VapeTime
Design System
Color Palette
Contrasting colors in the blue and orange families were selected to convey a sense of trust, reliability, calm, and a touch of playfulness. A cool gray was selected for a neutral background tone.
Buttons
(enlarged to show detail)
Primary Button
Top Left Bezel, 10x10px
Solid primary color
Light font color
Secondary Button
Top Left Radius, 6px
Light fill, Primary stroke 3px
Font color matches stroke
Typescale
Problem Statement: Nicotine and other chemicals found in cigarettes and vapes are incredibly addictive and contribute to adverse health conditions.
Competitive Analysis: I looked at five competing apps with the goal of quitting either cigarettes or vaping. No apps were found that covered both. Many calculated nicotine intake and money spent over time. One was just a simple chatbot that would remind users of the health risks of cigarette smoking. No competitors incorporated a timer to challenge users to defer nicotine gratification.
Survey: I began research with a survey of smokers and vapers who had either successfully quit the habit or attempted to quit at least once prior. Results revealed that most participants:
Were not discouraged by health warnings on the packaging or elsewhere,
Desired a way to connect with friends for support during their journey, and
Many users who successfully quit still occasionally smoke or vape (meaning that a level of forgiveness and a reminder of commitment would be key — "you only fail when you stop trying").
An unexpected discovery was that a majority of participants had strong concerns about data privacy, as nicotine use relates directly to personal medical data, which many participants didn't want to have their habit disclosed in any measure.
Goal Statement: Design a digital smoking cessation tool that is easily accessible, simple to use, and provides security of personal data.
Personas: Survey results were distilled into three end user personas who represented the major needs and pain points.
The wireframes were connected into a low fidelity prototype and tested via moderated study over Zoom. This study included 5 participants from a range of ages and backgrounds, who at some point in their life vaped, smoked cigarettes, or both.
Once the mockup designs were drafted based on the wireframe insights and necessary additional interactive components were created, a second round of testing was done. This high fidelity prototype usability test was similar to the wireframe test in that it was moderated and conducted via Zoom. Again 5 new subjects with a history of nicotine use were given tasks and prompts.
I'm glad I went through two rounds of testing and didn't skimp on the initial research. As a non-smoker myself, I needed to keep an open mind about every aspect of this design to make sure it was actually helpful. Closely listening to user feedback led to a truly unique and human centered system that has a huge potential impact for the smallest required effort.
The concept of smoking cessation isn't new, but the competitive audit revealed a large opportunity for innovation and a new way of approaching the goal that wasn't really demonstrated elsewhere. Given the time and availability, I would love to flesh out the prototype further with some of the minigames and other "Distractions," though they're not strictly necessary for the purposes of this prototype.
Overall the VapeTime project demonstrates the value of research and testing at all stages. In the case of the NFC logo, it also serves as reminder that icons aren't universally recognized and need special consideration. Similarly, terminology and button labels are best when obvious rather than nuanced or open to interpretation.