ZZZbudy
Crafting an gamified sleep app from 0-1, backed up by scientific research
Crafting an gamified sleep app from 0-1, backed up by scientific research
About
ZZZbudy is a behavior-change app that helps users improve sleep quality by building effective routines. Developed for a course on consumer health technologies, it draws on evidence-based theories to support habit formation.
ZZZbudy is a behavior-change app that helps users improve sleep quality by building effective routines. Developed for a course on consumer health technologies, it draws on evidence-based theories to support habit formation.
Role
Role
Research
Game mechanics
0 to 1 app design
User testing
Iterations
Research
Game mechanics
0 to 1 app design
User testing
Iterations
Timeline
Timeline
Sep - Dec, 2023
Sep - Dec, 2023
Team
Team
2 Designers
1 Product manager
1 Researcher
2 Designers
1 Product manager
1 Researcher
Tool
Tool
Spline
Figma
Spline
Figma
What’s special about this sleep app?
What’s special about this sleep app?
The first app focuses on building effective, healthy behaviors to improve sleep quality, rather than just offering relaxation techniques,
The first app focuses on building effective, healthy behaviors to improve sleep quality, rather than just offering relaxation techniques,
Imagine playing Pokémon, but your pet's health depends on you completing your bedtime tasks. If you fail to do so, your pet will experience sleep deficiency symptoms, just like humans.
Imagine playing Pokémon, but your pet's health depends on you completing your bedtime tasks. If you fail to do so, your pet will experience sleep deficiency symptoms, just like humans.
Impact
I integrated psychological theories into the game mechanics, centering the core task around completing sleep hygiene activities. The reward and punishment systems are grounded in motivation theories to drive engagement and reinforce healthy habits.
I integrated psychological theories into the game mechanics, centering the core task around completing sleep hygiene activities. The reward and punishment systems are grounded in motivation theories to drive engagement and reinforce healthy habits.
99%
would love to try the app!
"The mechanics and reward systems are fun and creative!"
96%
learn from the app
"It's my first time ever hear about sleep hygiene."
Take me to design
99%
would love to try the app!
"The mechanics and reward systems are fun and creative!"
96%
learn from the app
"It's my first time ever hear about sleep hygiene."
Take me to design
💭 Current sleep apps are ineffective. Why?
💭 Current sleep apps are ineffective. Why?
To identify the reasons, we first conduct market research and competitor analysis to assess the performance of current sleep apps and how they address sleep-related problems.
To identify the reasons, we first conduct market research and competitor analysis to assess the performance of current sleep apps and how they address sleep-related problems.
01
01
Most apps focus solely on relaxation techniques.
Most apps focus solely on relaxation techniques.
02
02
Low sleep score without explanations causes confusion and anxiety.
Low sleep score without explanations causes confusion and anxiety.
03
03
Limited apps have features to assist behavior change, which makes it hard to persist in the long run.
Limited apps have features to assist behavior change, which makes it hard to persist in the long run.
Problems discovered through user interviews
Problems discovered through user interviews
01 Poor bedtime habits!
01 Poor bedtime habits!
Racing thoughts
"Even when I’m drained from work, my mind doesn’t slow down. I lie in bed, tired but restless, struggling to fall asleep."
"Even when I’m drained from work, my mind doesn’t slow down. I lie in bed, tired but restless, struggling to fall asleep."
Heavy screen usage
"I usually scroll through my phone until I feel drowsy enough to fall asleep."
"I usually scroll through my phone until I feel drowsy enough to fall asleep."
Irregular sleep schedule
"I try to go to bed earlier if I have class the next day, but even then, I often struggle to fall asleep."
"I try to go to bed earlier if I have class the next day, but even then, I often struggle to fall asleep."
02 Need external support for long-term change
02 Need external support for long-term change
Commitment feels optional
Commitment feels optional
"I set sleep and wake-up notifications to build better habits, but they’re easy to dismiss, so they don’t really stick."
"I set sleep and wake-up notifications to build better habits, but they’re easy to dismiss, so they don’t really stick."
Stuck after slip
"Not meeting my goals feels like a setback. It makes the idea of starting over stressful and less motivating."
"Not meeting my goals feels like a setback. It makes the idea of starting over stressful and less motivating."
