Know the Client

The Problem

The Solution

Our Process

Usability Testing

Affinity Mapping

Key User Insights

Testing Results

Final Prototype

Reflections

Affirmation Studio

Optimizing the Onboarding Process to enhance user experience through Speed, Simplicity & Clarity

Team Members
Duration
Tools Used
Client
My Role

Nivedita Thakurdesai (Me)

​​​Eleanor Cunningham-Rothwell

Gilbert Espinoza

Yuanhao Wu

Team Members

Nivedita Thakurdesai (Me)

​​​Eleanor Cunningham-Rothwell

Gilbert Espinoza

Yuanhao Wu

1.5 Months

Duration

1.5 Months

Figma / Figjam

Zoom
Google Suite


Tool Used

Figma / Figjam

Zoom
Google Suite

Affirmation Studio

Client

Affirmation Studio

Stakeholder management

Usability testing & insights

Wireframing & Prototyping

My Role

  • Part of stakeholder meetings

  • Deciding participant criteria - screener

  • Conducting 2 usability testing

  • Formulating insights -affinity mapping

  • Worked on 2 recommendation (onboarding walkthrough)

67 %

Increase in user onboarding completion

3X

Faster onboarding completion by users


56 %

Reduction in queries related to onboarding

View Final Prototype

View Final Prototype

Go to iOs App

Go to iOs App

Who is client (Affirmation Studio)?

Personalized Daily Affirmation App

Affirmation Studio is a dynamic app that empowers users to foster a positive mindset with personalized daily affirmations.


The app offers a variety of customizable features, ensuring affirmations align with individual goals. Through a captivating blend of visuals and audio, Affirmation Studio provides an immersive and exciting user experience.

The Problem : Why we considered redesigning the onboarding of Affirmation Studio APP?

Multiple Issues in the Onboarding Process are Hindering a Seamless User Experience

Onboarding Confusion

Users struggled to understand the app's value during the onboarding process, making it difficult for them to engage effectively.

User Retention Issues

The onboarding process failed to keep users engaged long-term, leading to poor user retention and reduced app usage.

Decision-Making Friction

The onboarding presented too many choices or unclear steps, complicating the decision-making process and slowing down user progression.

The Solution

Simplifying the onboarding process by minimizing the number of screens and reducing decision fatigue

Eliminating subscription and notification screens

Eliminating subscription and notification screens from the onboarding process, along with providing users the option to go back, reduces decision fatigue and enhances their overall experience with the app.

Designing an optional onboarding tutorial to showcase the app's features

Designing an optional onboarding tutorial allows users to explore the app's features at their own pace, ensuring they can choose to learn about key functionalities or skip the tutorial based on their preferences.

Our Process : How did we accomplish this?

IOS App Redesign and User Research Process

Usability Testing

  • Deciding Participant Criteria

  • Sending Screener Survey

  • Conducting Usability Testing

  • Gathering the test Findings

Usability Testing

  • Deciding Participant Criteria

  • Sending Screener Survey

  • Conducting Usability Testing

  • Gathering the test Findings

Delivering Testing Results


  • Generating Affinity Map

  • Concluding Testing Results

  • Redesigning IOs App

  • Delivering to Client

Delivering Testing Results


  • Generating Affinity Map

  • Concluding Testing Results

  • Redesigning IOs App

  • Delivering to Client

Usability Testing

Moderated Usability Testing Conducted

Our team conducted a usability study on the Affirmation Studio app to identify and resolve usability issues.


We presented participants with specific scenarios and tasks to complete and asked them pre and post task Questions as well as post test reviews/ratings. Our target participant criteria included young professionals who can afford to pay for the app.

Targeted Participant Criteria

  • Age : 18-45

  • Profession : Anyone who is working

  • Location : United States

  • Interest : Personal Development, Ambitious

  • Other : Iphone user

Targeted Participant Criteria

  • Age : 18-45

  • Profession : Anyone who is working

  • Location : United States

  • Interest : Personal Development, Ambitious

  • Other : Iphone user

Usability Testing Details

  • Methodology : Moderate Remote

  • Platform : Affirmation Studio IOs App

  • Duration : Approximately 30 Mins

  • Tools Used : Zoom

  • No of Participants : 8

Usability Testing Details

  • Methodology : Moderate Remote

  • Platform : Affirmation Studio IOs App

  • Duration : Approximately 30 Mins

  • Tools Used : Zoom

  • No of Participants : 8

View Screener Survey & Usability Testing Script

Affinity Mapping

Consolidating User Insights to Identify Pain Points

Employing affinity mapping on Figjam, we organized the data and derived three clear recommendations to address issues in the app's onboarding process.

