What If Your Tasks, Not You, Decided Your Screen Time?

Building a gamified screen-time app that uses screen time as a reward to build healthier habits

Product Design

UX Research

Academic Research

how do you sell a product people dont understand?

How we repositioned an unfamiliar product in a skeptical market using community education, category naming, and iterative brand strategy.

Product Development

Strategy

Building a Brand

how do you sell a product people dont understand?

How we repositioned an unfamiliar product in a skeptical market using community education, category naming, and iterative brand strategy.

Product Development

Strategy

Building a Brand

a quick rundown

The tl;dr

Problem:
Screen-time tools rely on restriction and guilt. Awareness alone hasn't worked.

What I did:
Three phases of independent research across 17 participants, app testing, interviews, prototype validation.

What we found:
The tools aren't failing because of willpower. They're built on the wrong premise.

What we built:
Nomo — complete tasks, earn access, let AI handle the rest.

Role

Research:
Independent Researcher · 6 months · 12 participants

Design and Validation Product Designer, team of 2 · 3 months · 6 participants

Tools

Figma, Zoom, UserTesting

Some more context

Some more context

why is cutting down screen-time so hard?

why is cutting down screen-time so hard?

why is cutting down screen-time so hard?

Gen Z spends an average of 6.5 hours a day phones.


This isn't a hidden problem. Most people are aware of it, and many have tried to reduce their screen time at some point. Yet the attempts rarely last.

Digging deeper into existing research and survey data, the pattern became harder to ignore.

43%

43%

of Gen Z struggle with productivity from their phone usage

(BePresent, 2024)

(BePresent, 2024)

73%

of people believe their phones negatively impacts their mental health

of people believe their phones negatively impacts their mental health

of people believe their phones negatively impacts their mental health

(BePresent, 2024)

(BePresent, 2024)

74%

of people who have tried to reduce their screen time struggle to do so

of people who have tried to reduce their screen time struggle to do so

of people who have tried to reduce their screen time struggle to do so

(BePresent, 2024)

(BePresent, 2024)

What became clear early on was that awareness alone wasn't the issue. People already know. The challenge was never about knowing better. It was about how behavior change was being supported, or not supported, by the tools around them.

Framing the Problem

Framing the Problem

where are the current tools failing?

where are the current tools failing?

To find out, I ran a structured study where participants tested three existing screen-time apps over several days while tracking their usage and reflecting on their experience. The apps were chosen to represent the three dominant intervention strategies in the market today.

One Sec: delay-based friction. A pause before the app opens. ClearSpace: mindfulness-based interruption. A breathing exercise as a gate. Opal: schedule-based blocking. Full restriction on a timer.

A consistent pattern emerged across all three. The tools were effective at interrupting behavior in the moment. None of them were effective at changing it over time.

"The forced breathing exercises are starting to feel like cruel and unusual punishment."

Participant on ClearSpace

"The forced breathing exercises are starting to feel like cruel and unusual punishment."

Participant on ClearSpace

"I got used to just tapping through it. It didn't really make me stop thinking anymore."

Participant on One Sec

Friction alone wasn't enough. Users didn't want more restrictions. They wanted support that worked with them, not against them. Which brought on our main challenge:

The Challenge

How do we create something that feels natural, supportive and sustainable?

a sneak peak

a sneak peak

The Concept

The Concept


NOMO explores a simple shift: screen time isn’t taken away — it’s earned through meaningful, offline action.

By tying digital access to intentional tasks, the system reframes screen-time management as habit-building rather than restriction. This concept became the basis for exploring a more motivating, flexible, and supportive approach to behavior change.


NOMO explores a simple shift: screen time isn’t taken away — it’s earned through meaningful, offline action.

By tying digital access to intentional tasks, the system reframes screen-time management as habit-building rather than restriction. This concept became the basis for exploring a more motivating, flexible, and supportive approach to behavior change.

Turn your screen time into something you earn, not something you lose.

Turn your screen time into something you earn, not something you lose.

