Taskmaster is a habit-building to-do app designed to help users integrate productive routines into their daily lives—sustainably and without pressure.Unlike conventional task managers, Taskmaster applies proven behavioral patterns and psychological mechanisms to make completing tasks a natural habit.
What makes it different?
Instead of simply reminding users of pending tasks, Taskmaster applies the same psychological principles used by major tech platforms like Instagram, YouTube, or Facebook—but with a different goal:
To foster positive behavioral change, not mindless engagement.Using triggers, variable rewards, and investment loops, Taskmaster boosts motivation, supports lasting work habits, and turns productivity into something users actually want to return to.The vision: To make productivity feel like a natural part of life—not a burden.
Digital tools often shape our behavior without us realizing it.
Platforms like Instagram or TikTok intentionally exploit psychological triggers to keep users engaged—leading to distraction, loss of time, and sometimes dependence.
Taskmaster is a conscious counter-design.
It asks: What if we used those mechanisms for something good?
To help people build productive, healthy routines—rather than addictive scrolling loops.
Taskmaster is made for people who want to be productive but often struggle with motivation.Whether students, creatives, freelancers, or professionals—everyone knows the feeling:
Good intentions aren’t enough.
Taskmaster turns good intentions into actual behavior.
Based on the Hook Model by Nir Eyal
To move beyond basic task lists and support lasting behavior change, Taskmaster was built around the Hook Model from Nir Eyal’s book Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products.
The core question:
Can we use the psychological mechanics of habit-forming products for something meaningful?
Not to increase screen time—but to help users work better and live more intentionally.
The core question:
Can we use the psychological mechanics of habit-forming products for something meaningful?
Not to increase screen time—but to help users work better and live more intentionally.
Ein zentrales Konzept in Eyals Buch ist das Hook-Modell, das beschreibt, wie Produkte es schaffen, Nutzer in einen wiederkehrenden Zyklus zu bringen – bestehend aus vier Phasen:
Ein zentrales Konzept in Eyals Buch ist das Hook-Modell, das beschreibt, wie Produkte es schaffen, Nutzer in einen wiederkehrenden Zyklus zu bringen – bestehend aus vier Phasen:
1. Trigger – Initiating the Habit Loop
Every action starts with a trigger—external (like a notification) or internal (like the urge for order).
Taskmaster uses smart, respectful triggers to encourage consistent engagement:
✔ Widgets & lockscreen reminders for fast access
✔ Customizable alerts based on time, place, or task type
✔ Push notifications and motivational email summaries
✔ Weekly progress reports & achievement feedback
2. Action – Reducing Friction
Once triggered, the user should be able to act immediately—with minimal resistance.
✔ No forced onboarding—just open and go
✔ Clean home screen with focused task view
✔ Quick-add task functions with drag & drop and presets
3. Reward – Variable Motivation Loops
To make habits stick, rewards need to be engaging—and sometimes unexpected.
Taskmaster uses:
✔ Achievement systems & gamified XP for progress
✔ Visual feedback when completing tasks
✔ Social reinforcement through group projects
4. Investment – Strengthening User Retention
The more users customize their experience, the more committed they become:
✔ Personalized profiles & dashboards
✔ Task grouping, filtering, and long-term project planning
✔ Optional subscription tiers for advanced productivity tools
The hook loop turns productivity into a rhythm, not a chore.
Small Wins
Behavioral studies show: consistent, visible progress strengthens habits.Taskmaster rewards every step—even short Pomodoro sessions—with feedback and achievement markers.
Dopamine & Variable Rewards
Variable reinforcement (a concept often abused by social media) is used here to encourage positive behavior.Some tasks unlock hidden rewards or surprise bonuses—creating motivation without addiction.
Zeigarnik Effect – The Power of Unfinished Tasks
Our brains remember unfinished tasks more vividly. Taskmaster uses this effect strategically—without creating stress.
Smart progress bars, task chains, and subtle nudges keep important tasks present—without being intrusive.
Users stay autonomous—avoiding the feeling of being "forced" (reactance effect).
Marktentwicklung: Wachsende Nachfrage nach Produktivitäts-Apps
According to Statista (2023), the productivity app market grows by 8% annually—especially in task management, mindfulness, and habit tracking.
However, most traditional to-do apps lack behavior-oriented features:
Taskmaster’s positioning:
✔ Combines classic task management with habit-forming UX
✔ Uses gamification to encourage consistency
✔ Minimalist, focus-driven UI—designed to reduce friction
"Taskmaster isn’t just a productivity tool—it’s a system to help people work better, feel better, and stick with it."
The design process began with a Lean UX approach to quickly define core assumptions and align the product with real user needs through continuous iteration.
✔ People & Problem Statement – Who are the users? What are their key challenges? A clear problem definition laid the foundation for focused solutions.
✔ Solution Hypothesis – Early concept development addressing pain points while integrating productivity-boosting features.
✔ Features & Metrics – Core features and success indicators were defined to drive data-informed product decisions.
This Lean UX framework enabled an agile, user-centered starting point with hypotheses tested and refined along the way.
Peter Klarmann is a key persona developed in the concept phase. He represents users who struggle with motivation and keeping track of tasks.
He’s often frustrated by traditional to-do apps that don’t offer real value.
