Reimagining productivity for 9.7M+ young adults with ADHD
Adulthood is exciting, overwhelming, and at times, undeniably frustrating. For young adults with ADHD, however, it can feel even more challenging, like navigating the game of life on its hardest setting. Junto empowers its users to prioritize productivity by focusing on their strengths.
ROLE
Product Designer
PROJECT TIMELINE
Nov 2024 - May 2025
CHALLENGE
The “ADHD Iceberg”
The “ADHD Iceberg”
ADHD is often characterized as someone who is always late, easily distracted, or unable to finish tasks. But the reality is far more complex. Individuals with ADHD face challenges that “neurotypical” people may never experience. Research shows that ADHD may not be biologically driven, but shaped by circumstance or environmental factors.
ADHD is often characterized as someone who is always late, easily distracted, or unable to finish tasks. But the reality is far more complex. Individuals with ADHD face challenges that “neurotypical” people may never experience. Research shows that ADHD may not be biologically driven, but shaped by circumstance or environmental factors.
“ There is nothing neuro-biologically notable. It is situational or conditional.”
-- Have We Been Thinking About ADHD All Wrong?
5.29% of the world has ADHD
5.29% of the world has ADHD
That’s 1 in 20 people.
That’s 1 in 20 people.
$28.8 billion loss
$28.8 billion loss
In the US alone, that is a 23.4% productivity loss.
In the US alone, that is a 23.4% productivity loss.
“They don’t want to not show up. Their brains are wired differently, they work differently, and we as a society have not understood that.”
-- ADHD Therapist
IMPACT
Empowering young adults to embrace their unique strengths to thrive
Empowering young adults to embrace their unique strengths to thrive
“My ADHD is my superpower, but also my biggest weakness.”
-- 28-year-old Banker with ADHD
$500
Validation Award from Wharton Innovation Fund
Validation Award from Wharton Innovation Fund
$50,000
Semi-finalists to Wharton Startup Challenge
Semi-finalists to Wharton Startup Challenge
86%
of users willing to pay and adopt
of users willing to pay and adopt
THE JUNTO SYSTEM
Enabling productivity through a
3-part ecosystem
Big goals don’t motivate, they paralyze.
Adding goals is simple,
brain dump is an asset
“I can barely string my thoughts together to properly write a to-do list.”
-- 29-year-old Student with ADHD
Junto’s AI breaks down user’s thoughts into big goals that are broken down into bite-sized tasks.
Big goals don’t motivate, they paralyze.
Working towards goals
is a breeze
“I can’t keep pushing my goals behind because there’s other ‘burning issues’.”
-- 29-year-old Student with ADHD
Junto recommends tasks to work on based on the user’s mood.
You want to focus, but your phone has other plans
Set a timer to center
yourself in Focus Mode
“I like to avoid looking at my phone when working.”
-- 27-year-old Designer with ADHD
Timers can be enabled via the app or device. Junto’s device uses a tactile grounding method to help clear the mind. After working, the user can self-track task progress.
Starting is hard, staying motivated is
harder, doing it alone is worse
Your buddies are your
personal hype squad
“The feeling that someone is going through whatever challenge I’m facing with me. It feels like an accountability partner who is there for me.”
-- 24-year-old Student with ADHD
Junto allows users to invite their support crew to motivate them through their goals. Buddies give users the Boost of energy they need.
Starting is hard, staying motivated is
harder, doing it alone is worse
A motivating
reward system
Junto tallies time worked as ever-stacking blocks. The app tracks this progress over time and helps visualize milestones. The user can eagerly watch their blocks grow over time.
= 15 mins of work
Your support system wants to help, but it needs to be effortless, yet effective
Being a buddy is
easy and rewarding
Designed with busy friends in mind, users can directly message buddies to join. Junto provides easy-access widgets for buddies to monitor the user’s progress.
“I [am] super overwhelmed already with my own stuff.”
-- 26-year-old Friend of Person with ADHD
Big goals don’t motivate, they paralyze.
Adding goals is simple, brain dump is an asset
“I can barely string my thoughts together to properly write a to-do list.”
-- 29-year-old Student with ADHD
Junto’s AI breaks down user’s thoughts into big goals that are broken down into bite-sized tasks.
Big goals don’t motivate, they paralyze.
Working towards goals is a breeze
“I can’t keep pushing my goals behind because there’s other ‘burning issues’.”
-- 29-year-old Student with ADHD
Junto recommends tasks to work on based on the user’s mood.
You want to focus, but your phone has other plans
Set a timer to center yourself in Focus Mode
“I like to avoid looking at my phone when working.”
-- 27-year-old Designer with ADHD
Timers can be enabled via the app or device. Junto’s device uses a tactile grounding method to help clear the mind. After working, the user can self-track task progress.
