2021 / 2Q

Focus Keeper

Focus Keeper 2.0 Major Update

Task Management Feature

2021 / 2Q

Focus Keeper

Focus Keeper 2.0 Major Update

Task Management Feature

2021 / 2Q

Focus Keeper

Focus Keeper 2.0 Major Update

Task Management Feature

We introduced a new task management feature and improved major pain points while redesigning the Focus Keeper’s timer and chart user experience. Consequently, we increased our MAU by 157% and Day 30 Retention by 21.1%.
We introduced a new task management feature and improved major pain points while redesigning the Focus Keeper’s timer and chart user experience. Consequently, we increased our MAU by 157% and Day 30 Retention by 21.1%.
About Focus Keeper
About Focus Keeper
About Focus Keeper

Focus Keeper is a time management app that utilizes the Pomodoro technique. It helps maintain concentration and increase productivity by repeating short focus and break sessions. Focus Keeper has been downloaded over 3 million times and has a 4.8-star rating on the App Store.

Focus Keeper is a time management app that utilizes the Pomodoro technique. It helps maintain concentration and increase productivity by repeating short focus and break sessions. Focus Keeper has been downloaded over 3 million times and has a 4.8-star rating on the App Store.

2021 / 2Q

Focus Keeper

Focus Keeper 2.0 Major Update

Task Management Feature

We introduced a new task management feature and improved major pain points while redesigning the Focus Keeper’s timer and chart user experience. Consequently, we increased our MAU by 157% and Day 30 Retention by 21.1%.
About Focus Keeper

Focus Keeper is a time management app that utilizes the Pomodoro technique. It helps maintain concentration and increase productivity by repeating short focus and break sessions. Focus Keeper has been downloaded over 3 million times and has a 4.8-star rating on the App Store.

01

Facts

01

Facts

01

Facts

Release Date

2021 2Q

Released on

iOS, iPadOS, watchOS*

*watchOS process is not shown in this page

Duration

5 Months*

*Includes Planning, Design, User Testing, Development, Design QA & Feature QA

Team

1 Product Designer
1 iOS Developer
1 Product Owner

My Roles

UX Design
UI & Motion Design
User Testing & Research
Workshop Facilitation

Release Date

2021 2Q

Released on

iOS, iPadOS, watchOS*

*watchOS process is not shown in this page

Duration

5 Months*

*Includes Planning, Design, User Testing, Development, Design QA & Feature QA

Team

1 Product Designer
1 iOS Developer
1 Product Owner

My Roles

UX Design
UI & Motion Design
User Testing & Research
Workshop Facilitation

Release Date

2021 2Q

Released on

iOS, iPadOS, watchOS*

*watchOS process is not shown in this page

Duration

5 Months*

*Includes Planning, Design, User Testing, Development, Design QA & Feature QA

Team

1 Product Designer
1 iOS Developer
1 Product Owner

My Roles

UX Design
UI & Motion Design
User Testing & Research
Workshop Facilitation

02

Project Background

02

Project Background

02

Project Background

We heard consistent feedback about UX pain points and requests for better task-tracking features. To better understand these needs, I reviewed user feedback from the App Store, YouTube, and VoC channels, and conducted a competitive analysis of task and habit management solutions.

Pain Point

Lack of Task Management Features

Pain Point

Lack of Task Management Features

Pain Point

Lack of Task Management Features

Frequent user requests and competitor analysis indicated a clear need for built-in task management.

Frequent user requests and competitor analysis indicated a clear need for built-in task management.

Frequent user requests and competitor analysis indicated a clear need for built-in task management.

Pain Point

Usability Issues with Timer and Charts

Pain Point

Usability Issues with Timer and Charts

Pain Point

Usability Issues with Timer and Charts

Users regularly flagged frustrations with the timer and chart interactions.

Users regularly flagged frustrations with the timer and chart interactions.

Users regularly flagged frustrations with the timer and chart interactions.

Opportunity

Beyond a Timer App

Opportunity

Beyond a Timer App

Opportunity

Beyond a Timer App

Expanding functionality would help Focus Keeper stay competitive and offer more value.

Expanding functionality would help Focus Keeper stay competitive and offer more value.

Expanding functionality would help Focus Keeper stay competitive and offer more value.

Opportunity

New Business Model

Opportunity

New Business Model

Opportunity

New Business Model

Switching to a subscription-based business model to incentivize future developments and reduce the entry costs to new features.

Switching to a subscription-based business model to incentivize future developments and reduce the entry costs to new features.

Switching to a subscription-based business model to incentivize future developments and reduce the entry costs to new features.

