Build better study habits, one Knowt at a time
Build better study habits, one Knowt at a time
Build better study habits, one Knowt at a time
Knowt
Knowt
For small wins that actually add up
For small wins that actually add up
I participated in Knowt's timed design challenge, where the goal was to design a UI that encourages users to maintain a daily streak and visualize their learning progress. The team wanted to drive consistent engagement and integrate the feature into the existing app alongside Kai, their learning assistant.
My task was to create a streak experience that felt motivating and rewarding without overwhelming users. I led end-to-end UX/UI design, from early research to final visuals, within a two-week sprint.
I participated in Knowt's timed design challenge, where the goal was to design a UI that encourages users to maintain a daily streak and visualize their learning progress. The team wanted to drive consistent engagement and integrate the feature into the existing app alongside Kai, their learning assistant.
My task was to create a streak experience that felt motivating and rewarding without overwhelming users. I led end-to-end UX/UI design, from early research to final visuals, within a two-week sprint.
Timeline
2024 April (2 weeks)
The Team
Me (UX/UI)
-end-to-end UX/UI for a timed product challenge with Knowt
Me (UX/UI)
-end-to-end UX/UI for a timed product challenge with Knowt
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Meet Knowt: your AI-powered study platform
Meet Knowt: your AI-powered study platform
Knowt is an AI-powered study platform that transforms class materials, such as PDFs, notes, lectures, and homework, into personalized flashcards, summaries, and quizzes.
Unlike most AI tools, Knowt was built to support daily study routines and help learners track meaningful progress over time.
Now, the team is focused on habit-building loops, drawing from Duolingo's streak model, to improve user retention and encourage consistent learning.
Knowt is an AI-powered study platform that transforms class materials, such as PDFs, notes, lectures, and homework, into personalized flashcards, summaries, and quizzes.
Unlike most AI tools, Knowt was built to support daily study routines and help learners track meaningful progress over time.
Now, the team is focused on habit-building loops, drawing from Duolingo's streak model, to improve user retention and encourage consistent learning.
Multi-Format Progress Gaps
Multi-Format Progress Gaps
Learners couldn't see clearly how much they'd covered in each format
Learners couldn't see clearly how much they'd covered in each format
Inflexible Daily Goals
Inflexible Daily Goals
Initial reviews suggested the streak felt inflexible, especially for users with irregular study habits and schedules
Initial reviews suggested the streak felt inflexible, especially for users with irregular study habits and schedules
Agressive Guilt-Trigger Reminder
Agressive Guilt-Trigger Reminder
There were often no "lightweight" reminders to keep users coming back
There were often no "lightweight" reminders to keep users coming back
CHALLENGES
CHALLENGES
Motivation faded when goals felt strict or guilt-driven
Motivation faded when goals felt strict or guilt-driven
GOALS
GOALS
I aimed to help learners stay engaged by designing a streak system that feels rewarding, forgiving, and easy to follow
I aimed to help learners stay engaged by designing a streak system that feels rewarding, forgiving, and easy to follow
01_ Break It Down by Format
See how far learners have come across different learning types
See how far learners have come across different learning types
02_ No Guilt Misses
Flexible pace and no "heavyweight" reminders to reduce guilt and support consistency
Flexible pace and no "heavyweight" reminders to reduce guilt and support consistency
03_ Feel Good Wins
Instead of pushing, introduce small rewards to make the effort feel seen and motivating
Instead of pushing, introduce small rewards to make the effort feel seen and motivating
USER RESEARCH
USER RESEARCH
Why learners leave, and what I learned from user interviews
Why learners leave, and what I learned from user interviews
Through qualitative interviews and surveys with 8 long-term users (at least 3 months active on a learning or productivity app), I explored why they dropped off, focusing on what made it hard to keep going, not just what they liked. The struggles tended to fall into three patterns:
Through qualitative interviews and surveys with 8 long-term users (at least 3 months active on a learning or productivity app), I explored why they dropped off, focusing on what made it hard to keep going, not just what they liked. The struggles tended to fall into three patterns:
User Type 1: The Tracker
User Type 1: The Tracker
#progress-driven
Look for streaks, charts, or checklists to feel momentum
Look for streaks, charts, or checklists to feel momentum
-Has trouble staying motivated when progress is spread out
-Get discouraged when progress is hard to see across formats
-Has trouble staying motivated when progress is spread out
-Get discouraged when progress is hard to see across formats
"It's hard to feel like I'm moving forward when my progress is all over the place."
