Project Overview

When a small startup approached me with the idea of building a modern to-do app, I immediately knew the challenge was more than just designing another checklist. The market is saturated with task managers, but many of them are either cluttered with unnecessary features or so minimal that they fail to support real productivity. My mission was to strike the right balance — create something simple and intuitive, but with enough flexibility to truly help people organize their lives. Through competitive research, prototyping, and usability testing, I shaped an app that feels natural, lightweight, and genuinely useful.

My Role and Duration
I led the project as the UX/UI Designer, guiding the process from research to design and testing. The project ran over the course of four weeks, with time dedicated to exploration, design iterations, and refinement based on user feedback.

The Problem

Most existing to-do apps ask too much from users. They require several taps just to create a task, lock people into one ecosystem (Google, Apple, Microsoft), or overwhelm new users with advanced options. Feedback from competitor research and early testing revealed a clear need for a lightweight, intuitive, and customizable solution — something that keeps the essentials while cutting away the noise.

Goals

Deliver a minimal and intuitive interface that anyone can understand at first glance.
Make navigation effortless, allowing users to switch between Today, Schedule, and To-Do List in just one click.
Introduce one unique differentiator that adds real value without overcomplicating development.
Validate and improve the design through real user testing and iteration.

This is the hi-fi prototype testing results. (Link below)

Design Process

1. Competitive Research
 I studied Apple Reminders, Google Tasks, and Microsoft To-Do. Each had strengths, but also gaps: Apple was too limited, Google was too tied to its ecosystem, and Microsoft was too complex.
 👉 This revealed a market gap: people want simplicity and flexibility, not just one or the other.
2. Lo-Fi Prototype
 I sketched a simple structure: three pages (Today, Schedule, To-Do List) anchored by bottom navigation, with a floating “+” button for quick task creation. This established the app’s core flow.
3. Hi-Fi Prototype (First Iteration)
 I then built a polished prototype, focusing on visual hierarchy and clean navigation. Key elements included:
A central home screen with task lists.
Profile and settings tucked neatly in the corner.
Toggles for auto-deleting completed tasks.
Smooth onboarding to reduce friction.
4. Usability Testing (5 participants)
 Testing surfaced what worked and what didn’t:
✅ One-click navigation and bottom tabs felt natural.
✅ Users quickly understood the back button placement.
❌ Search and reminders needed to be more visible.
❌ Auto-categorization wasn’t obvious enough.
5. Iteration (Second Hi-Fi Prototype)
 I refined the design by:
Improving search bar visibility.
Expanding reminder/timer options.
Highlighting auto-categorization.
Adding theme personalization (including night mode).

Testing Process Setting Pages

Results

Navigation success rate: 100% of users could move through the app in one click.
Task linking clarity: 80% were able to successfully connect tasks to schedules.
Refined experience: Updates improved clarity in key pain points (search, reminders).
Market positioning: A to-do app that bridges the gap between minimalism and personalization, making it both approachable for beginners and satisfying for more organized users.
In the end, the project demonstrated how user-centered design and iteration can transform a simple idea into a product that feels authentic, intuitive, and meaningful.

Prototype Link