Cognitive Alarm
Don't snooze through another opportunity
UX/UI, mobile, Productivity, b2c
2024
Introduction
Cognitive Alarm was designed to help users break the habit of hitting the snooze button
Cognitive Alarm helps users take control of their mornings by promoting mental focus through a quick thinking task, encouraging alertness and engagement
I led the research and design for Cognitive Alarm, a built-in feature to help people stop oversleeping
I sketched ideas, mapped user flows, and created wireframes before designing the final interface. My work focused on creating a morning cognitive exercise that was engaging enough to wake people up, but simple enough to keep them from disabling the feature
Background
Rethinking the way we wake up
Although I don’t struggle to wake up, I’ve seen how common it is for others. Friends often set upwards of ten alarms just to get out of bed. I wanted to explore how design could make that first alarm more effective and less easy to ignore
The Problem
For many, hitting snooze over and over has become part of the morning routine
Snoozing has become a common habit for many people, and most alarms make it easy to keep doing it. This creates a cycle where users drift back to sleep, often leading to rushed mornings and a poor start to the day
Success Criteria
The aim was to explore how an alarm could better help users wake up and start their day
Alongside user needs, I outlined key outcomes that would define success for the feature
1
User Engagement
An alarm that reliably helps users wake up can encourage regular use
2
Conversions
If users find the feature helpful, positive reviews and word of mouth could draw new users
3
User Retention
A genuinely useful feature can keep users committed to this alarm instead of switching to another
Research
Hitting snooze is more common than most people realize
Passive Actions
Tapping a snooze button takes almost no effort, which makes it easy to fall asleep again. In one study, participants who used traditional snooze alarms went back to sleep 79% of the time
Cognitive Load
Adding a short mental exercise within the first two minutes of waking can make a noticeable difference. Research found it increased alertness by up to 54%
Meaningful actions
Completing small, meaningful actions after waking improves mood and energy. Behavioral activation studies show it boosted morning motivation for 63% of participants
I asked an important question
How might I help users transition from waking up to starting their day without falling back asleep?
Ideation & Sketching
I sketched out a few ideas I had in mind
I focused on how the unlock grid could create just the right amount of cognitive activation, choosing a 5x5 layout because I thought more complexity would make waking up less automatic. I also considered how a user could still stop the alarm if they reached the maximum number of failed attempts
Early alarm interaction sketches
Pattern unlock flow
Wirefrmes
While running through the wireframes, I realized the 5×5 dot grid I had planned might be too much
I wanted to include patterns like a star, octagon, and trapezoid, but when I tried sketching them, they were much harder to complete than I expected. For someone half asleep, that level of complexity would be frustrating
I didn’t want users starting their morning annoyed, so I made a few changes:
3x3 Dot Grid
3 attempts
6-digit passcode
1
3x3 dot grid
Instead of the original 5×5 grid, I went with a 3×3. Through testing, I found that simpler patterns were easier to complete when just waking up
2
3 Attempts
After three incorrect attempts, I added a fallback that lets the user stop the alarm by entering a passcode
3
6-digit passcode
If the user makes 3 incorrect attempts, they’ll be prompted to enter their 6-digit phone unlock passcode
Persona
Through user research, I identified a common challenge: many people wake up only to drift back to sleep
Daniel, a 34-year-old software engineer, is one of them. Despite setting multiple alarms, the snooze button always wins. He needs a solution that sparks enough mental engagement to fully wake him, helping him start his day alert and focused
Mockups
After some brainstorming, I refined the design and added a few extra features
Below the three highlighted features, you’ll find full-resolution captures of the main screens
I ultimately decided on a 3x3 dot grid
A 3x3 grid still offered many options for patterns but they were also easy enough not to overwhelm the user
Visual feedback is given depending if the correct pattern was drawn
As the user draws the pattern, a white circle appears around each dot with a line connecting to the next, showing their progress. If the pattern is incorrect, each dot used will be marked with a red circle. For a correct pattern, the circles will be green
Together with the passcode fallback, this should provide enough mental activation to help get the user up
Not all users need this this feature
Not everyone will need this to wake up, so I’ve made it an option in the Alarm Settings, with a quick description below to explain what Cognitive Mode is
Key Screens
Key screens showcasing Cognitive Alarm in action
Tap any image to view it in full resolution
Initial alarm screen
Correct Pattern Match
InCorrect Pattern Match
Passcode Screen
Alarm Mode Settings
Alarm Mode Choices
A
Initial SCreen
I removed the snooze button and replaced it with a single, clear Stop button. This reduces the temptation to fall back asleep and keeps the focus on completing the task
B
Correct pattern match
When the user selects dots, they are highlighted with white circles. If the completed pattern is correct, the circles turn green for quick, positive confirmation
c
Incorrect Pattern Match
If the pattern is wrong, the circles turn red. This instant feedback lets users know they need to try again
d
Passcode screen
After 3 failed attempts, the screen switches to a passcode entry. Using the same 6-digit code as the phone keeps the process familiar and secure
e
Alarm Settings
In the alarm settings, each alarm clearly shows which mode it is in. This gives users control and clarity at a glance
f
Alarm Modes
Users can choose between Snooze mode or Cognitive mode depending on how they want to wake up
Potential IMpact
Cognitive Alarm Mode turns waking up into an active process
By adding a small mental challenge, it helps users shift from sleepy to alert more smoothly. Research shows this can make mornings more productive and less stressful
Below are some of the potential impacts:
Morning motivation
In similar studies, people who completed a quick, meaningful task right after waking saw a 63% boost in motivation. This aligns perfectly with the goal of helping users start their day with purpose
Alertness Improved
Light mental challenges, like connecting a dot pattern, increased short-term alertness by 21%. It’s just enough brainwork to shake off the fog without feeling like a chore
Less Oversleeping
Completing small, meaningful actions after waking improves mood and energy. Behavioral activation studies show it boosted morning motivation for 63% of participants
Retrospective & Learnings
Working on this project reminded me that the best solutions are often the simplest
I started with a complex idea for cognitive engagement, but sketching and wireframing showed me the importance of keeping things practical for someone just waking up
