u/BusySituation9300

Hey :)

I’m a design student with ADHD and I’m currently working on my thesis — I’m trying to design a planner that people like us actually use and don’t abandon after a few days lol

So I’m not thinking about “features” as much as the feeling behind it

What would make you want to keep using your planner?

Hey :)

I’m a design student with ADHD working on my thesis, and I’m trying to design a planner that actually works for ADHD brains — not something that feels good for 3 days and then disappears from existence lol.

I don’t need “ideal planner features”, I need real experiences so I can design this properly:

1. Usage & abandonment

   • When you start a planner, what makes you stop using it?

   • Is it more: forgetting it exists, getting overwhelmed, or losing interest?

2. Layout & structure

   • Do you prefer:

   • super structured pages (everything already divided)

   • or more open/flexible layouts?

   • Do too many sections stress you out or help you?

3. Time perception

   • Do you use:

   • daily pages, weekly, or monthly?

   • Do you feel like you need to see everything at once or just focus on one day?

4. Task management

   • Do you prefer:

   • checklists

   • writing freely

   • visual systems (colors, icons, stickers)?

   • Do long to-do lists motivate you or paralyze you?

5. Visual & sensory

   • What makes a planner feel:

   • inviting vs overwhelming?

   • Do you prefer minimal design or more visual stimulation?

6. Physical interaction

   • Would you use it more if:

   • it was customizable (move pages, add/remove sections)?

   • it had tactile elements (thicker paper, tabs, textures)?

   • Do you carry your planner everywhere or leave it in one place?

7. Emotional side (this is important)

   • Be honest: does using a planner ever make you feel guilty or pressured?

   • What would make you want to open it instead of avoid it?

8. Reality check

   • What’s something planners ALWAYS get wrong for you?

I’m trying to design something that feels less like a productivity tool and more like something you naturally reach for.

Any honest answer helps a lot — even small things 🙏

Hey ADHDers 👋

I'm Celina, a graphic designer with ADHD, and I'm designing a modular leather planner system built specifically for our brains, as part of my thesis.

I already have a general survey running but I need more specific input from the ADHD community to actually design the interior pages and physical components right. Your answers will directly shape what goes into the product.

It takes about 5 minutes and every response genuinely helps. Link below 👇

Link

Thank you so much 🧡