Startle

Inspiration

As a college student, I am all too familiar with the habit of hitting snooze once my alarm rings. Almost all of the people I talked with say that they can't seem to get out of bed in the mornings or can't help but scroll on their phones. This then leads them to feel that the day is off to an unproductive start. What I've found is that most alarms feel impersonal and easy to ignore. Startle is my attempt to address this problem.

What it does

Startle is a morning routine app that helps users build better morning habits through accountability and action. Users must complete a task that works out their mind or body, such as movement, puzzles, or photo prompts. The app tracks habits over time, sends reminders, and allows users to customize their alarms and routine for a more personalized feel. Overall, Startle aims to promote wellness and set your day up on the right foot.

How we built it

I started by brainstorming major features that should be included within the app before moving into brand identity. I wanted the color palette to invoke a feeling of wellness and peace. Once colors were chosen, I began to sketch out wireframes of different functions of the app from most to least important and finalized the project by playing around with prototypes.

Challenges we ran into

One thing I found challenging was condensing all my ideas into one app. I wanted to commit to everything, but found that it was not possible within the time constraint, and it would only make the interface feel chaotic. At the same time, it kept me grounded and focused on the most effective solutions to my problem. I also had to ensure that interactions felt natural and responsive across different states of awareness, especially when users are half asleep.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

I'm proud of reinterpreting that alarm experience into a more engaging one that feels fun and motivating. I'm also surprised at the amount of work I was able to produce in the past 2 days, which really challenged me to think about how I can make a lasting impact through design.

What we learned

This project taught me that design strongly influences behavior. Small changes in responsiveness can change how users interact with a system, especially in low-attention states like waking up. Additionally, I saw that designing with awareness as opposed to efficiency can create a more meaningful user experience.

What's next for Startle

I'm thinking of expanding Startle to support nighttime routines that could help contribute to a better morning.

Built With

• figma