Opportunities to changes
Opportunities to changes
To synthesize information and gain a better understanding of users, we use a journey map to display pre-bedtime behaviors and identify opportunities.
To synthesize information and gain a better understanding of users, we use a journey map to display pre-bedtime behaviors and identify opportunities.
What if building better sleep habits felt more like playing a game than following rules?
What if building better sleep habits felt more like playing a game than following rules?
Why not turn evidence-based practices for better sleep into interactive game tasks? Activities like reading, taking a warm bath, or practicing relaxation techniques can signal the body to wind down—so why not let users explore these habits playfully to build routines that lead to consistent, restful sleep?
Why not turn evidence-based practices for better sleep into interactive game tasks? Activities like reading, taking a warm bath, or practicing relaxation techniques can signal the body to wind down—so why not let users explore these habits playfully to build routines that lead to consistent, restful sleep?
Solving pain points by designing for behavior change
Solving pain points by designing for behavior change
01 Build healthy bedtime habits
01 Build healthy bedtime habits
Design challenges
Design challenges
Design solutions
Design solutions
Racing thoughts
Racing thoughts
Bedtime reminders to create the wind-down period.
Guidance on bedtime routines to help people unwind,
Bedtime reminders to create the wind-down period.
Guidance on bedtime routines to help people unwind,
Heavy screen usage
Heavy screen usage
Sleep tracking with phone-locking features
Education
Sleep tracking with phone-locking features
Education
Irregular sleep schedule
Irregular sleep schedule
Goal setting
Education
Goal setting
Education
02 Provide external support via gamification and motivation theories
02 Provide external support via gamification and motivation theories
Design challenges
Design challenges
Design solutions
Design solutions
Commitment feels optional
Commitment feels optional
Visualize impacts
Add features that assist habits formation.
Visualize impacts
Add features that assist habits formation.
Stuck after slip
Stuck after slip
Use gamification to make habit formation fun and low-pressure
Deliver bite-sized, approachable information.
Use gamification to make habit formation fun and low-pressure
Deliver bite-sized, approachable information.
Now we set the stage for restful, consistent sleep
Now we set the stage for restful, consistent sleep
User Testing
User Testing
Reward System - Pets' energy levels reflect their owners' sleep quality
Issues - High
8/10 were confused
I use this app because I have trouble sleeping. What if I followed all the suggestions but still can't sleep well? Then it would feel like a punishment.
Analysis
We should reward behaviors, not just the final outcomes, to avoid assuming that everything will always go well.
Success
10/10 understood the mechanics
10/10 thought the game was fun and would love to try it
Recommendations 💡
Energy and happiness increase when users complete sleep hygiene routines and go to bed on time.
Asking User for Feedback - Record your sleep behaviors the next morning
Issues - Medium
9/10 wanted to record their actions now instead of tomorrow
Why should I wait until tomorrow to check the tasks I completed today?
Analysis
How to enable users to record their actions while also minimizing screen usage?
Success
8/10 liked the process as a casual conversation
Recommendations 💡
Record actions through notifications without the need to open the app or unlock screens. Lock the screens once sleep tracking begins. If users quit the screen, the process will be interrupted, and their pets will lose energy points.
Sleep Insight
Issues - High
Professor Pedja Klasnja: How well have sleep hygiene practices helped?
How can we better assist users and reinforce behavior change?
Analysis
Although sleep scores can indicate how sleep hygiene has helped, actionable insights based on data analysis could provide users with a better understanding of the relationship between their actions and results, enabling them to make more informed decisions.
Success
9/10 found the sleep analysis helpful
Recommendations 💡
Provide insights on how specific sleep practices affect sleep quality.
Offer actionable feedback on how to adjust for better sleep.
Offer alternative tasks if the current ones are not helpful.Reward System - Pets' energy levels reflect their owners' sleep quality
Issues - High
8/10 were confused
I use this app because I have trouble sleeping. What if I followed all the suggestions but still can't sleep well? Then it would feel like a punishment.
Analysis
We should reward behaviors, not just the final outcomes, to avoid assuming that everything will always go well.
Success
10/10 understood the mechanics
10/10 thought the game was fun and would love to try it
Recommendations 💡
Energy and happiness increase when users complete sleep hygiene routines and go to bed on time.
Asking User for Feedback - Record your sleep behaviors the next morning
Issues - Medium
9/10 wanted to record their actions now instead of tomorrow
Why should I wait until tomorrow to check the tasks I completed today?