Starting is hard, staying motivated is harder, doing it alone is worse
Your buddies are your personal hype squad
“The feeling that someone is going through whatever challenge I’m facing with me. It feels like an accountability partner who is there for me.”
-- 24-year-old Student with ADHD
Junto allows users to invite their support crew to motivate them through their goals. Buddies give users the Boost of energy they need, and track their progress.
Starting is hard, staying motivated is harder, doing it alone is worse
A motivating reward system
Junto tallies time worked as ever-stacking blocks. The app tracks this progress over time and helps visualize milestones. The user can eagerly watch their blocks grow over time.
= 15 mins of work
= 15 mins of work
Your support system wants to help, but it needs to be effortless, yet effective
Being a buddy is easy and rewarding
“I [am] super overwhelmed already with my own stuff.”
-- 26-year-old Friend of Person with ADHD
Designed with busy friends in mind, users can directly message buddies to join. Junto provides easy-access widgets for buddies to monitor the user’s progress.
PHYSICAL DEVICE
The Junto device takes focus to the next level
Set a timer & center yourself for focus mode
Advanced prototyping
Junto’s uses a tactile grounding method to clear the mind and maintain satisfying interactions.
Take a break with a mindfulness exercise
Advanced prototyping
Junto’s helps you stay in work mode but encourages healthy breaks without breaking focus.
How far did you get with your task?
Advanced prototyping
Junto’s interaction dial is rotated to indicate level of completion after focus mode.
WHO ARE OUR USERS?
18-29 year old students or early-mid career professionals
18-29 year old students or early-mid career professionals
Our target users are young adults who are either recently diagnosed with ADHD or suspect they may have it. They’re looking to better understand their needs, explore new strategies, and find practical tools and support to manage everyday productivity challenges.
Our target users are young adults who are either recently diagnosed with ADHD or suspect they may have it. They’re looking to better understand their needs, explore new strategies, and find practical tools and support to manage everyday productivity challenges.
30+
Interviews & user testing
Interviews & user testing
5
Focus groups
Focus groups
10+
Expert consultations
Expert consultations
6
Accountability studies
Accountability studies
2
Site visits
Site visits
VALIDATING DEMAND
Analyzing the competition
$9.99
$9.99
AFTER 14-DAY FREE TRIAL
per month
per month
Can be used without device.
Junto costs 40% less than direct competitors
Junto costs 40% less than
direct competitors
ONE-TIME PURCHASE
$69.99
Includes 6 month
free subscription
Includes 6 month free subscription
BUSINESS MODEL
Building a viable business
Starting with accessible metro areas
Junto costs 40% less than direct competitors
Junto costs 40% less than direct competitors
$7.3M revenue in 5 years, with high growth potential
$7.3M revenue in 5 years, with high growth potential
The journey to Junto
The journey to Junto
We started with user-tested wireframes, then ran focus groups and co-design sessions to ensure every decision met real needs. By keeping users at the center, through continuous feedback and long-term daily use studies, we gathered insights that shaped the product into what ultimately became Junto.
We started with user-tested wireframes, then ran focus groups and co-design sessions to ensure every decision met real needs. By keeping users at the center, through continuous feedback and long-term daily use studies, we gathered insights that shaped the product into what ultimately became Junto.
DESIGN PROCESS
How did we get here?
No social media elements
Linking emotions to tasks and brain dump
Progress view / reward system
Product customization + novelty
Automated updates / check ins
Low effort for accountability partners
Device evolution
Device evolution
"The reality is people with ADHD need breaks, you need to have that."
"Fidgeting with something actually helps me focus."
“It needs to give me something special that my phone can’t."
Device prototyping
Device prototyping
Prototyping the device form and mindfulness exercise experience.
Prototyping the device form and mindfulness exercise experience.
Validated by users and healthcare professionals
Young adult with ADHD
"An AI cannot make me do anything. I will only do things to not disappoint a friend."
— 30-year-old Entrepreneur
Their support system
"I want to be there for my friend but I can’t always be physically available, so this is a great tool."
—27-year-old Graduate Student
Healthcare professional
"This solution leverages the right amount of human connection that people with ADHD need."
—Tiffany Torres, ADHD Therapist
Young adult with ADHD
"An AI cannot make me do anything. I will only do things to not disappoint a friend."
— 30-year-old Entrepreneur
Their support system
"I want to be there for my friend but I can’t always be physically available, so this is a great tool."
—27-year-old Graduate Student
Healthcare professional
"This solution leverages the right amount of human connection that people with ADHD need."
—Tiffany Torres, ADHD Therapist
THE JUNTO SYSTEM
Enabling productivity through a
3-part ecosystem