"It's hard to feel like I'm moving forward when my progress is all over the place."
User Type 2: The Balancer
User Type 2: The Balancer
#routine-flexible
Need flexible goals that fit a changing schedule
Need flexible goals that fit a changing schedule
-Loses interest when daily goals feel too strict or repetitive
-Seeks flexible or playful ways to skip, explore, or adjust their schedule
-Loses interest when daily goals feel too strict or repetitive
-Seeks flexible or playful ways to skip, explore, or adjust their schedule
"I try to keep learning, but if it doesn't fit my day, I drop off."
"I try to keep learning, but if it doesn't fit my day, I drop off."
User Type 3: The Rebounder
User Type 3: The Rebounder
#failure-sensitive
Give up easily when progress feels lost
Give up easily when progress feels lost
-Feel discouraged by excessive alerts, broken streaks, or blame-y copy
-Responds better to soft re-entry and gentle encouragement
-Feel discouraged by excessive alerts, broken streaks, or blame-y copy
-Responds better to soft re-entry and gentle encouragement
"Once an aggressive reminder hits after I miss a few days, it feels like I've already lost."
"Once an aggressive reminder hits after I miss a few days, it feels like I've already lost."
These types helped me shape how I mapped core needs, such as validation, self-direction, and forgiveness, into design.
These types helped me shape how I mapped core needs, such as validation, self-direction, and forgiveness, into design.
OBSERVATIONAL RESEARCH
OBSERVATIONAL RESEARCH
What users really say on Reddit, App Store Reviews, and beyond
What users really say on Reddit, App Store Reviews, and beyond
Alongside interviews, I also dug into 40+ quotes from public platforms to extract recurring themes users often don't say directly in interviews.
Alongside interviews, I also dug into 40+ quotes from public platforms to extract recurring themes users often don't say directly in interviews.
"Honestly, checking off one tiny thing a day made me feel like I was winning at life."
"Honestly, checking off one tiny thing a day made me feel like I was winning at life."
Keeps
Visual streaks gave users a lightweight sense of progress
Visual streaks gave users a lightweight sense of progress
Small daily tasks felt doable and satisfying
Small daily tasks felt doable and satisfying
Gamified rewards (XP, badges) offered emotional payoff
Gamified rewards (XP, badges) offered emotional payoff
"Duolingo keeps yelling at me like I committed a crime for missing two days."
"Duolingo keeps yelling at me like I committed a crime for missing two days."
Breaks
Streak-based pressure overshadowed actual learning
Streak-based pressure overshadowed actual learning
Guilt-driven reminders discouraged return after breaks
Guilt-driven reminders discouraged return after breaks
Users questioned whether progress visual = real learning
Users questioned whether progress visual = real learning
MARKET & COMPETITORS ANALYSIS
MARKET & COMPETITORS ANALYSIS
Quick scan of what others do (and don't)
Quick scan of what others do (and don't)
Exploring how leading competitors engage users revealed both smart tactics and common pitfalls like fast rewards, inflexible goals, and emotional burden. This gave me insights into what sustains long-term motivation.
Exploring how leading competitors engage users revealed both smart tactics and common pitfalls like fast rewards, inflexible goals, and emotional burden. This gave me insights into what sustains long-term motivation.
Gamified app for daily language learning
Gamified app for daily language learning
Works
Works
Streaks, XP boost engagement
Streaks, XP boost engagement
Easy to build daily habits
Easy to build daily habits
Breaks
Breaks
Streaks feel pressuring
Streaks feel pressuring
Limited real-life use
Limited real-life use
Flashcard-based study tool with content sharing
Flashcard-based study tool with content sharing
Works
Works
Huge user-created set library
Huge user-created set library
Game & test-based study option
Game & test-based study option
Breaks
Breaks
The quality of sets varies
The quality of sets varies
Lacks depth structure
Lacks depth structure
AI-driven flashcard and quiz generator
AI-driven flashcard and quiz generator
Works
Works
Fast AI-generated flashcards
Fast AI-generated flashcards
Easy to get started
Easy to get started
Breaks
Breaks
Hard to ramp up
Hard to ramp up
Dependence on input quality
Dependence on input quality
USER INSIGHTS + BUSINESS VISION, DESIGN DIRECTION
USER INSIGHTS + BUSINESS VISION, DESIGN DIRECTION
The team aimed for Duolingo-style engagement to drive long-term retention. So, I redesigned pressure-driven streaks into flexible, fun motivators.
