3. Ideation & Alternatives

Structured by coursework requirements: Crazy Eights, Design Alternatives, Low-Fi Prototype.

The Crazy Eights

We produced eight rapid hand-drawn concepts to explore interaction diversity within limited time.

  • Sketch 1: Mood wheel start screen.
  • Sketch 2: Route recommendation by emotional state.
  • Sketch 3: Companion prompt timeline.
  • Sketch 4: Gamified breathing mini-challenge.
  • Sketch 5: Music tempo adaptation panel.
  • Sketch 6: Community encouragement mode.
  • Sketch 7: Post-run reflection cards.
  • Sketch 8: Weekly wellbeing dashboard.

Action: upload 8 sketch photos here before final submission.

Sketching Insights

  • Users need a very fast entry interaction (under 10 seconds).
  • Emotion adaptation should remain visible but not distracting during runs.
  • Post-run reflection can be playful without adding cognitive burden.

Design Alternatives

Compare 2-3 approaches and justify the selected direction.

Alternative A: Competitive Challenge

  • Strength: Strong motivation for high-performing runners.
  • Weakness: Increases pressure for low-confidence users.
  • Decision: Rejected as the core concept.

Alternative B: Mindfulness-First Running

  • Strength: Supports stress recovery and calm pacing.
  • Weakness: Too passive for users seeking progress.
  • Decision: Partially adopted for tone design.

Selected Direction: MoodRun Hybrid

  • Combines adaptability, gentle encouragement, and progress visibility.
  • Balances wellbeing needs and exercise continuity.
  • Supports both low-energy recovery and high-energy challenge states.