During our UX/UI Bootcamp, we created AURA, a group project designed to help people build a healthier and more mindful relationship with their smartphone use.
The idea came to life after spotting a common pattern: even though we know how much time we spend glued to our screens, disconnecting is still a real challenge for most of us.
Tools Used
As part of our research, we conducted interviews with pedestrians across different age groups.
These conversations gave us valuable insight into how people actually use their phones in their day-to-day lives, and how open they are to making changes to those habits.
People who feel they’re spending too much time on their phones don’t really have tools that help them improve their digital habits in a way that feels empathetic and actually sustainable.
Most current solutions stick to the usual: cutting screen time or blocking apps. But they rarely trigger any real emotional awareness or offer encouraging feedback that helps people change their habits for good. So, in the end, many users just turn these features off and fall right back into the same automatic scrolling cycles.
Understand the main motivations and triggers that lead users to spend excessive time on their phones.
Identify effective strategies and design opportunities to help reduce screen time in a realistic and user friendly way.
Explore practical interventions and techniques that can support users in managing and decreasing phone dependency.
Define sustainable, long-term approaches that encourage healthier digital habits and prevent the return to addictive usage patterns.
When, where, and how do users engage most with their phones?
What are the key usage patterns across different age and social groups (screen time, apps, frequency)?
What psychological, social, and technological factors drive compulsive phone use?
To what extent can they regain control over their time and attention without completely eliminating usage?
How can external factors like policy, regulations, or social norms promote healthier phone habits?
People’s emotions and motivations for picking up their phones can be different, boredom, constant notifications, or filling small waiting moments of ten matter more than the total hours they spend using them.
Different groups experience these emotions in different ways. Teenagers may feel guilty, overstimulated, or lose sleep after late-night scrolling, while many adults see phone use as a normal, functional part of their routine.
Current control tools don’t really drive meaningful change. Limits and reminders are easy to override and tend to feel more punitive than supportive.
Current control tools don’t really drive meaningful change. Limits and reminders are easy to override and tend to feel more punitive than supportive.
We also conducted a survey of 76 participants conducted through Google Forms.
We explored behaviors, emotions, and coping strategies around phone overuse, focusing on how people manage time, notifications, and social media.
The responses helped us identify common pain points; like distraction, guilt, and fatigue and understand how digital habits affect mental wellbeing.
People feel they spend too much time on their phones but the existing tools feel rigid, punitive or easy to ignore.
Users don’t just want to use their phones less, they want to sleep better, focus more, and feel in control again.
Many young and middle-aged adults are caught in a cycle of unintentional, excessive phone use, primarily on social media like Instagram that negatively impacts their mental health, sleep, and relationships.
This isn’t just about the apps; it's a subconscious habit often triggered by boredom, stress, or a sense of disconnection from others and themselves. While people are aware of the negative effects and desire more control, their attempts to self regulate fail because phone use has become largely unconscious, and the current device limits are too easy to bypass.
Carla Bria
Carla recently moved to Barcelona because she got a good job as a sales assistant at a very prestigious designer furniture store in the city.
Although most of her workday is busy, there are also times when there are no customers in the store and nothing to organize, and she can get a little bored.
She wants to start reading more books, get more active by playing sports or engaging in physical activities, and enjoy her free moments without feeling guilty about using her phone.
She feels she spends too much time on social media, especially Instagram, and wishes she could overcome her lack of motivation to dedicate more time to socializing, meeting new people, and engaging in creative or sporting activities.
Personality
Introvert
Extrovert
Busy
Time rich
Analitycal
Creative
Messy
Organized
Independent
Team player
Test findings
Users described the overall experience as easy to use, highlighting the natural and fluid navigation, although some encountered a discoverability issue when trying to locate certain features, such as the “Add timer” option on Instagram. While the graphs and statistics were visually appealing, several users mentioned that the data clarity could be improved, as the information wasn’t immediately intuitive.
Despite these points, the overall impression of Aura was highly positive, with users describing it as calm, friendly, and emotionally balanced, which aligns strongly with the product’s core intent.
Iteration
Before
Users had issues understanding chart information
After
Added tooltips on graphs to provide users with clear explanations of the data, improving understanding and context.
Before
People don´t understand the Before Sleep VS After Waking Graph
After
Changed the title above the graph to better explain the meaning :
Retrospective
Aura was my first group project in the bootcamp, and beyond the final outcome, it became a major learning experience. Working with different perspectives taught me to listen, negotiate, and find balance, always grounding our decisions in the user’s needs.
Our research revealed that phone overuse isn’t just about time, but about context; boredom, notifications, and small waiting moments. People don’t necessarily want to use their phones less, but use them better. Designing from this more empathetic perspective shifted my approach: I realized that good design doesn’t restrict but supports, guides, and gives users back a sense of control.
In response, I proposed a digital platform offering verified information, audio resources for emotional support, and a live chat with professionals.
Aura ended up being a key moment in how I understand product design: collaborative, human, and purpose driven.
Thank you.
Thank you for taking the time to view my CV.
I invite your correspondence without hesitation.
Thank you.
Branding: Associated with nature, calm, and sustainability.