TL;DR
Problem:
Remote and hybrid teams struggle with multiple obstacles.
-
🟡 Task overload and lack of prioritization
-
🟡 Inefficient meeting and management and knowledge retention
-
🟡 Repetitive workflows that reduce productivity
-
🟡 Fragmented communication across multiple platforms
Solution:
Design an AI-driven platform that:
-
🟢 Automates task prioritization and scheduling
-
🟢 Provides AI-generated meeting insights and action items
-
🟢 Suggests workflow optimizations and collaborations opportunities
-
🟢 Centralizes knowledge sharing with a learning hub
Impact:
📈Improve productivity by reducing task management complexity.
🕰Enhance efficiency by automating workflows and reducing time spent on repetitive tasks.
✅Increase user satisfaction by providing AI-driven insights that streamline collaboration.
THE CLIENT
The target audience for this app includes:
👨🏼💼Remote and hybrid professionals
🗂Teams in fast-paced environments
👩🏿💻Project managers and team leads
THE CHALLENGE
In 2025, many professionals still struggle with fragmented workflows and inefficient communication.
By creating a mobile app that integrates deeper AI-driven automation and personalized workflow optimization I believe it would significantly enhance user efficiency, allowing professionals to manage tasks, meetings, and projects in a way that aligns with their unique work styles. When users have intelligent assistance tailored to their needs, engagement increases, leading to improved productivity and reduced burnout.
The Assignment
📝Formulate insights based off of secondary research findings and translate these insights into intuitive, AI-driven interfaces that enhance productivity and collaboration for working professionals.
RESEARCH & PLANNING
Professionals across remote and hybrid work settings encounter various challenges affecting efficiency and productivity.
1. Reduced Productivity in Remote Settings: Studies indicate that remote work can lead to a 10%-20% decrease in productivity, with remote workers taking longer to complete tasks compared to their in-office counterparts.
2. Extended Working Hours for Remote Employees: On average, remote workers tend to work almost an hour more than their in-office and hybrid peers, which can lead to burnout and decreased efficiency over time.
3. Challenges in Team Dynamics with Hybrid Work: While hybrid work models offer flexibility, they can weaken team dynamics, making collaboration and communication more challenging.
4. Perceived Productivity Gaps by Employers: Some employers believe that remote work leads to decreased productivity, prompting a push for employees to return to the office to enhance performance and maintain corporate culture. The push for in-office work may not be inclusive for everyone, as it can disadvantage employees with disabilities, caregivers, those in geographically remote areas, and individuals who thrive in flexible environments, ultimately limiting workplace diversity and equity.
Personas
Nancy Mitchell was my primary persona. She is a unique blend of both a team member and a CEO, as she balances the hands-on involvement in day-to-day team operations with the strategic oversight required for high-level decision-making. This makes her the perfect fit to address the needs of individuals like Alex, who seek efficient workflows, and Taylor, who demand actionable insights for business growth.
HI-FI WIREFRAMES
After synthesizing insights, the final solution and features included:
🔹 AI-Powered Dashboard
-
Productivity graph
-
Smart Task Prioritization: Urgent tasks, quick wins, and pre-meeting prep
-
Workflow Optimization: Recommends automations and templates.
⚡ Sub-Dashboard
-
“Deep Work Mode” minimizes distractions and organizes tasks efficiently.
-
Suggested priorities
-
Generated reports
-
Optimize workflow options
-
Pomodoro Timer
📋 Task Page
-
Categorized tasks
🔗 Connect Page
-
AI-driven networking/team collaboration
🎓 Learn Page
-
AI-curated micro-courses, industry trends, and knowledge-sharing chat feature.
In such a short timeframe, it was critical to quickly produce hi-fi mockups, prototype core functionalities and iterate on the app's flow to ensure it truly would meet user needs. Thus I began my hi-fi process. Below are hi-fi mock ups of each page.
Dashbaord page
Task page
Sub-Dashboard page
Connect page
Learn page
CONCLUSION
By utilizing AI-driven features, the app addresses key pain points such as task prioritization, workflow optimization, and team communication, making it a great tool for professionals like team members, team leads, and executives. As AI continues to evolve, its broader impact will reshape industries, improving efficiency, driving innovation, and empowering individuals to work smarter, not harder. The Synergy app serves as a prime example of how AI can unlock new levels of productivity, bridging gaps in remote work while fostering collaboration across all levels of an organization. As AI’s influence expands, tools like Synergy will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of work, offering tailored solutions that support both personal and organizational growth.
If I Had More Time...
📍Dynamic Widgets: AI auto-adjusts dashboard layout based on usage patterns.
📍 AI-curated section of unread messages, emails, and important project updates.
📍“Smart Templates”: AI recommends templates for documents, presentations, or reports.
Continual Learning and Continual Fun
I had a great time working on the Synergy project because it was both fun and innovative, pushing me to think creatively about how AI could truly enhance remote and hybrid work environments.