Records Screen and the word "Calendar". The visual representation of the screen did not resemble a standard calendar, and many felt like it had to be called something else.
Solution
Solution
To look for the best fitting terminology I ran an AB testing to compare different words against each other. The test result led us to rename the screen from calendar to archive.
To look for the best fitting terminology I ran an AB testing to compare different words against each other. The test result led us to rename the screen from calendar to archive.
Feature discoverability
Feature discoverability
Unclear switching mechanism between
Celsius and Fahrenheit
Unclear switching mechanism between
Celsius and Fahrenheit
The version we launched with allowed users to switch between celsius and fahrenheit by tapping on the unit itself. However, we quickly realized that without settings screen and clear UI control for this feature made the whole thing impossible to discover.
The version we launched with allowed users to switch between celsius and fahrenheit by tapping on the unit itself. However, we quickly realized that without settings screen and clear UI control for this feature made the whole thing impossible to discover.
Solution
Solution
To make this control more discoverable, I decided to place the control in the home screen. I made several iterations and made the decision to go with the version that communicated the options most clearly.
To make this control more discoverable, I decided to place the control in the home screen. I made several iterations and made the decision to go with the version that communicated the options most clearly.
Looking forward
Looking forward
Looking forward
What's next?
What's next?
Coming to you on smart watches!
Coming to you on smart watches!
Another popular opinion among the users was the possibility of launching the service on a smart watch platform. Our team has decided to listen and meet the user needs by January in 2022.
Another popular opinion among the users was the possibility of launching the service on a smart watch platform. Our team has decided to listen and meet the user needs by January in 2022.
Thoughts & Reflections
Thoughts & Reflections
Professional
Professional
When it comes to navigating through the dark, user feedback is always going to be a great source of light to follow. Because of the initial user research and listening to their feed back with the initial prototype, I was able to fine tune each feature, adding what was needed and trimming what wasn't.
When it comes to navigating through the dark, user feedback is always going to be a great source of light to follow. Because of the initial user research and listening to their feed back with the initial prototype, I was able to fine tune each feature, adding what was needed and trimming what wasn't.
Personal
Personal
Side projects are fun! This is my second side project I've been working on outside of work, and it was great being able to break free from existing design systems, and going into areas that I am interested in without anything holding me back.
It was also a great opportunity to check that I was growing as a designer, as it tested my skills to go against other skilled designers and gain some recognition. It was a great refreshing and confidence boosting experience.
Side projects are fun! This is my second side project I've been working on outside of work, and it was great being able to break free from existing design systems, and going into areas that I am interested in without anything holding me back.
It was also a great opportunity to check that I was growing as a designer, as it tested my skills to go against other skilled designers and gain some recognition. It was a great refreshing and confidence boosting experience.