App Design: TaskTron

We often talk about technology helping us work smarter, stay connected, or be more productive. But somewhere along the way, it also began to take over our time, attention, and even our peace of mind.

This project brief, titled “Irony of Ironies”, asked us to explore that contradiction: designing a mobile app that helps users spend less time on their phones. The goal was to create something that would make people think about their digital habits while promoting healthier, more intentional tech use.

The film studio’s marketing team wanted to promote an upcoming blockbuster about humanity’s growing dependence on technology. In an ironic twist, the campaign’s app needed to encourage users to disconnect — helping them reclaim time, focus, and balance in their everyday lives.

The main design criteria were to:

• Reduce feelings of digital overwhelm

• Help users manage screen time consciously

• Reward meaningful offline focus

TaskTron is a productivity app that helps users stay focused on work or study while reducing unnecessary screen time. Its design merges behavioral nudges with gamified incentives to make the process both engaging and effective.

Key features:

• Focus Mode: Earn coins by staying off your phone. Choose between Deep Focus, Pomodoro sessions, or Library Mode (for silent study).

• App Limits: Set daily usage caps for selected apps. Once you hit the limit, they’re locked for the rest of the day.

• Rewards System: Use the coins you earn to “buy back” limited time for your favorite non-productive apps.

• Mascot – Nudger: A friendly robot companion that motivates you to stay on track and reminds you to take mindful breaks.

The idea was to make digital discipline feel like a choice, not a punishment.

Two key personas guided the design process:

Tabitha Abbott (39): A textile designer from London who struggles to switch off after work and wants to minimize digital distractions.

Veer Joshi (22): A university student in Manchester trying to avoid procrastination loops and improve self-discipline.

Their shared pain points:

• Constant notifications interrupting focus

• Difficulty balancing work and downtime

• High screen time across multiple devices

Their goals shaped TaskTron’s core purpose: helping users regain control over how they spend their time.

The ideation phase included:

• Testing name concepts (TaskTron and its companion Nudger)

• Developing a minimal, motivating interface with bright, focused visuals

• Creating widgets for quick access to Focus Mode and timers

• Iterating wireframes and icons using Iconify, IconDuck, and Freepik resources

User testing focused on how intuitive the focus timer and reward systems felt. You can view snippets of the process here.

TaskTron was a lesson in designing for balance, not restriction.

Instead of shaming users for being on their phones, the app uses motivation, feedback, and playful interaction to promote healthier digital habits.

This project reminded me that UX design isn’t just about creating useful tools — it’s about understanding why people use them, and helping them make better choices for themselves. Sometimes, being human in a digital world means designing technology that gently steps out of the way.