WhizQ

College students often turn to AI tools for study help, but many lack structure, variety, and real engagement. Students struggle to stay focused, find the right type of support, and study effectively with limited tools tailored to their needs.

How might we design a smart, student-first study app that combines the power of AI with interactive features like flashcards, quizzes, practice problems, and group study — creating a personalized, motivating study experience all in one place?

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Inspiration and Personal Experience

Studying effectively in college can be a real challenge—especially when students are juggling multiple classes, deadlines, and learning styles. While AI study tools are becoming popular, many students still feel lost without structured guidance or the right kind of support.

A common issue among students is the lack of a centralized, interactive platform that not only provides AI-generated help but also encourages active learning through varied methods. Most tools focus on generic answers rather than offering engaging, customizable learning experiences.

  1. To address this, WhizQ was developed as a comprehensive AI study help app aimed at
  2. Offering personalized support with tools like flashcards, quizzes, summaries, and practice problems
  3. Encouraging collaboration through group study features
  4. Making studying more dynamic with fun activities like word puzzles
  5. Helping students stay consistent and motivated with tailored learning paths.

By combining the power of AI with structured, student-friendly features, WhizQ redefines how students approach learning—making it smarter, more engaging, and more effective.

Problem

Students often struggle with staying focused and consistent in their study routines. While AI tools are increasingly available, they tend to provide generic support without structure, engagement, or personalization—making it hard for students to truly benefit from them.

Many students face challenges like lack of motivation, limited interaction, and difficulty finding the right study resources. The current landscape of AI study tools is fragmented—some offer flashcards, others provide summaries or quizzes, but there’s no centralized platform that brings it all together in a cohesive and student-friendly way.

New college students, especially, can feel overwhelmed by academic pressure and unfamiliar learning methods. Without proper support, they may fall behind, lose confidence, or disengage entirely from their coursework.

Despite the growing demand for smart, accessible study solutions, students are often left juggling multiple tools that don’t adapt to their personal learning needs. A comprehensive, engaging, and AI-driven platform is essential to help students study smarter, stay motivated, and succeed academically.

User Surveys & Interviews

To validate the demand for a comprehensive, AI-powered all-in-one study app, I conducted a user survey targeting students from various academic backgrounds. The goal was to identify commonly used study tools, understand motivation challenges, and explore interest in a centralized platform that combines AI assistance, interactive quizzes, scheduling tools, and group study features.

The survey collected both quantitative and qualitative feedback, helping refine the potential app’s design and feature priorities. Insights revealed clear patterns in study habits, tool preferences, and motivational struggles that a well-designed platform could address.

Key Survey Takeaways

Heavy Reliance on AI Tools – Out of 13 respondents, 9 students reported using ChatGPT or similar AI tools as part of their current study routine, making it the most popular method. Group study (2 responses) and traditional resources like YouTube and class notes (1 each) followed.

High Demand for Quizzes and Summaries – Quizzes were marked as the most helpful study feature by 5 respondents, with AI-generated summaries coming in second at 4. Flashcards were chosen by 2 participants, while word games or puzzles received no interest.

Focus and Motivation Are Major Challenges – 8 students said they “often” or “always” feel distracted or unmotivated while studying. Only 1 person reported rarely experiencing this, highlighting a key area where an engaging, structured app could help.

Strong Interest in an All-in-One Study App – 11 out of 13 students (85%) said they would use an app that combines AI support, quizzes, reminders, and group study capabilities. No one responded with “maybe,” and only 2 said “no.”

Wireframes & Feature Development

During the exploration and ideation phase of WhizQ, I focused on solving common academic challenges faced by students—staying engaged while studying, accessing structured resources, and finding motivation to learn consistently. To create an intuitive and supportive study experience, I carefully mapped the student journey—from needing help with a topic to reviewing it through interactive tools and collaborating with peers.

Essential features were conceptualized, including:

  1. AI-powered assistance for personalized study support
  2. Flashcards, quizzes, and practice problems to reinforce learning
  3. Group study rooms and collaborative tools for peer interaction
  4. Word puzzles and summaries to make studying engaging and fun

With these priorities in mind, I created initial sketches and wireframes to define WhizQ’s layout, flow, and core interactions. These early prototypes laid the foundation for a focused, student-first learning experience—ensuring that WhizQ is both effective and enjoyable to use.

User Interface Design

The vision for WhizQ was to build a smart, engaging, and all-in-one study companion that truly supports the way students learn today. The name reflects its core mission—making studying quicker, smarter, and more interactive through AI-powered features and collaborative tools.

Early UI concepts prioritized simplicity and function, allowing users to access flashcards, quizzes, summaries, and AI help without distraction or clutter. But as feedback rolled in, it became clear that students also needed a more dynamic, motivating experience—one that felt less like a traditional study app and more like an interactive space designed with their learning journey in mind.

Through multiple design iterations, WhizQ evolved into more than just a collection of study tools. The final interface strikes a balance between usability and energy, offering a visually engaging yet highly functional platform. WhizQ isn’t just about answering questions—it’s about building consistent study habits, encouraging peer collaboration, and transforming the way students engage with academics. The goal was simple: to create a study space that feels natural, motivating, and truly student-centered.

Usability Testing​

To evaluate the UI design of WhizQ, I developed an interactive prototype and conducted usability testing with a small group of students. The aim was to assess visual clarity, layout consistency, and ease of interaction with core features.

Testing Scenario:

A student opens the WhizQ app for the first time and wants to explore its interface to understand how it works.

Tasks:

Task 1: Go through the onboarding screens and evaluate the visual clarity, layout, and flow.
Task 2: Navigate to the main dashboard and identify key features like flashcards, quizzes, and AI help.
Task 3: Interact with one of the tools (e.g., flashcards) and assess the design, readability, and usability of the interface.

This testing focused on UI aesthetics, responsiveness, and user guidance, providing insights to improve the overall design and enhance first-time user experience.

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Name: Gayathri Kalapala
Age: 22
Occupation: Information Technology  Student
Location: Nashville, Tennessee,  USA
Ease of Use: 1 (impossible) – 10 (effortless)
Rating: 9/10

Overall Impression:

The app delivers a sleek and user-friendly interface for studying. The design feels clean and modern, with well-defined sections for different tools. The layout is intuitive, and the visuals are consistent across screens, making the user experience smooth.

Task 1:

The onboarding flow was visually appealing and easy to follow. Icons and brief descriptions clearly explained the app’s main features, helping me understand what to expect right from the start.

Task 2:

Navigating to the flashcards and quizzes was effortless. The dashboard layout made key tools easy to locate, and the card design was clear and readable. A small suggestion would be to highlight recently used tools for quicker access.

Task 3:

The AI assistant interface was minimalistic and responsive. Typing in a question felt natural, and the layout of the reply section was clean. The response formatting could be slightly more distinct (e.g., bolding keywords) to improve readability, but overall, it felt intuitive and polished.