buddystudy!
Web App | Hackathon
With buddystudy!, users can book study appointments, join muted video calls together, track hours spent, and even compete on leaderboards — turning academic progress into a collaborative, fun experience.
Role
UI/UX Designer
Tools
Figma
Date
June 2024
1. My Role
I designed BuddyStudy as part of a personal hackathon project, focusing on rapid ideation, user experience mapping, and high-fidelity prototyping.
My responsibilities included:
Conducting quick user research to validate the concept
Designing user flows and journey maps
Building wireframes and interactive mockups
Creating the branding and visual identity
Designing the app's core pages: Home, Friends List, Chat/Video Call page, and Log In page
This case study showcases my ability to move fast while keeping user needs at the center of every design decision.
2. Project Goals
The goal behind buddystudy! was simple: Study together, even when you're apart.
From initial research and personal experience, I identified several pain points with studying remotely:
Loneliness and Lack of Motivation: Studying alone makes it easy to lose focus or feel discouraged.
Accountability Struggles: Without a shared environment, it’s harder to stick to study schedules.
Distractions on Regular Video Calls: Normal calls often lead to chatting instead of focused work.
buddystudy! set out to:
Create structured, distraction-free virtual study spaces.
Gamify studying with friendly competition and tracked milestones.
Build a sense of community and mutual accountability, even across long distances.
3. User Research
To validate the concept, I conducted short interviews with 12 students and young professionals who often studied remotely.
Key insights included:
Silent Study > Regular Calls: Users preferred muted environments where they could see friends without feeling obligated to talk.
Visible Progress is Motivating: Being able to see study hours and rankings helped users stay committed.
Low Friction is Essential: Scheduling sessions and hopping into calls needed to be seamless to encourage regular use.
Competitive analysis of existing study apps (like Focusmate) also showed that users wanted friend-centered platforms — not just strangers — to make the experience more comfortable and fun.
4. Feature Design
buddystudy's design centered around accountability, simplicity, and subtle motivation.
Key Features:
Study Appointment Booking: Schedule 1:1 or group silent study sessions with friends.
Silent Study Calls: Join video calls where mics are muted by default, keeping sessions focused.
Hour Tracking: Track personal and group study hours easily, visualized in daily, weekly, and monthly stats.
Leaderboards: Friendly competition shows which friends have studied the most this week.
Friends List: See when your friends are online, what they’re studying, and invite them to a quick session.
Design Choices:
Minimal, Focused Interface: Soft neutrals with blue and green accents to promote calmness and energy.
Clear Visual Hierarchy: Focused on primary CTAs like "Start Studying" or "Book Session" with minimal distractions.
Playful Microcopy: Light, friendly language like "Ready to grind?" or "Silent but strong!" to keep the app motivational without being overwhelming.
5. Problems & Solutions
Problems:
Testers felt that the app might still be too rigid — not everyone has a set study schedule.
Some users felt nervous about joining video calls with their camera on.
Users wanted to celebrate milestones but didn’t want cheesy badges.
Solutions:
Added a “Quick Join” feature that lets users hop into available silent study rooms without pre-scheduling (to be implemented).
Made video optional: users can choose between video on, profile photo only, or fully anonymous mode.
Introduced subtle milestones like weekly hour streaks and “Personal Best”.
6. Personal Learnings
buddystudy! reinforced the idea that accountability doesn’t have to be loud — it can be quiet, supportive, and flexible.
Designing for both introverts and extroverts meant giving users control over their level of visibility and interaction, something I believe all social-productivity apps should consider.
Key takeaways:
Low-pressure environments make users feel safe and motivated.
Visible progress, even simple stats, can dramatically impact commitment.
Flexibility in participation (video/no video, scheduled/quick join) increases adoption and user comfort.
buddystudy! helped me grow as a designer who can not only build motivating products, but who can also design for emotional safety and inclusivity in shared spaces.