To support users like Peter, Taskmaster needed to go beyond simple lists—it had to provide:
– Visible progress
– Flexible organization
– Smart reminders that motivate without nagging
The JTBD analysis made it clear: rigid task systems don’t work for everyone. Peter needs a tool that adapts to his personal workflow—and shows progress in a motivating, visual way.
✔ Flexible structure instead of strict deadlines
✔ Visual feedback to track how far he’s come
✔ Supportive reminders that encourage, not pressure
These insights directly informed feature design.
Here’s how Taskmaster supports Peter in daily life:
✔ Quick Capture – He creates a new task easily and intuitively
✔ Timely Reminders – He’s reminded without being bombarded
✔ Simple Adjustments – If something changes, he updates or reschedules the task in seconds
Taskmaster becomes not another task app—but a smart assistant that helps without adding stress.
Understanding the first interaction
The experience map outlines the full journey—from app discovery to completing the first task.
Key insights:
✔ Users decide within minutes whether the app is helpful✔ A smooth, intuitive start builds trust✔ Small emotional wins (like finishing the first task) drive long-term retention
Design response: The first task should be easy—and deliver an instant success moment.
A great app feels effortless—not because of the visuals, but because of smart structure.
Eine gut durchdachte App fühlt sich selbstverständlich an – das liegt nicht am Design, sondern an der richtigen Struktur.
Navigation principles:
✔ Core features accessible without deep menus
✔ Consistent navigation across mobile, tablet, and desktop
✔ Scalable layout that adapts to future expansion
Result: Taskmaster remains simple, clear, and powerful—without overwhelming the user.
Flowcharts were used to visualize how users move through the app—from logging in to managing tasks.
They helped ensure that every step in the experience feels logical and streamlined.
Before diving into UI design, I created priority guides to define content hierarchy and ensure clarity.
Design principles shaped by the guides:
✔ Most relevant first – "Create Task" and "Today’s Tasks" take center stage
✔ Immediate clarity – Visual hierarchy highlights what matters most
✔ Color-coded cues – Help users instantly distinguish between overdue, active, and completed items
The goal: Users shouldn’t have to think about their task app—they should just use it.
Before entering the visual design phase, I developed six moodboards to define a design system that reflects productivity, structure, and emotional clarity.
User Emotions & Tone
Based on persona insights, the first moodboard explored what emotions the interface should evoke—relief, anticipation, and a sense of structured flow. Style keywords and voice & tone guidelines ensured that Taskmaster feels professional, motivational, and friendly.
Color System
A calming, modern palette was chosen to reduce distractions and support task clarity. Key elements are highlighted subtly to promote focus without overstimulation.
Mobile-UI Inspiration
As a mobile-first app, Taskmaster draws from UI principles found in leading productivity tools: clear hierarchies, low cognitive load, and fast interactions.
Desktop UI
While mobile was the core focus, Taskmaster also needed to scale to larger screens. Moodboard four visualized how advanced features—like parallel task views or filter options—could enhance productivity on desktop.
Typography
Clean, legible fonts were tested to balance clarity, modernity, and subtle personality—reinforcing usability without visual clutter.
Icons
Iconography was carefully curated to support intuitive navigation while keeping the interface calm and lightweight.
These visual foundations ensured that every design decision supported one goal: to help users focus—not get distracted.
Taskmaster was designed mobile-first, with wireframes guiding early layout and interaction decisions.
Key principles:
✔ Bottom navigation for fast access to all features
✔ Structure based on sitemap, including task lists, Pomodoro timer, and a new "Productivity Help" section with articles and context-based tips
✔ Consistency in UI patterns – recurring elements like task lists, modal overlays, and action buttons were designed for low-friction use
Goal: Let users manage tasks with zero friction and maximum clarity—especially on small screens.
To truly support habit-building, Taskmaster needed to integrate into daily life—beyond phones. A dedicated smartwatch layout was developed.
Why it matters:
✔ Frictionless access increases habit retention
✔ Quick interactions like completing tasks or starting Pomodoro sessions directly from the wrist
✔ Optimized for tiny screens, not just a mini version of the mobile app
Taskmaster becomes not just a to-do list—but a wearable productivity companion.
To support consistency and efficiency, Taskmaster was built on a modular design system:
✔ Buttons & Icons – A clear hierarchy of actions for fast navigation
✔ Typography & Color – Readability meets focus-enhancing color coding for priority and task status
✔ Embedded productivity methods – Elements like time blocking and Eisenhower Matrix help users learn as they work
The system supports workflows that are both intuitive and scalable—ensuring Taskmaster remains helpful as user needs grow.
Taskmaster’s final UI is clean and intentional. Each screen supports user habits by reinforcing progress, reducing noise, and guiding attention.
Quick-add interface for recurring and priority tasks
Daily, weekly, and monthly overviews with visual progress feedback
Organize larger goals and subtasks visually
Gamified progress indicators reinforce habit-building
Taskmaster am Handgelenk – Aufgaben direkt von der Smartwatch verwalten und Pomodoro-Sessions noch schneller starten.
The final landing page illustrates how Taskmaster adapts to different work styles—whether on mobile, desktop, or wearables. The design emphasizes:
✔ Core features
✔ Behavioral benefits
✔ App-store readiness
Taskmaster is more than a concept—it’s a market-ready tool that blends structured productivity with user-centered psychology.
This app store integration visualizes how Taskmaster could be positioned in a real-world environment. The design combines intuitive navigation with proven habit-forming techniques—ready to support productive routines in everyday life.