Where I focused on:
The team aimed for Duolingo-style engagement to drive long-term retention. So, I redesigned pressure-driven streaks into flexible, fun motivators.
Where I focused on:
Personalized Goal Setting
Personalized Goal Setting
Let users pick study goals that match their week
Let users pick study goals that match their week
Meaningful Milestones
Meaningful Milestones
Highlight milestones beyond keeping the streak alive
Highlight milestones beyond keeping the streak alive
Friendly Check-Ins
Friendly Check-Ins
Remind without guilt. Celebrate effort, not perfection
Remind without guilt. Celebrate effort, not perfection
SOLUTIONS
Integrated Home Screen Brings Together Planning and Tracking Progress into A Focused View
Integrated Home Screen Brings Together Planning and Tracking Progress into A Focused View
Before- Unclear process and passive goal setup
Before- Unclear process and passive goal setup
The original UI focused on only surfacing recently studied and viewed content, but lacked structure around progress and motivation for consecutive usage of the app and what the ultimate goal was for the better learning.
The original UI focused on only surfacing recently studied and viewed content, but lacked structure around progress and motivation for consecutive usage of the app and what the ultimate goal was for the better learning.
After- Visible progress, flexible habits
After- Visible progress, flexible habits
I incorporated a subtle weekly streak tracker and daily breakdowns, which give users visible momentum for positive motivation. Custom goal prompt appears at the right time, encouraging to build consistent study habits.
I incorporated a subtle weekly streak tracker and daily breakdowns, which give users visible momentum for positive motivation. Custom goal prompt appears at the right time, encouraging to build consistent study habits.
Study goals that fit the user's schedule
Study goals that fit the user's schedule
I built the flexible customization of study goals, so users can choose when and how they study, by day, time, or topic, making goals more realistic and routines more sustainable.
I built the flexible customization of study goals, so users can choose when and how they study, by day, time, or topic, making goals more realistic and routines more sustainable.
01_Flexible Daily goals
01_Flexible Daily goals
Set how many flashcards, notes, or time/hours of the day, making goals feel personal and easier to stick with
Set how many flashcards, notes, or time/hours of the day, making goals feel personal and easier to stick with
02_Plan Ahead with Exams
02_Plan Ahead with Exams
Exam date input helps users build clear study plans with a deadline
Exam date input helps users build clear study plans with a deadline
03_Optional Reminders to Stay on Track
03_Optional Reminders to Stay on Track
Turn on gentle reminders to keep users' exam date visible, only when it helps, just enough to keep going
Turn on gentle reminders to keep users' exam date visible, only when it helps, just enough to keep going
04_Motivating Milestones
04_Motivating Milestones
Visible streak rewards give users a reason to come back, with perks that feel earned
Visible streak rewards give users a reason to come back, with perks that feel earned
Profile View for Deeper Insights of Multiple Formats
Profile View for Deeper Insights of Multiple Formats
I introduced visual breakdowns of progress into profile view, such as learning accuracy and strengths, to drive stronger engagement and long-term habits.
I introduced visual breakdowns of progress into profile view, such as learning accuracy and strengths, to drive stronger engagement and long-term habits.
Before- Static profile, no reason to return
Before- Static profile, no reason to return
The previous profile was a dead end; although it shows library users created, there's nothing else they can engage with to improve their learning habits or gain insights that guide them to plan their learning based on their learning progress.
The previous profile was a dead end; although it shows library users created, there's nothing else they can engage with to improve their learning habits or gain insights that guide them to plan their learning based on their learning progress.
