2025 | Professional

MUSE Design Awards Silver Winner

AlarMingle: Best buddy of focusing

Entrant Company

Yingchen Kuo

Category

Conceptual Design - Interaction

Client's Name

Country / Region

Time blindness, goal amnesia, and constant digital distraction make everyday planning especially hard for people with ADHD. Current calendars and task apps alert when to start something, yet fail to guide the time in-between or keep attention on the goal itself. The result is missed deadlines, frustration, and diminished self-esteem.
AlarMingle is a system that pairs a physical alarm clock with a mobile app, designed to help individuals—especially those with attention challenges like ADHD—build focus, establish routines, and improve time awareness through playful, human-centered interactions.Unlike traditional timekeeping devices, AlarMingle delivers goal-oriented reminders, gamified motivation, and distraction-free design. Key features include:
1. Time Visualization: A physical clock displays not just the current time, but also the time remaining for tasks, enhanced with visual urgency cues.
2. Distraction Control: By routing reminders through the clock, users can avoid picking up their phone and stay focused.
3. Humanized Reminders: Notifications appear as customizable chat-style messages with engaging characters, helping users take their tasks seriously and stay connected to their goals.
4. Work Pattern Insights: Visualized charts help users understand their habits and improve task planning over time.
4. Motivational Companions: Users earn points by maintaining focus and unlock animated "focus buddies" that appear on the clock, offering positive reinforcement.
AlarMingle reimagines time management by blending function with emotional support. It transforms routine into a relationship—between users, their goals, and the delightful characters that guide them.

Credits

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