Set up your to do list with tasks.

Complete tasks to earn points,
which unlock screen time for the apps you chose.

Set up your to do list with tasks.

Complete tasks to earn points,
which unlock screen time for the apps you chose.

Tasks are weighted by priority

Tasks are weighted by priority

High priority → more points 

(deep-focus or effort-based)



Medium priority → moderate points



Low priority → small, quick wins

High priority → more points 

(deep-focus or effort-based)



Medium priority → moderate points



Low priority → small, quick wins

Set daily app time limits

Set daily app time limits

Once you hit your daily limit, distracting apps stay locked — but you can always earn time back by completing meaningful tasks.

Once you hit your daily limit, distracting apps stay locked — but you can always earn time back by completing meaningful tasks.

But, How Exactly did we get here?

But, How Exactly did we get here?

User Research

User Research

Understanding How people Use their phones

Understanding How people Use their phones

We began by examining users’ screen-time habits and their experiences with existing tools through interviews, secondary research, and behavioral mapping.


We began by examining users’ screen-time habits and their experiences with existing tools through interviews, secondary research, and behavioral mapping.



Rather than pointing to a single issue, the research revealed the obvious, that screen use is deeply embedded in daily routines. Phones are used to connect, unwind, procrastinate, and cope with moments of mental fatigue. Any solution would need to adapt to these realities rather than attempt to override them.


As we explored users’ screen-time habits and their experiences with existing tools, we uncovered distinct ways people think about and manage their screen time, shaped largely by their everyday routines.

Our users said:

“It’s something that I’ve been fighting for years at this point, and I think the issue is that it’s in my hands… no one wants to be on their phone 

for 8+ hours a day.”

Darla, 27

Making it make sense

Making it make sense

Understanding where time slips away

Understanding where time slips away

To better understand how screen time accumulates, we mapped a typical user journey around everyday phone use. Rather than focusing on edge cases, we looked closely at familiar moments where intention slowly gives way to habit.

To better understand how screen time accumulates, we mapped a typical user journey around everyday phone use. Rather than focusing on edge cases, we looked closely at familiar moments where intention slowly gives way to habit.

What We learnt

What We learnt

Rephrasing our initial challenge

Rephrasing our initial challenge

After synthesizing our research, we worked on a user story for our users:
As a chronically online user, I want to be more intentional with my screen time, so I can reclaim my time for activities I care about.

This led us to also revise our How Might We to reflect the behaviors we observed and the challenges we wanted our solution to address.

Challenge

How Might We Empoder People Who Want To Reduce Screentime To Reclaim Their Time Towards Meaningful Activities?

What We learnt

What We learnt

Learning From what's out there already

Learning From what's out there already

This exploration led us to rethink what screen-time support could look like beyond restriction or control. As we reviewed 9 popular tools available in the market, three recurring gaps became clear:

This exploration led us to rethink what screen-time support could look like beyond restriction or control. As we reviewed 9 popular tools available in the market, three recurring gaps became clear:

Lack of

personalization

Absence of a sustainable middle ground

Shallow

reward systems

These gaps reinforced the need for a system that adapts to behavior rather than forcing change through control.

These gaps reinforced the need for a system that adapts to behavior rather than forcing change through control.

Making it make sense

Making it make sense

Exploring and creating a system

Exploring and creating a system

As the direction became clearer, we began shaping how the system could work in practice. We explored early flows alongside more defined screens to understand how the experience should communicate itself.


This phase focused on moments like onboarding, task creation, and what happens when screen access is paused, helping us clarify the core structure of the system.

As the direction became clearer, we began shaping how the system could work in practice. We explored early flows alongside more defined screens to understand how the experience should communicate itself.


This phase focused on moments like onboarding, task creation, and what happens when screen access is paused, helping us clarify the core structure of the system.

User Testing

User Testing

testing Early Concepts and Changes We Made

testing Early Concepts and Changes We Made

In our early phrases of testing our screens and concept, we learnt a tonne from our users and saw things we wouldn't have otherwise.