After- Turning profile into the engagement hub
After- Turning profile into the engagement hub
I designed a profile to stay motivated by integrating the detailed insights into users' learning progress, such as accuracy, completion charts, strengths, and weaknesses. So the user can learn more strategically and efficiently by revealing key patterns and gaps.
I designed a profile to stay motivated by integrating the detailed insights into users' learning progress, such as accuracy, completion charts, strengths, and weaknesses. So the user can learn more strategically and efficiently by revealing key patterns and gaps.
01_Public Content & Community Overview with Motivation Cues
01_Public Content & Community Overview with Motivation Cues
Profile includes user-created flashcards and social stats like followers and tier, encouraging sharing and contribution. The summary of small wins helps users encourage building habits gently.
Profile includes user-created flashcards and social stats like followers and tier, encouraging sharing and contribution. The summary of small wins helps users encourage building habits gently.
02_In-Depth Performance Tracking
02_In-Depth Performance Tracking
The trackers show the detailed progress trends by course and time for a better understanding.
The trackers show the detailed progress trends by course and time for a better understanding.
03_Learning Patterns & Focus Areas
03_Learning Patterns & Focus Areas
The insights of learning patterns help users plan what they need to focus on smarter, not harder.
The insights of learning patterns help users plan what they need to focus on smarter, not harder.
Positive Motivation with Streak & Badge System
Positive Motivation with Streak & Badge System
Inspired by familiar proven engagement systems, I brought a reward system to motivate making consistent efforts.
Inspired by familiar proven engagement systems, I brought a reward system to motivate making consistent efforts.
01_Progress Milestones
01_Progress Milestones
Learners see steady progress through short-term goals which support momentum and habit building
Learners see steady progress through short-term goals which support momentum and habit building
02_Tiered Reward for Premium Upside
02_Tiered Reward for Premium Upside
Badges offer features like analytics or premium access to reward effort and encourage deeper engagement
*Meaningful rewards (like advanced features or premium access) incentivize learning while doubling as a conversion strategy for upgrades
Badges offer features like analytics or premium access to reward effort and encourage deeper engagement
*Meaningful rewards (like advanced features or premium access) incentivize learning while doubling as a conversion strategy for upgrades
Rewards, Insights, and Social Drive
Rewards, Insights, and Social Drive
To achieve reaching larger users and a consistent learning effort, I designed every achievement to unlock more than rewards. It opens the door to peer challenges that boost retention and gently connect users with others.
To achieve reaching larger users and a consistent learning effort, I designed every achievement to unlock more than rewards. It opens the door to peer challenges that boost retention and gently connect users with others.
OUTCOME
OUTCOME
Design to build habits that stick
Design to build habits that stick
The new streak system was designed to support Knowt's long-term engagement goals through gamification and progress-driven motivation. Every element, from customizable daily goals to social sharing, was intended to make consistency feel rewarding.
The new streak system was designed to support Knowt's long-term engagement goals through gamification and progress-driven motivation. Every element, from customizable daily goals to social sharing, was intended to make consistency feel rewarding.
Although formal testing wasn't conducted, internal feedback on the final presentations was notably positive. Stakeholders, including the CEO, praised the experience as thoughtful, well-aligned with Knowt's product vision, and motivating for learners. This validation supported its selection as a finalist in the design challenge.
Although formal testing wasn't conducted, internal feedback on the final presentations was notably positive. Stakeholders, including the CEO, praised the experience as thoughtful, well-aligned with Knowt's product vision, and motivating for learners. This validation supported its selection as a finalist in the design challenge.
NEXT STEPS
NEXT STEPS
Strengthen long-term engagement and drive sustainable growth by refining key areas;
Strengthen long-term engagement and drive sustainable growth by refining key areas;
Feature A/B Testing
Feature A/B Testing
Test which streak or badge mechanics lead to higher return rates and sustained daily engagement
Test which streak or badge mechanics lead to higher return rates and sustained daily engagement
Monetization Strategy
Monetization Strategy
Explore how milestone-based rewards and premium analytics can naturally encourage upgrades
Explore how milestone-based rewards and premium analytics can naturally encourage upgrades
Community Integration
Community Integration
Extend habit-building with shared streaks and peer challenges to deepen community retention
Extend habit-building with shared streaks and peer challenges to deepen community retention
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