TLDR
Knowing what to do and doing it are two different things
LifeLevel is a gamified productivity app for neurodivergent people. Unlike traditional to-do apps, it responds to your emotional state, not just your task list.
ROLE
Designer
TIMELINE
Sep 2 – 9, 2025
EVENT
Figma x Contra Makeathon
SKILLS
UI/UX Design
Figma Make
Claude
PROBELM
Productivity tools don't work the same for everyone
For neurodivergent people, the problem isn't knowing what to do. It's the overwhelm, the paralysis, and the guilt that makes starting and staying on track feel impossible. Existing tools don't account for any of that.
RESEARCH
People were already trying to fix this themselves.
With one week on the clock, I went where people were already describing the problem. 40+ TikTok videos and Reddit threads for observational research, and 5 quick conversations with people who identified as neurodivergent. The frustrations that kept coming up were consistent.
1.1 M
Views on Apple Notes customization series
Users were building elaborate setups just to make checking off tasks feel less daunting. The workaround had more engagement than most apps.
60%
Habitica users dropped off during onboarding
The gamification was right. The setup was overwhelming. Users described it as time-consuming and confusing before they'd even added a task.
General sentiment on Productivity
It wasn't a niche frustration. Neurodivergent people were publicly calling out the productivity industry and sharing hacks just to get through the day.
SOLUTION
Finishing a task should feel like something. LifeLevel is built around that idea.
LifeLevel is built around three things: making tasks feel achievable, making completion feel rewarding, and giving you space to reflect. XP, titles, journaling, and a visual record that shows how far you've come.
No setup. Open the app and go.
No account creation. No configuration. Open the app, type, done. 5 out of 5 test users added their first task within 15 seconds.
Messages that know where you are.
As you progress, the encouragement grows with you. Each moment of completion gets its own recognition.
Level up as you go.
Every completed task earns XP and unlocks a new title. The background is yours to choose, so the app feels like an extension of your world.
A record of everything you've done.
Nothing disappears. The history tab keeps every completed task visible. Scroll back and see the work you've put in.
LEARNINGS
What I'd carry forward.
Simplicity isn't a style choice.
The more I added, the less it worked. For neurodivergent people an overwhelming interface is its own barrier. Pulling back wasn't a compromise. It was what made the emotional design possible.
Completion needs to feel like something.
The XP, titles, and progression weren't there to make the app fun. They were designed around a specific insight: for neurodivergent people, external rewards bridge the gap where internal motivation is harder to sustain.