View Affinity Mapping

What were usability testing insights?

Key User Insights

8/8

Participants stated that they would decline payment and rating when these screens were introduced initially

8/8

Participants stated that they would decline payment and rating when these screens were introduced initially

5/8

Participants struggled to accurately locate functions on the homepage, and felt confused by what different features meant

5/8

Participants struggled to accurately locate functions on the homepage, and felt confused by what different features meant

4/8

Participants felt there were too many onboarding screens before getting to the homepage, and struggled to understand the AI feature

4/8

Participants felt there were too many onboarding screens before getting to the homepage, and struggled to understand the AI feature

Usability Testing Results

Utilizing User Insights to Create a Streamlined, Quick, and Efficient Onboarding Process

Problem 1 : Users feel that current onboarding process is lengthy, and hinders their decision-making

Solution 1 : Introduce rating, payment and notification pop ups after users are introduced to the Home Screen to streamline the onboarding process

Problem 1 : Users feel that current onboarding process is lengthy, and hinders their decision-making

Solution 1 : Introduce rating, payment and notification pop ups after users are introduced to the Home Screen to streamline the onboarding process

User : “I like the interfaces and the pictures are beautiful here, but I hope that I can actually start using the app more quickly.”

User : “I like the interfaces and the pictures are beautiful here, but I hope that I can actually start using the app more quickly.”

1

Before Testing

7 Steps to Complete Onboarding and Access the Home Screen

After Testing

Home Screen with a Simplified 3-Step Onboarding Process

Problem 2 : Onboarding lacks clarity and users can’t modify their choices.

Solution 2 : Add a progress indicator and a back button to onboarding process to enhance clarity.

Problem 2 : Onboarding lacks clarity and users can’t modify their choices.

Solution 2 : Add a progress indicator and a back button to onboarding process to enhance clarity.

User : "I wish I could have gone back during onboarding, but I couldn’t."

User : "I wish I could have gone back during onboarding, but I couldn’t."

2

Before Testing

Onboarding Process Lacking Back and Progress Options

After Testing

Onboarding Process Featuring a Back Button and Progress Bar

Problem 3 : Users faced challenges navigating and interacting with the app’s features.

Solution 3 : Add a walkthrough to help users understand how to use features on the Home Screen.

Problem 3 : Users faced challenges navigating and interacting with the app’s features.

Solution 3 : Add a walkthrough to help users understand how to use features on the Home Screen.

User : "I think there should be a tutorial at the start, I was a bit unsure about the home screen at first."

User : "I think there should be a tutorial at the start, I was a bit unsure about the home screen at first."

3

Before Testing

Home Screen Lacking Icon Labels and Onboarding Tutorial, Leading to Confusion

After Testing

A Clear Onboarding Tutorial with Icon Labels Enhancing Understanding

Final Prototype

Presenting Redesigned Onboarding to Stakeholders

Reflections

We Achieved a Shift in Stakeholder Focus from Business Goals to User Needs

Key Success

  • Overcame the challenge of remote mobile app usability testing by creating a clear step-by-step plan and running a pilot test to ensure smooth execution.

Key Success

  • Overcame the challenge of remote mobile app usability testing by creating a clear step-by-step plan and running a pilot test to ensure smooth execution.

Scope for Improvement

  • We recommend shifting focus from business objectives to making other sections of the app more user-centric.

Scope for Improvement

  • We recommend shifting focus from business objectives to making other sections of the app more user-centric.

Interested in Collaborating?

If my work resonates with you, let’s talk!

Get In Touch

Interested in Collaborating?

If my work resonates with you, let’s talk!

Get In Touch

NT

LinkedIn

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Email

NT

LinkedIn

Behance

Resume

Email

© Nivedita Thakurdesai 2025