WASH
An Apple watch app that’ll keep your hands clean
Overview
WASH is an Apple Watch app designed to help users maintain the CDC guideline of washing their hands for 20 seconds every two hours. The app features reminder notifications and hand wash tracking, drawing design inspiration from the Apple Watch Ring app.
Aim
This project aimed to ease the panic and anxiety surrounding COVID-19 by empowering users with a sense of control and eliminating feelings of helplessness through accessible and actionable hygiene support.
Role & Duration
Product Designer
User Research, UX/UI Design, Prototyping
3 Team members
3 Weeks
The Problem
The COVID-19 pandemic caused widespread anxiety and panic. With limited information, regular handwashing was the only known defense, but without a system for reminders and tracking, maintaining this habit and a sense of security was proven difficult.
Research
To develop a product addressing user needs, I interviewed individuals with COVID-19-related anxiety to explore its causes and potential solutions. The findings revealed that a lack of control over personal health fueled anxiety, while proactive measures like handwashing offered a sense of control and reassurance. However, the novelty of COVID-19 created uncertainty about which actions were effective, amplifying fears.
“It’s just so new and we don’t know enough. It feels like there’s this invisible threat everywhere and It’s hard to stay calm when everything feels out of my control. ”
- Female, 29, Marketing
“It’s the uncertainty that’s the most difficult for me. I’m a man of action. I want practical, actionable support—things I can do now to stay safer.”
- Male, 40, Software Engineer
“I’m overwhelmed by the fear of bringing the virus into our home. I’m careful when we go out, but it’s hard to know if I’m doing enough to protect my kids and my husband.”
- Female, 35, Stay-At-Home Mom
Persona
Based on these insights, I developed Maddie, our user persona: an urban professional with mild COVID-19 anxiety who wants to stay safe but struggles to remember frequent handwashing, with her primary concern being how to balance her daily routine with new safety measures. She will serve as a guiding framework for the ideation process.
Translating Insights Into Features
Once the user needs were defined, the focus shifted to designing features that addressed them. To prioritize ideas, I used a feature matrix that evaluated concepts based on:
Societal impact: How much the feature could help users feel in control.
Desirability: How appealing and engaging the feature would be for users.
This exercise revealed that checklists and gamification were highly effective for promoting consistent handwashing habits.
Design Inspiration
From the outset, the goal was to make WASH intuitive and effortless. Inspired by Apple’s Ring app, I aimed for a design that prioritized visual simplicity and ease of use.
User Flow
Initially, the user flow required interaction with the app to log handwashing activity. However, this contradicted the app’s purpose—keeping hands clean, so I pivoted to a touch-free design, focusing on passive engagement:
The watch buzzes when it’s time to wash hands.
When washing is detected, a 20-second countdown starts automatically, ending with another buzz.
A notification alerts users if their wash was too short.
Key Features
To encourage consistent handwashing, I designed two core features:
1. Droplet Meter
A visual representation of handwashing activity.
The droplet rises and falls based on wash frequency and whether users complete the full 20 seconds.
Always visible on the watch face, providing gentle, glanceable motivation.
Key Features
2. Stats Page
Offers a daily summary of handwashing habits, including:
Total number of washes.
Time since the last wash.
Percentage of washes that lasted 20 seconds.
Accessible through end-of-day congratulatory notifications or the droplet icon on the watch face.
KPI’s
Users wash their hands 70% more often.
90% of users adhere to the 20-second handwashing guideline.
85% of Apple Watch owners download and actively use WASH.
User panic and anxiety related to COVID-19 is reduced by 75%.
Lesson for the future
Deeply understanding the user's context is essential. Recognizing the need for a hands-free solution during a hygiene-focused time led to a pivot toward passive design, ensuring the product fit seamlessly into users' lives without compromising the goal.
Next steps would be
Expand WASH to other smartwatches, such as Samsung Galaxy Watch and Fitbit Versa, to reach a broader audience and increase accessibility.
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