Seeking Paths In Life
Creators: name: Zhong, Xuecheng
Publisher: name: Emily Carr University of Art and Design
Year: 2023
Subjects: Self-actualization (Psychology)
Application software
Gamification
Artificial intelligence

description: This thesis project aims to create a digital toolkit to help users develop a long-term life plan, track their progress towards goals and adjust their plans as needed. The toolkit provides exercises for interactive discussions, support for initiating and conducting in-depth conversations, and tools for expectation management, ultimately supporting the user's personal growth and development.

Young people (here categorized as those aged 20-30) face many unique challenges. Particularly in our current social context, where globalization and technological advances have brought about many educational and employment opportunities, the abundance of choices can lead to decision fatigue, stress and confusion. Building plans and setting goals are crucial for making informed choices and reducing stress. As such, this thesis refers to these young people, looking to determine their way in the world, as pathseekers. 

My research began with the hypothesis that talking about death or death-related topics would lead people to reflect on building a better life and to spontaneously begin to create a life plan. However, during interviewing and prototype testing, it became clear that talking about death, while having some positive implications, did not directly lead pathseekers to create a long-term plan. Consequently, the focus of this study shifted from talking about death to more explicitly supporting young people to build a better life by creating and maintaining a long-term life plan.

I chose human-centred design principles to investigate how to help users establish long-term plans and achieve a satisfying future. The primary research methods used encompass questionnaires, workshops, and prototype testing, supplemented by secondary research conducted through a literature review.

Over the course of my research, I produced two design prototypes during the concept development phase by integrating design principles and drawing inspiration from existing conversation-assisted applications. The core design solutions of both prototypes are focused on assisting users in building executable long-term life plans through in-depth dialogue and inviting users to initiate discussions with family, friends or colleagues for consultation and learning. Prototype 1 is an offline card game that allows pathseekers to create avatars that represent their ideal life now and in the future. Through conversations with other participants, users gain insight and information and develop plans for a deliberate future. Prototype 2 is a digital, gamified tool with an AI-powered chatbot. Pathseekers can collaborate with trusted advisors to create multiple routes to their goal, and ultimately choose the most appropriate path.

Ultimately, this thesis explores designing and developing a long-term plan-building tool that combines gamification, self-reflection, and artificial intelligence. Through semi-structured interviews and experiments, my research provides insight into the target audience's challenges, and develops and designs an AI-driven, gamified toolkit specific to their needs, while also considering the potential and limitations of AI in this context. This toolkit enables pathseekers to build comprehensive long-term life plans and lets them make their choices and support their personal fulfillment.
description: Self improvement app
description: Life planning
description: artificial intelligence
description: Young adults
description: Human-centred design
description: Decision fatigue
description: In-depth conversation