Abstract
This dissertation describes the method of applying the Activity Theory (AT) (Engeström, 2000) as a form of analysis in the creation of a novel digital product that contributes to the UX design community. A constructive design research (CDR) method is applied in the study through the accumulated research required to design a digital prototype that will assist millennial women with their weight management. In this study, a CDR method situated within the disciplinary domain of user-experience design (UX) is applied first to explore the contexts of millennial women living in South Africa who struggle with managing their weight and, second, to respond to insights gained in the exploration through the design of a digital prototype capable of assisting millennial women with their weight management requirements. Weight related issues are an ever-growing concern as people tend to eat more and exercise less. This trend is exacerbated by uncredited information being spread on social media platforms and in the UX industry. Information that is not sourced from professional diagnoses, often results in users feeling insecure and demotivated. There is an overwhelming plethora of weight-loss mobile applications (apps) offering methods to manage people’s weight, yet most of them are abandoned because they do not answer the needs of their user. Various theoretical frameworks, such as the AT (Engeström, 2000, p. 962), the Three-level hierarchy of goals (Hassenzahl, 2010), and the Top ten psychological needs (Sheldon, Elliot, Kim, & Kasser, 2001), were integrated into the Design thinking process to form a human experience methodology that will help researchers and UX designers to create a human centred design (HCD) that involves an interaction design (IxD) system. The prototype created in this study consists of several functionalities that offer a holistic and credited approach to assist millennial women, living in South Africa, with their weight management struggles. In addition, the users will not only have the opportunity to reach their goals but to also experience a way to maintain their weight. The prototype offers users the potential to foster a successful weight management journey which is filled with motivation and confidence.