Ani Onboarding and Discovery

ROLE

Lead Product Designer

PROJECT Timeline

April 2024 - June 2024

Tools Used

Figma, FigJam, Slack, Miro, Google Suite

Contents

The Problem with Current Design

Solution Exploration

Iterating Through Solutions

Solution & Feature Highlights

Learnings & Next Steps

Conclusion

PROBLEM

Users struggle to find their favorite anime and manga genres due to irrelevant content in their feeds

Without feed customization, users are frustrated and disengaged, struggling to find relevant content. This reduces user retention and overall engagement on platforms like Ani

UNCOVERING FRUSTRATIONS WITHIN THE CURRENT USER BASE

TOO MUCH CONTENT!

“The absence of content categorization made it overwhelming to discover posts and new users connected to the specific anime or manga I enjoy.”

NOT MADE FOR "ME"

“Although trending posts were nice to see, my feed felt generic and filled with diverse content that didn't match my preferences.”

SEARCHING sucks

“While the search bar helped find trending content, the lack of filters and real-time results made finding specific content difficult and discouraging.”

CONDUCTING MARKET RESEARCH

How do existing apps approach content discoverability?

We explored content curation in social media apps, drawing insights from Pinterest, Flipboard, Instagram, and TikTok. Guiding questions refined our design decisions for the final solution.

At what part of the user flow would customized content curation be most intuitively implemented?

How can we streamline the current feed navigation to minimize redundant links and cognitive overload?

Beyond the initial preferences selection, how will users be able to adapt their feed to their changing interests?

OUR FINDINGS

Allowing users to input their interests during onboarding helps create a more personalized experience with the app

FROM PROBLEM TO OPPORTUNITIES

Design Goals & Opportunities

GENRE SELECTION

Allowing users to multi-select genres they are interested in

PROFILE SUGGESTIONS

Suggesting profiles based on user’s similar genre and title selection

SORT FEATURE

Increasing organization by filtering posts based on title, genre, or post type

ARRIVING AT OUR SOLUTION

Feed personalization during onboarding

Our market research revealed a critical gap in our app: inadequate feed customization. To bridge this, we introduced a feature that lets users select their interests, using this data to offer personalized suggestions of similar users.

IDEATION TO REVISIONS

Drawing inspiration from design patterns to create an experience unique to Ani’s brand language

We began with lo-fi wireframes to explore layouts and key features. After presenting these to internal stakeholders, including the founder, we chose to implement a multi-step onboarding process to better refine user interests.

After creating hi-fi prototypes, we consulted the founder and developers. Due to complications with unique title chips, we chose user-set titles to simplify development while maintaining profile filtering.

DECLUTTERING THE FEED

Implementing feed organization to aid in content discoverability

Shape your feed!

Quickly specify your interests to start

Seamlessly set up your profile and preferences

Instantly follow recommended users

Clutter-free feed

Experience a mix of articles, videos, images, and reviews curated to your tastes

Enjoy posts and updates from the people you follow

Stay in the Loop

Browse trending posts organized by type, including videos, images, news and more

Discover new friends!

Find and connect with like-minded friends by exploring trending profiles and their latest posts and achievements

Let favorites guide your discovery!

Effortlessly navigate trending content by specific titles or dive into genres that captivate you

Get suggestions for other titles and genres based on your current favorites and viewing history

LEARNINGS & future plans

Remaining adaptable in a startup environment

CROSS-FUNCTIONAL CONSTRAINTS

I learned to balance what’s desirable with what’s achievable, focusing on features and designs that offer the most value within limitations.

Timelines and Feature Rollouts

Facing tight deadlines, I learned that perfection isn’t always feasible. In a startup, non-linear solutions are often necessary.

NEW FEATURES, same DESIGN PATTERNS

Working with an existing app meant I had to stay flexible, integrating new features while balancing innovation with consistency.

Analyzing user engagement

UTILIZING Heatmaps to STRENGTHEN DESIGN DECISIONS

With major changes and limited research, heatmaps will reduce guesswork and align adjustments with real user behavior.

MEASURING FEED RELEVANCE THROUGH SURVEYS AND IN-APP FEEDBACK TOOLS

Measuring satisfaction with feed and recommendation changes is crucial to refine features and align them with user preferences.

CONCLUSION

Creating an "Ani-social" Startup Environment

Being a lead designer at Ani taught me the true value of teamwork and cross-functional collaboration. Even with tight deadlines, it’s essential to make room for fun and laughter. User-centered design starts with the team, and by deeply understanding my colleagues and the community, I was better equipped to create a productive, safe environment for communication and conflict resolution. Designing in a startup is unlike anything a course can prepare you for, but it’s the team that makes the experience uniquely rewarding.

Thank you for reading!