Analysis
How to enable users to record their actions while also minimizing screen usage?
Success
8/10 liked the process as a casual conversation
Recommendations 💡
Record actions through notifications without the need to open the app or unlock screens. Lock the screens once sleep tracking begins. If users quit the screen, the process will be interrupted, and their pets will lose energy points.
Sleep Insight
Issues - High
Professor Pedja Klasnja: How well have sleep hygiene practices helped?
How can we better assist users and reinforce behavior change?
Analysis
Although sleep scores can indicate how sleep hygiene has helped, actionable insights based on data analysis could provide users with a better understanding of the relationship between their actions and results, enabling them to make more informed decisions.
Success
9/10 found the sleep analysis helpful
Recommendations 💡
Provide insights on how specific sleep practices affect sleep quality.
Offer actionable feedback on how to adjust for better sleep.
Offer alternative tasks if the current ones are not helpful.Reward System - Pets' energy levels reflect their owners' sleep quality
Issues - High
8/10 were confused
I use this app because I have trouble sleeping. What if I followed all the suggestions but still can't sleep well? Then it would feel like a punishment.
Analysis
We should reward behaviors, not just the final outcomes, to avoid assuming that everything will always go well.
Success
10/10 understood the mechanics
10/10 thought the game was fun and would love to try it
Recommendations 💡
Energy and happiness increase when users complete sleep hygiene routines and go to bed on time.
Asking User for Feedback - Record your sleep behaviors the next morning
Issues - Medium
9/10 wanted to record their actions now instead of tomorrow
Why should I wait until tomorrow to check the tasks I completed today?
Analysis
How to enable users to record their actions while also minimizing screen usage?
Success
8/10 liked the process as a casual conversation
Recommendations 💡
Record actions through notifications without the need to open the app or unlock screens. Lock the screens once sleep tracking begins. If users quit the screen, the process will be interrupted, and their pets will lose energy points.
Sleep Insight
Issues - High
Professor Pedja Klasnja: How well have sleep hygiene practices helped?
How can we better assist users and reinforce behavior change?
Analysis
Although sleep scores can indicate how sleep hygiene has helped, actionable insights based on data analysis could provide users with a better understanding of the relationship between their actions and results, enabling them to make more informed decisions.
Success
9/10 found the sleep analysis helpful
Recommendations 💡
Provide insights on how specific sleep practices affect sleep quality.
Offer actionable feedback on how to adjust for better sleep.
Offer alternative tasks if the current ones are not helpful.Reward System - Pets' energy levels reflect their owners' sleep quality
Issues - High
8/10 were confused
I use this app because I have trouble sleeping. What if I followed all the suggestions but still can't sleep well? Then it would feel like a punishment.
Analysis
We should reward behaviors, not just the final outcomes, to avoid assuming that everything will always go well.
Success
10/10 understood the mechanics
10/10 thought the game was fun and would love to try it
Recommendations 💡
Energy and happiness increase when users complete sleep hygiene routines and go to bed on time.
Asking User for Feedback - Record your sleep behaviors the next morning
Issues - Medium
9/10 wanted to record their actions now instead of tomorrow
Why should I wait until tomorrow to check the tasks I completed today?
Analysis
How to enable users to record their actions while also minimizing screen usage?
Success
8/10 liked the process as a casual conversation
Recommendations 💡
Record actions through notifications without the need to open the app or unlock screens. Lock the screens once sleep tracking begins. If users quit the screen, the process will be interrupted, and their pets will lose energy points.
Sleep Insight
Issues - High
Professor Pedja Klasnja: How well have sleep hygiene practices helped?
How can we better assist users and reinforce behavior change?
Analysis
Although sleep scores can indicate how sleep hygiene has helped, actionable insights based on data analysis could provide users with a better understanding of the relationship between their actions and results, enabling them to make more informed decisions.
Success
9/10 found the sleep analysis helpful
Recommendations 💡
Provide insights on how specific sleep practices affect sleep quality.
Offer actionable feedback on how to adjust for better sleep.
Offer alternative tasks if the current ones are not helpful.
Final design
Final design
Before
Before
After a long day of work, you finally made to bed. Despite using sleep apps and meditating, racing thoughts keep you awake, leading to late nights and daytime fatigue.
