Pocket Pixie

An AR-Guided Task Companion for ADHD

Sep 2025 - December | Role: Game Designer/UI & UX Designer

Pocket Pixie is an AR-guided task companion game designed to help users overcome task initiation anxiety. By breaking tasks into small, achievable steps and offering gentle emotional support, the Pixie turns everyday tasks into clear, doable actions.

Our Idea

It is an AR-guided task-support game designed for people who struggle with executive function (especially designed for ADHD), helping them complete daily tasks through playful step-by-step guidance and emotional companionship.

Core Game Mechanics How to Play

AR Step

Tracking System

Soft Timer &

Nudging

Adaptive

Support System

Task Breakdown & Progress Tracking

Reward & XP Growth System

Pixie Guidance System

Start Task Selection

Choose a real-life task from the task list.

Scan Your Space

Move phone around to detect and set the task zone.

Follow AR Guidance

Pixie shows with floating waypoints and visual cues.

Complete the Real Step

Perform the action in real life as order.

Earn XP & Feedback

Each completed step triggers XP.

Finish & Unlock

Complete all steps to finish the task and level up.

Why This Matters

Target users Problems We Observed/Experience

Adults or students with ADHD

who prefer gamified experience

Individuals experiencing

executive function challenges

People who feel overwhelmed

starting or organizing tasks

People who feel overwhelmed

starting or organizing tasks

“The task feels too big… I don’t even know where to start.”

“I lose track halfway unless someone guides me step by step.”

“I get overwhelmed the moment I look at the mess.”

Social Impact goals

Reduce Task-Start Anxiety

Support

Executive Function

Provide Emotional

Companionship

Turn Chores Into

Micro-Wins

Build

Sustainable Routines

Boost

Self-Efficacy

Reduce

Cognitive Load

Breaking tasks into micro-steps helps users feel less overwhelmed when starting.

Each completed step triggers visible progress, building momentum.

Consistent step success reinforces healthy daily habits over time.

Seeing real progress helps users believe “I can actually do this.”

AR spatial cues and step-by-step sequencing reduce cognitive load.

Pixie reactions add warmth and support, easing self-blame.

Increase

Task Clarity

AR visuals make abstract tasks concrete, reducing uncertainty.

The Pixie offloads planning and sequencing so users can focus.

Future Improvement

Pixie Personalization

Shared

Social System

Adaptive Step Difficulty

Customize the Pixie’s appearance and personality to increase emotional connection.

Enable friends or family to join a task session and complete steps together.

Steps automatically scale up or down to match the user’s comfort level and energy.

Storyboard

““Oh… this is exactly where I should start.”

Using the camera, AR overlays the first instruction—“Clear items on the left side.” A glowing pixie shows.

“Hey… I actually did it. That wasn’t as hard as I thought.”

Ben follows the AR cue and clears the indicated area. Pixie reacts with supportive feedback.

“This feels good… maybe I really can finish this task.”

Ben scans the space to confirm the step. The Pixie celebrates and grants XP. Ben feels satisfied!

“Okay… doesn’t sound too scary. Maybe I can try.“

“It’s broken down for me, maybe I won’t get lost halfway.”

“I know it’s messy, but I just can’t start.”

Ben feels overwhelmed by a messy desk and doesn’t know where to begin. He feels difficult to take action.

Ben opens Pocket Pixie. The Pixie gently suggests him choosing one small, doable task to start with.

On the AR-recognition screen, Ben points the camera at his messy desk.The system automatically identifies the micro-steps.

clean

clean my desk

do my

homework

tidy my

room