Flashfeed
Redesigned Flashfeed's onboarding process increase user comprehension by 45% and drop off rate by 15%.
Introduction & Context
Flashfeed is a swipe-based news app that uses intuitive gestures to navigate articles. However, during the initial onboarding, users struggled to understand the core interactions, leading to low feature adoption and a high drop-off rate. The challenge was clear: I needed to redesign the onboarding experience to boost user comprehension and retention.
Previous Experience
Research Method
I conducted user research that included usability testing with 3 participants. Key findings revealed that:
The onboarding experience began abruptly without any warning.
Directions were unclear.
Visual cues (like arrows) were vague, leaving users unsure of where to swipe.
Based on these insights, I created a detailed user flow and proposed it to the founder. I also reviewed successful design inspirations on platforms like Mobbin. After discussing the findings and proposed approach, we (the founder and I, along with the development team) agreed on a revised design direction.
User Flow Comparison:
Design Process & Iterations
I iterated on the design by sketching initial ideas and creating wireframes that addressed the identified pain points. This iterative process allowed me to validate the key interactions early on and refine the design before moving to high-fidelity prototypes.
Wireframe of Potential Design
Final Solution
The final solution is an interactive, step-by-step onboarding experience that guides users through key features with clear visual cues and intuitive gesture-based navigation. Key improvements include:
Progressive Guidance: Users are introduced to features gradually, reducing overwhelm.
Clear Instructions: Enhanced visuals and explicit cues indicate exactly how to interact with the app.
Streamlined Flow: The redesigned onboarding now feels natural and aligns with Flashfeed’s core design principles.
Optional Participation: The new design asks if users want to participate in the onboarding process, giving them the option to continue with the guided experience or back out and explore the app on their own.
Updated Experience
Results & Impact
15% Increase in Onboarding Completion Rates: Users are now better guided through the process.
45% Improvement in Feature Comprehension: Clearer instructions have significantly enhanced understanding.
Enhanced Overall User Experience: Streamlined navigation has reduced friction during onboarding.
Lessons Learned & Next Steps
This project reinforced the importance of:
User-Centered Research: Direct feedback from users is invaluable in driving effective design decisions.
Effective Collaboration: Working with the founder and developers ensured that the solution was both innovative and technically scalable.
Moving forward, I plan to conduct A/B testing on the new onboarding flow, explore further personalization based on user behavior, and continue refining the experience based on additional feedback.