After a long day of work, you finally made to bed. Despite using sleep apps and meditating, racing thoughts keep you awake, leading to late nights and daytime fatigue.
Now
Now
Rather than struggling to unwind at bedtime, you begin winding down an hour earlier. Through guided exploration, you discover a pre-sleep routine that fits your lifestyle—building confidence for restful, consistent sleep.
Rather than struggling to unwind at bedtime, you begin winding down an hour earlier. Through guided exploration, you discover a pre-sleep routine that fits your lifestyle—building confidence for restful, consistent sleep.
01
01
Meet Your Sleep Buddy, Woolly
Meet Your Sleep Buddy, Woolly
Take a sleep quiz to receive a customized schedule, set your goals, and select a sleep task to complete tonight.
Take a sleep quiz to receive a customized schedule, set your goals, and select a sleep task to complete tonight.
Name your buddy
Complete sleep quiz
Set up your goal
Pick bedtime routine
02
Wind done, prepare for bed, and sleep
Wind done, prepare for bed, and sleep
Sleep reminder
Do bedtime task
Enjoy cute animations
Sleep on time & track sleep
03
03
Reward with adventures with Woolly if you are doing well!
Reward with adventures with Woolly if you are doing well!
Stick to your sleep routine, and your pet will go on trips, sending postcards, stories, and calming sounds for relaxation.
Stick to your sleep routine, and your pet will go on trips, sending postcards, stories, and calming sounds for relaxation.
05
05
Monitor & adjust
Monitor & adjust
04
04
Woolly would suffer if you fail to stick to your goals 😢
Woolly would suffer if you fail to stick to your goals 😢
If you skip sleep tasks or have an irregular schedule, Woolly will suffer from sleep deficiency.
If you skip sleep tasks or have an irregular schedule, Woolly will suffer from sleep deficiency.
In the long term, Woolly could experience serious health risks like depression.
In the long term, Woolly could experience serious health risks like depression.
Reflections
Reflections
What did I learn?
What did I learn?
Changing habits is hard. But solid psychological theories and best practices can become powerful tools to help our designs support users on their journey—making progress feel easier and more achievable.
I love gamification! It acts as a form of reward, boosting motivation and increasing user engagement. It makes reaching goals more fun and enjoyable.
User testing is essential. What we think users will do often differs from what they actually do. We need to listen, observe, and learn from real users to make our designs truly useful and meaningful.
Changing habits is hard. But solid psychological theories and best practices can become powerful tools to help our designs support users on their journey—making progress feel easier and more achievable.
I love gamification! Gamification acts as a form of reward, boosting motivation and increasing user engagement. It makes reaching goals more fun and enjoyable.
User testing is essential. What we think users will do often differs from what they actually do. We need to listen, observe, and learn from real users to make our designs truly useful and meaningful.
Changing habits is hard. But solid psychological theories and best practices can become powerful tools to help our designs support users on their journey—making progress feel easier and more achievable.
I love gamification! Gamification acts as a form of reward, boosting motivation and increasing user engagement. It makes reaching goals more fun and enjoyable.
User testing is essential. What we think users will do often differs from what they actually do. We need to listen, observe, and learn from real users to make our designs truly useful and meaningful.
What would I do differently?
What would I do differently?
I would focus on enhancing the rapport between users and their pets by introducing elements that build a sense of responsibility and emotional connection. For example, adding a "care contract" at the beginning—where users commit to taking care of their pet—can simulate the feeling of adoption and increase users’ sense of accountability.
I’d also explore ways to integrate social support—such as inviting friends and family to set and achieve goals together. Features like shared progress tracking and encouragement loops can foster a sense of community, helping users feel supported.
I would focus on enhancing the rapport between users and their pets by introducing elements that build a sense of responsibility and emotional connection. For example, adding a "care contract" at the beginning—where users commit to taking care of their pet—can simulate the feeling of adoption. This small gesture can increase users’ sense of accountability and make the experience more meaningful.
Social support.
I’d also explore ways to integrate social support—such as inviting friends and family to set and achieve goals together. Features like shared progress tracking and encouragement loops can foster a sense of community, helping users feel seen, supported, and part of something bigger.
Thanks for reading! Check out my other works.
Thanks for reading! Check out my other works.
Thanks for reading! Check out my other works.