Design from 0 - 1 to Deepen Social Connections

Stats

NPS

80

In prototype testing

Product Market Fit Survey

40%

Users who answered Very Disappointed, if they could no longer use the app

Download to Account Creation

Dwnld to Acct Creation

82%

Conversion

Overview

Thoughtful is Wellness 3.0 where Calm and Headspace meet a social network. By building a personal relationship management platform, our subscribers can take proactive measures to alleviate anxiety and depression by deepening their relationships.

We believe that reaching out, remembering, and reflecting daily on relationships reduces the likelihood of enduring long-term health issues, and enhances cognitive function.

A Seeker is one of our archetypes. They are most likely to treat Thoughtful as a meditative practice. They appreciate the guided approach of Daily Actions and are drawn to the gentle visual language of the brand. Introspection is their superpower but rumination may prevent them from showing up on important dates.

Users worry about sharing personal information

Tasks can feel like a chore when they are perceived as long and intensive

Skepticism about the trustworthiness of content

Thoughtful transformed from concept to app, making its debut on the iOS App Store just in time for Thanksgiving 2023.

Features

Daily Actions

Daily Actions

An example that illustrates Thoughtful's method to behavior changing activities that deepen connections.

Daily Actions explained in onboarding (Left). An example of an activity within Daily Actions (Right).

Daily Actions explained in onboarding (Above). An example of an activity within Daily Actions (Below).

Problem

The Voice of the Consumer research revealed patterns of distress among respondents, particularly an increased sense of uncertainty amid the COVID19 pandemic. There was a strong desire to strengthen social connections to remedy isolation and sustain a supportive community.

Solution

Inspired by Dr. Samantha Boardman, the concept of a positive portfolio emerged as a strategy to evoke confidence when making a connection. Daily Actions integrates personal notes, memories, and milestones, together and serves them up as evidence of a good relationship. These visualizations organize complex information and gently guide users to action.

Features

What to Say Guides

What to Say Guides

A scenario where Thoughtful provides expert advice and support through a difficult relationship challenge.

An example of an anniversary of a loss (Above). A content guide on what to say to a loved one in grief (Below).

Problem

The one obstacle preventing people from initiating communication with their loved ones, particularly during challenging times, is the uncertainty of what to say.

Solution

In the context of an important life event, we prepare the user with information on how to provide support to their loved ones with confidence. The Thoughtful library includes ~500 articles on how to address life's big and small moments including but not limited to spreading gratitude.

Features

Pre-Drafted Message & Generative AI

Pre-Drafted Message & Generative AI

The first iterations of Pre-Drafted Messages where expert written and generative AI written messages were tested to further nudge users to start a conversation.

The first version of Pre-Drafted Messages in Settings (Above). The second version of Pre-Drafted Messages in Daily Actions (Below).

Problem

What to Say guides provide users with comprehensive dos and don'ts to form a response to a given situation. Naturally, after reading the content guides, users wanted to copy and paste the suggestions into their text messages to get their conversation going.

Solution

The initial version of Pre-Drafted Messages existed as a feature within Settings, offering users three response options for events like check-ins, birthdays, or anniversaries. The messages ranged from concise to verbose.

In the second iteration, generative AI was introduced to draft responses based on an event as well as the relationship. This AI feature becomes an option for the user when sending a text message.

Reflection

Cross-Departmental Workflows

Cross-Departmental Workflows

Above are examples of how research, design decisions and requirements were communicated throughout the organization. These templates served as a standard form to structure files for production.

A research component (Above) and a feature requirement component (Below).

Figma is a robust collaboration tool, offering versatility and intuitive functionality. I took the initiative to teach others how to leverage its power. Once everyone achieved a level of comfort and basic proficiency, we utilized Figma to visualize the product roadmap on a dedicated board.

Within this Figma board, we organized components such as Epics, Features, Research Insights, and Product Requirements. These boards served as a hub for exchanging feedback and aligning. My efforts were dedicated to visualizing these cross-departmental workflows, resulting in the establishment of consistent written requirements. By the end of the second year, we had successfully streamlined our production processes.

What They Say

Large shiny 3D quotation marks
Large shiny 3D quotation marks
Large shiny 3D quotation marks

Catherine was an exceptional coworker. Her ability to think creatively and on-the-fly helped push our team forward. Her new design and structural initiatives, including developing an internal system for organizing and implementing design elements within the Thoughtful app, helped streamline the creative process and facilitated stronger communication between departments. Catherine's innate ability to recognize problems and implement strong solutions made her a joy to work and collaborate with at Thoughtful.

Britt Julious
Director of Content at Thoughtful

Britt Julious
Director of Content at Thoughtful

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