After testing our paper prototype, the only usability problem we came across was that users were confused about how to proceed after finding a task they wanted to complete. We refined the prototype by better detailing the expanded view of a task and also adding an unchecked box to the bottom right corner of each task. This better aligns with what is expected from a task completion app and communicates to the user what they must do once they have completed the task. After this box is checked, it changes to a bright green color, and the points are given to the user's account

See below updated paper prototypes! 

This was a very interesting experience for me because I have never done anything like this before. What became apparent quickly was that designing a product with the user in mind is much harder than it seems. As a designer, certain features or flows feel obvious, but during testing, we realized that what makes sense to us is not always clear to the user. This became one of the most important lessons for me throughout the process. It became clear to me why user testing is such a critical step when designing - it exposes blind spots and highlights where our assumptions don’t hold up.

 When my group and I were creating our prototype, we drew some inspiration from apps we were already familiar with, but a lot of our work came from ideas we imagined ourselves. On the one hand, it gave us creative freedom; on the other hand, it made it difficult to translate what was in our heads into something tangible and user-friendly. I kept asking myself: how do you communicate functionality clearly so that the user not only understands it but feels comfortable engaging with it?

 Through this process, my confidence in my abilities has grown. At the start, I wasn’t sure if I would be able to predict what users wanted or needed, but by the end, I felt more aware of user perspectives and better equipped to think critically about design choices. I also realized that “good” design often goes unnoticed, while poor design becomes obvious right away. This made me appreciate how much thought and effort go into creating seamless, intuitive products. Overall, this project helped me see that user-centered design is not just about creativity, it is about empathy, clarity, and a willingness to adapt.