My role → Product designer (only one) and feature discovery/development, UX

At what stage did I join → Product is operational with users, the complex features are not yet designed or developed, existing designs are at a good level with a basic component library created

Project specialities → Small team, messy design file and no existing documentation

Main challenges → Create features in a way that are high impact but still fast to implement on the engineering side.

The platform currently offers fundamental features; however, it lacks the advanced functionalities provided by competitors, resulting in the attrition of paying members to alternative platforms, such as Kajabi. Despite the favorable reception of our brand ambiance and corporate ethos among users, these factors alone prove insufficient to retain them and foster the sustained expansion of our business model.

An in-depth analysis of user feedback has illuminated specific areas where the platform's feature set falls short of meeting evolving industry standards. Addressing these limitations through strategic enhancements could potentially fortify our competitive position.

A comprehensive strategy that combines an understanding of user expectations, strategic feature augmentation, and a commitment to ongoing innovation is essential to bolster the platform's competitiveness and decrease the rate at which paid members leave for rival services.

Identify pivotal features which will lead to user retention and foster growth. Create a strategic plan for the redesign of interface screens, emphasising optimal user flows and a beautiful UI that our user love.

Collaborate closely with the engineering team to facilitate the seamless integration of these innovative features into the online platform.

Cleanup the design file and add supporting documentation (initially as comment components placed next to the designs). Introduce the idea of PRD’s as a starting point for feature development.

We have implemented a series of enhancements to our online platform, introducing a range of well received features. From the incorporation of playlists, quizzes, lessons, and courses to the introduction of flexible payment plans and pricing structures, the platform has undergone a significant transformation.

Notably, we've redefined our communities, elevating them to function as closed groups with enhanced user control. Furthermore, inspired by popular IG-focused solutions, we've introduced a link-in-bio page tailored to our unique user and teacher community.

Additionally, we've taken a step towards enhanced accessibility with the design of an iOS mobile app.

Playlists → Videos can now be added to a library and shared/viewed in succession how the creator intended

Quizzes → This integral part of lessons allows teachers to test the students as well as create surveys to gather more information and feedback

Lessons → Collections of videos, text, quizzes and other interactive elements, lessons bring together multiple different content types and allows teachers to start building complex courses for the first time ever

Courses → Powerful tool that transcends the boundaries of live-only lessons and allows the teachers to market their content further and in a structured way

Payment and Pricing plans, Subscriptions → Allows teachers to offer payment types such as installments to their students, making courses available to a wider range of users

Gifts → Allows users to gift access to creator content to their friends

Translations → Multi language support for the first time brings HeyMarvelous closer to non-english speaking audiences

Custom themes and personalisation → Make your personal teaching space match your personal brand

Live video comments and reactions → Comments overlaying the livestreams open the door to more interactivity between students and teachers

Instant messaging with text, image, video and voice support → Discuss different topics and notify students in real time

Update communities to function as closed groups with user control → Communities are upgraded to allow participation from both teachers and students, no longer feeling like one sided channels

Notifications → Users and creators can now be notified directly in the apps instead of relying on emails, decreasing the reaction time substantially.

Instagram Link → Introduced a link-in-bio page similar to other IG focused solutions, but tailored for our users and teachers

iOS app → Created designs for an iOS mobile app

I’ve always been an analytical person, so laying out the problem and understanding it clearly was always something I did before starting the with designs. Every time I pickup the pen and paper, I’m reminded of how powerful of a first step this can be - it’s here where countless new edge cases are discovered and where the key questions emerge. Below are some of the examples of the notes I make. My handwriting has gotten surprisingly better over the last years though and despite being born (and speaking) Slovenian, I mostly think and write in english.

During the design process, especially when developing more complex features, I created user flow diagrams. This helped us identify edge cases and dead ends where the user might end up and eliminate them early in the process.

Another reason for user flow diagrams was to streamline flows that were otherwise ok and thus optimise the users journey towards their goal.

After about a year's worth of work, we successfully crafted a robust solution characterised by features that have led to heightened customer satisfaction (actual number not available due to nda). Noteworthy enhancements include the establishment of crucial touch points, such as the integration of the Instagram bio link. This feature proved to be an invaluable tool for creators boasting substantial social audiences, particularly those who rely on HeyMarvelous as their primary instructional platform. Notably, this marks the first instance where both platforms are seamlessly connected, enabling a direct channel for a creator's social following to access their content. As social media grows ever more present and important part of our lives, it has become crucial to shift more and more focus towards that domain.

In addition to these advancements, I have finalised the design elements for an iOS mobile application and embarked on the development of a comprehensive design system. This strategic move serves as the bedrock for subsequent advancements, positioning HeyMarvelous as a powerful cross-platform solution. and allows for easy integration and the expansion of the feature set in the future.

The course of this project has also underscored the importance of effective communication between design and development teams. It has equipped me with the skills to present designs and gather feedback from stakeholders who, unlike product designers, are distanced from the intricacies of the design and development process. This newfound proficiency in communication has proven instrumental in navigating the collaborative dynamics of this project and helping me design features efficiently and with a great deal of craftsmanship.

Thank you,
Rok P.

Do you have a problem, and nobody else can help? Maybe you can hire me. I'm a seasoned product designer with experience in data analitcs, complex dashboards, mobile apps and design systems. While I prefer long-term projects, I can also help you evolve your idea to a product and secure you some funding with a polished MVP. Reach out to me and let's talk!