Opportunity

Better User Retention

Opportunity

Better User Retention

Opportunity

Better User Retention

Habit-forming features could drive long-term engagement and recurring revenue.

Habit-forming features could drive long-term engagement and recurring revenue.

Habit-forming features could drive long-term engagement and recurring revenue.

03

Design Challenges and Solutions

03

Design Challenges and Solutions

03

Design Challenges and Solutions

01
Integrating Task Management with the Pomodoro Timer
01
Integrating Task Management with the Pomodoro Timer
01
Integrating Task Management with the Pomodoro Timer

Our first initiative was adding the task management feature. While many task management apps follow similar UX patterns, we needed a solution that worked naturally with the Pomodoro flow.


Through internal testing, I finalized a card layout that simultaneously displays task status and timer info.

Our first initiative was adding the task management feature. While many task management apps follow similar UX patterns, we needed a solution that worked naturally with the Pomodoro flow.


Through internal testing, I finalized a card layout that simultaneously displays task status and timer info.

02
Maintaining the Iconic Timer Design
02
Maintaining the Iconic Timer Design
02
Maintaining the Iconic Timer Design

Focus Keeper is known for its simple, iconic red design, which significantly contributed to its viral success and easy recognition. Preserving this identity was essential in our update. After identifying major usability issues with the previous timer screen, I developed an intuitive navigation method between task and chart screens.

03
Problems Discovered through Validation 
03
Problems Discovered through Validation 
03
Problems Discovered through Validation 

Before releasing the update publicly, we validated our designs to catch critical UX issues. I led both moderated and unmoderated user tests, identifying two significant pain points we could address within our timeline and resource constraints.

Before releasing the update publicly, we validated our designs to catch critical UX issues. I led both moderated and unmoderated user tests, identifying two significant pain points we could address within our timeline and resource constraints.

04
Delivering In-depth Analysis of Task and Time Data
04
Delivering In-depth Analysis of Task and Time Data
04
Delivering In-depth Analysis of Task and Time Data

Previously, users could only view session durations for the past 30 days and had to interact with individual data points to see daily session counts.


The new chart aimed to improve how users analyze task and timer data. With the shift to subscription-based memberships, we made high-level overviews available to all users, while detailed task-specific insights were reserved for pro subscribers.

04

Consistency and Delightful Experience

04

Consistency and Delightful Experience

04

Consistency and Delightful Experience

01
Providing Delightful Experience
01
Providing Delightful Experience
01
Providing Delightful Experience

With the App Store saturated with similar Pomodoro and task apps, it became crucial to create a memorable and polished user experience that stood out from competitors.


With limited resources, we focused on features that are part of the main user flow, like the custom tab bar and task interactions.

02
Maintaining Consistency Across the App
02
Maintaining Consistency Across the App
02
Maintaining Consistency Across the App

Due to legacy code constraints, much of Focus Keeper had to be rebuilt. I collaborated with developers to create a design system based on atomic design principles, ensuring visual consistency and reducing future development costs.

05

Results and Lessons Learned

05

Results and Lessons Learned

05

Results and Lessons Learned

01
Initial Public Release (2021 2Q)
01
Initial Public Release (2021 2Q)
01
Initial Public Release (2021 2Q)

We observed a significant increase in both DAU and MAU without any marketing campaign, reaching 136% and 157%, respectively. Also, the number of new users increased by 150%, indicating that we broadened user acquisition to users who needed task management.

We observed a significant increase in both DAU and MAU without any marketing campaign, reaching 136% and 157%, respectively. Also, the number of new users increased by 150%, indicating that we broadened user acquisition to users who needed task management.

02
Chart Update Release (2021 4Q)
02
Chart Update Release (2021 4Q)
02
Chart Update Release (2021 4Q)

The redesigned chart launched four months after the initial update due to development constraints.


Launching the new chart screen and highlighting its value during onboarding led to a notable increase in engagement and subscriptions. This suggests that easier access to task insights motivated users to create more tasks and subscribe more frequently.

The redesigned chart launched four months after the initial update due to development constraints.


Launching the new chart screen and highlighting its value during onboarding led to a notable increase in engagement and subscriptions. This suggests that easier access to task insights motivated users to create more tasks and subscribe more frequently.

“Design is the beauty of turning constraints into advantages.” — Aza Raskin

© 2025 Dahan Kirisci

“Design is the beauty of turning constraints into advantages.” — Aza Raskin

© 2025 Dahan Kirisci

“Design is the beauty of turning constraints into advantages.” — Aza Raskin

© 2025 Dahan Kirisci