Ascend
Turn everyday tasks into a growing universe.
Role
Sole Product Designer
Timeline
1-week sprint |
Tools
Figma · Adobe CC
Project
CareerFoundry – First UX Project (Productivity App)
Challenge
Make long-term progress visible and motivating for users.
Target
16- to 24 year-olds who lose steam when accomplishments blend into endless check-lists.
Solution
Inspired by my lifelong love of space and frustration with static productivity apps, Ascend transforms your to-do list into an evolving universe. Complete tasks, grow planets. Watch months of small wins become constellations. Because sometimes we need to zoom out to see how far we've really come.
Grow-a-Planet Tasks
Links task completion to planet growth, reinforcing daily habits through visible feedback.
Time-Lapse Calendar
Keeps momentum visible, progress never resets at midnight, sustaining long-term motivation.
Focus Mode Music
Built-in soundscapes lift concentration, boosting task-completion stamina.
The gap
I loved Forest app's concept, grow digital trees while you focus, but it only tracked time, not actual accomplishments. And those trees? Just static images that never really evolved.
My research confirmed what app store reviews already showed: productivity apps feel like homework, check boxes disappear at midnight, and progress resets. You never see how those daily wins add up to something bigger. I realized we don't need more checkboxes. We need to see our invisible efforts become visible.
Progress Resets Overnight
Checklists wipe clean at midnight, erasing visible momentum.
Blind to the Big Picture
No week- or month-view means small wins never add up psychologically.
Completion Feels Empty
Tasks finish with zero tangible reward, so motivation fades fast.
Month Task Progression ⟶
Less
More
Three pivotal moves
Universe Gamification
Tasks become planets, visible proof that tiny actions fuel massive growth.
Time-Lapse Calendar
Swipe through your year and watch your universe grow. Because seeing months of progress shouldn't require an excel spreadsheet.
Cosmic Illustration System
Hand-drawn in one week. Clean line art designed for scalability while keeping visual impact.
Steps
Focus
Outcome
1
Competitive analysis → rapid concepts
Core gamification loop selected
2
Hi-fi UI & icon refinement
Investor-ready visuals delivered
3
Mentor critique & polish
Illustrations tuned, labels clarified
4
Deck & asset hand-off
Files packaged ready for handoff
Learnings
Progress must be visible
Seeing your universe grow beats checking boxes. Users want proof their efforts matter.
First project, real lessons
I forgot the navigation menu. Oops! Thank goodness for mentor feedback.
Next up
Bring planets to life with Rive. Cross-platform expansion for access anywhere: phone, tablet, and desktop. Productivity shouldn't be device-dependent.
Beyond the Brief
What started as my first CareerFoundry project opened my eyes to emotional design. Completed in one caffeine-fueled week, it pushed me to think differently about productivity. My mentor said he'd never seen anything like it: "These illustrations aren't something you could find anywhere else."
Now I'm learning Rive to bring these planets to life. Imagine civilizations growing on your completed tasks. Friends visiting each other's universes. Students turning assignments into constellations. Professionals watching projects evolve into galaxies.
Productivity apps don't have to be lifeless and small steps have the power to create worlds.
© 2025 by IvanAtlas