In our early phrases of testing our screens and concept, we learnt a tonne from our users and saw things we wouldn't have otherwise.

"Can It tell me what task I can do?Right now, it feels like a dead end."
- User R

"Can It tell me what task I can do?Right now, it feels like a dead end."
- User R

"I’d rather see the task system visually, outside of the chat."
- User K

"I’d rather see the task system visually, outside of the chat."
- User K

"Who sets the points? Can I customize them? Why can’t they be 5, 10, or 15?”
- User B

"Who sets the points? Can I customize them? Why can’t they be 5, 10, or 15?”
- User B

Based on testing, we focused on removing moments where users felt stuck or unsure of what to do next. Instead of treating limits as hard stops, we reframed them as prompts that guide users toward a clear action.

Based on testing, we focused on removing moments where users felt stuck or unsure of what to do next. Instead of treating limits as hard stops, we reframed them as prompts that guide users toward a clear action.

Feature overview first.

Personalization through chat second.

Clearer. Friendlier. Faster.

BEFORE

BEFORE

AFTER

AFTER

A gentle stop.



Redirect to a quick task.


Back to your apps in no time.

BEFORE

BEFORE

AFTER

AFTER

Visual Guidelines

Visual Guidelines

but what would it look like?

but what would it look like?

The goal of NOMO wasn’t to add complexity, but to keep the system understandable at a glance. Visual and interaction decisions were guided by a small set of constraints focused on clarity, feedback, and flexibility.


These guidelines helped maintain consistency as the product evolved, especially across onboarding, task flows, and moments of interruption.

The goal of NOMO wasn’t to add complexity, but to keep the system understandable at a glance. Visual and interaction decisions were guided by a small set of constraints focused on clarity, feedback, and flexibility.


These guidelines helped maintain consistency as the product evolved, especially across onboarding, task flows, and moments of interruption.

The Final Outcome

The Final Outcome

From research insight to product direction

From research insight to product direction

We didn’t change the nutritional foundation of Fugo. That part was non-negotiable. What we changed was everything around it.

The diary study showed us that people were already adapting Fugo in creative ways to suit their goals and routines. Our job became less about fixing the product and more about giving people a clearer, more flexible story to see themselves in.

We didn’t change the nutritional foundation of Fugo. That part was non-negotiable. What we changed was everything around it.

The diary study showed us that people were already adapting Fugo in creative ways to suit their goals and routines. Our job became less about fixing the product and more about giving people a clearer, more flexible story to see themselves in.

IOS Widgets

IOS Widgets

Looking back

Looking back

What would we do if we had more time?

What would we do if we had more time?

Short term
Expand core functionality with a clearer dashboard, additional widgets beyond initial mockups, and more customization options to test how flexibility affects engagement.


Long term
Shift from concept validation to experience depth through longer-term usability testing, refinement of the task economy, and adaptation to varied user routines rather than a single ideal workflow.

The goal is to evolve NOMO from a system that prompts pause into one that learns when to intervene and when to step back.

Short term
Expand core functionality with a clearer dashboard, additional widgets beyond initial mockups, and more customization options to test how flexibility affects engagement.


Long term
Shift from concept validation to experience depth through longer-term usability testing, refinement of the task economy, and adaptation to varied user routines rather than a single ideal workflow.

The goal is to evolve NOMO from a system that prompts pause into one that learns when to intervene and when to step back.

Looking back

Looking back

What this entire journey has taught me

What this entire journey has taught me

Working on NOMO made me more aware of my own relationship with control, motivation, and distraction. I started this project thinking about screen time as something to be managed, but through research and testing I began to see it as something negotiated moment by moment.


I learned that productivity tools can easily slip into judgment, and that designing for behavior change requires patience, flexibility, and empathy. This project pushed me to slow down, question my assumptions, and design systems that leave room for imperfect days.


More than the app itself, NOMO reshaped how I think about intervention, agency, and when design should step back.