Research participants primarily struggled with communication, organization, and chore-related accountability with their housemates.

User Survey Insights (105 Participants): Our survey used a combination of open-ended and close-ended questions to uncover the various chore distribution systems in use, methods for tracking completed or outstanding chores, and approaches to resolving any chore-related conflicts.

User Interview Insights (16 Participants): We conducted interviews with college students, ages 18–22 and living with housemates, to ask more case-specific questions based on their survey responses.

Affinity Mapping Analysis: 3 Core Issues

Communication: A majority of individuals prefer to avoid confrontation, but those who engage in direct communication opt for methods such as text messaging or in-person discussions. However, direct communication was noted to trigger passive-aggressive behavior.

Organization: Varied systems exist within households for managing chore responsibilities. Some employ rotational schedules, while others adopt a "clean as you go" approach.

Accountability: Most individuals rely on the “honor” system or verbal agreements to keep track of complete and outstanding chores but some also use diagrams and other tools to establish formal accountability.

Low-Fidelity sketches focused on designing gamified incentives and anonymous communication tools to make chores more fun and engaging.

Revised Problem Statement: How might we create an app that encourages organization, decreases passive-aggressive behavior, and promotes accountability between housemates who divide chores?

Incentives: Making chores a dynamic, interactive activity through score-based games, customizable avatars, or competitive activities.

Communication: Prioritizing anonymity to minimize housemate bias. Ideas include sending chore completion requests, chore swapping, task reminders, and image-based communication.

Dashboard: Centralize user and housemate chore information, scores, app notifications, and general communication.

Settings: Providing users with control over chore cycles, the ability to adjust chore lists, and the option to edit housemate teams.

Mid-Fidelity wireframes include four user flows focusing on competition, accountability, customization, and compromise. Testing proved that our designs were engaging but somewhat confusing to navigate.

‍

‍Begin Chore Cycle: Users are directed to a new chore cycle where they can race to claim chores. This flow begins with a notification to better demonstrate the competitive, gamified structure of the app. Additionally, we made our app mascot and user avatar a troll!

🫧 Users Loved: The first come, first serve (or first claim) structure

🧽 Users Disliked: Starting the flow with a notification

‍

‍

‍User Dashboard: Users can explore personal and group profiles to monitor pending chores, view scores, track individual progress, "Chroll" housemates (a polite reminder), and initiate chore swaps. The dashboard also serves as the hub for notifications and settings.

‍🫧 Users Loved: The organization of individual chores

🧽 Users Disliked: The process of accessing different profile views and engaging in "Chrolling"

‍

‍

‍Avatar Customization: In this sequence, users can personalize their avatars by spending bubble "points" earned through chore completion. These points serve as currency for acquiring new accessories and colors for user trolls. The customization feature is accessible in the user profile dashboard

🫧 Users Loved: The troll avatars and the color + accessory customization

🧽 Users Disliked: The flow to "purchase" items with bubble points

‍

‍

Notifications and Settings: This final flow is a system where users must cast votes to approve the addition or removal of chores, establishing compromise among housemates.

🫧 Users Loved: The notification center reminders and alerts

🧽 Users Disliked: Voting on chores and editing the chore cycle

Introducing Chroll- a gamified, incentive-driven app that keeps housemates on top of their chores. On a cleaning roll with a friendly troll!

1. Onboarding

(Left) After creating an account, the onboarding process introduces new users to a product tour highlighting Chroll's key features, including communication tools such as Redo Request, Chrolling, and Bubble Points. Users can then personalize their troll avatar before advancing to their personal dashboard. Within the dashboard, users have the option to create a new group, join an existing one, or accept a group invitation.

2. Chore Claim

(Center) The chore claim feature enables users within the same group to compete for chore selection. The available chores are evenly distributed among users, and if a chore is already claimed, users are provided with an opportunity to make another selection from the list.

3. Chrolling

(Right) In a bid to reduce passive-aggressiveness among housemates, we introduced Chrolling! Functioning akin to Facebook's Poke feature, Chrolling allows users to send an anonymous reminder to their housemates, encouraging them to complete chores before the cycle concludes.

‍

4. Shopping

(Left) Using Bubble Points earned by completing chores, users can shop for accessories, colors, and clothes to further customize their troll companions!

5. Request Redo

(Center) Anonymously request chores to be redone! Users can initiate a Redo Request if a chore needs to be repeated or has not been executed properly.

6. Leaderboard and Cycle Settings

(Right) Users engage in friendly competition to secure recognition as the first housemate to complete chores within a cycle, earning both bragging rights and a coveted spot on the app leaderboard!

The settings page allows the entire group to fine-tune the length and frequency of their chore cycles, and propose additions or deletions to the chore list. Group members collectively vote to determine the implementation of these changes.

I'd love to elaborate on the bubble-point system and expand the target demographic to include young children. As they say, good chore habits start early!

By the end of our 6 week sprint, I learned that the design process isn’t as simple as following the five key phases. Instead, it involves navigating cycles of diverse iterations, encountering new challenges, and embracing compromise. This experience has honed my ability to communicate effectively and prioritize user needs—skills I aspire to continually refine in my journey as a UX designer.

Overall, I relished the challenge of designing an app from its inception and look forward to continuing my journey as a UX designer.

If I had more time, I would...

1. Further develop the bubble-point system

2. Expand target demographic by conducting user research on families with younger children

3. Multiple rounds of user testing with mid-fi and high-fi prototypes to refine Chroll’s key features