ACIM Audio
OVERVIEW
The Foundation for Inner Peace, the scribe-authorized publisher of A Course in Miracles since 1975, began designing an audio app with the aim of enhancing accessibility for students worldwide.
The primary purpose of this mobile application is to provide a platform where students can engage with the Course through audio content, get inspired through meditation, and further enrich their studies.
ROLE
UX/UI Designer
User Research, Interaction, Visual design, Prototyping & Testing
October 2022 - Ongoing
User Research, Interaction, Visual design, Prototyping & Testing
October 2022 - Ongoing
Month Long Sprints
Background
The Foundation for Inner Peace has been the scribe-authorized publisher of A Course in Miracles since 1975. This non-profit organization is directed through inner listening and guidance. A Course in Miracles (ACIM) is a unique spiritual self-study program designed to awaken us to our true nature as Love.
Recognizing the importance of accessibility, the Foundation envisioned an innovative Audio App to provide a seamless way of accessing and navigating the audio book. This initiative was taken in response to the limitations of existing navigation on audible, as users sought a more refined audio experience.
I am the sole UX/UI Designer for this project
My role involved ensuring the app accomplished the following key objectives:
1. Crafting an intuitive and successful navigation experience that allows users to effortlessly explore the Course's audio content.
2. Maintaining a cohesive brand identity consistent with the Course and Foundation's ethos, creating a harmonious user experience.
3. Designing an appealing interface that resonates with Course students from diverse backgrounds, fostering inclusivity and engagement.
Research
The research process commenced with a thorough competitor analysis, meticulously studying existing Course apps, as well as relevant platforms such as Audible, Headspace, and Spotify. By examining the strengths and weaknesses of these applications, we gained valuable insights to inform our design decisions.
To gain a deeper understanding of users' needs and preferences, we strategically scheduled 10 user interviews. These interviews allowed us to gather direct feedback and uncover specific features and functionalities users desired in an app. Additionally, we complemented our research efforts by distributing a comprehensive survey to a broader audience, enabling us to collect quantitative data to support our findings.
Together, the competitor analysis, user interviews, and survey responses formed a solid foundation for the app's development, ensuring that it would be tailored to meet the unique requirements of the users and stand out in the market.
User Personas
After conducting extensive research, we identified four distinct user types that our product aims to address and cater to, based on their unique needs and pain points. These user types serve as the foundation for our product development and help us ensure that we provide valuable solutions to a diverse range of individuals. By tailoring our product to meet the requirements of these specific user types, we aim to deliver a more personalized and enriching experience for all our users.
Emma - Young Student
Betty - Tech Averse
Liz - Spirited Yoga Teacher
Ricardo - Busy Professional
Defining the MVP
Following a thorough analysis of the user personas derived from our research, we have carefully selected three key features to be incorporated into the app for launch. These features have been chosen strategically to address the specific needs and preferences of our identified user types, ensuring that the app delivers a comprehensive and meaningful experience for all users. By focusing on these essential functionalities, we aim to create a user-friendly and impactful application that fulfills the diverse requirements of our target audience.
1. Listening: As User Emma and User Ricardo , I want all important actions on the Listen tab so that I can get the app to feature what I want in an efficient way!
2. Meditate: As User Liz I want a heartfelt way to listen to the Course so that I can immerse myself into its teachings without being overwhelmed or being forced to make complicated choices.
3. Reminders: As User Betty, I want to be reminded of my lesson of the day so that I study ACIM at my own pace. I also want it to be easy so I don't need to deal with complicated technology.
Designs
After completing research and analysis, I began the designs. I started with simple wireframes to test the structure of the app. We went through a few iterations in this stage in order to find the best structure of the feature set. The UX wireframes became a full prototype with the addition of UI design.
Onboarding
Listen Tab
Meditate Tab
Reminders Tab
User Testing & Sprint Cycle
As my team and I designed different features, we employed a system of iteration and user testing to ensure that our product met the needs of our users. This approach was pivotal in aligning our product with user requirements. At each design phase, we strategically organized 2-4 user tests based on the complexity of the feature.
Once a particular feature attained unanimous comprehension and garnered user enthusiasm, we progressed to the next one. This was called the "Validation Cycle of Features". We maintained a continuous cycle of validating previous features as we moved forward. This rigorous process ensured that our product remained user-centric and that every added feature contributed cohesively to an exceptional user experience.
Development
The development goes through a similar cycle as the design phase. As the designer, I work in close collaboration with development tweaking screens, testing functionality, and debugging the app. Many of the feature require extensive QA testing, which I help completely along with other members of the staff and Early access testers. We release the app on a two week cycle to over 150 early access testers and receive feedback, which we quantify each week, as another part of our user testing process.
Communication & Launch Announcement
Scheduled for a December 2023 launch, our app is currently in its initial stages of preparing for its eagerly anticipated introduction. We have meticulously devised a comprehensive strategy to effectively communicate the coming app launch, and in the upcoming months, we will be diving into the execution of this plan. I, also, played a key role in the design of our landing page. My involvement extended to shaping the overall visual and interactive elements to ensure a captivating and seamless user experience. The landing page was meticulously crafted to resonate with our brand identity, effectively communicating the essence of our product to visitors.
Coming Soon! (Dec 2023)
App Store Presence
I played a pivotal role in crafting our app store presence, contributing to the design strategy. Our approach prioritized cultivating an immersive experience that not only showcased the app's aesthetic appeal but also imparted a sense of tranquility and trust to prospective users. The visual elements were meticulously selected to convey beauty, creating an ambiance that resonates with the calming and trustworthy essence of our application. This deliberate design choice aims to captivate users from the moment they encounter our app in the store, fostering a positive and reassuring impression.
Email Re-engagement System
We dedicated significant effort to architecting a user engagement pipeline tailored for individuals who have downloaded our app. Within this framework, we've meticulously designed a sequence of emails curated for trial users. These emails strategically showcase essential features while gently nudging them to explore various prayers and sections of the course. We also our pipeline incorporates two distinct tracks: one for users who have downloaded the app but haven't explored its features ("did not try" pipeline), and another for those who downloaded but have yet to subscribe.
Marketing
We have established a collaboration with a digital marketing agency to execute advertising campaigns for our application. Our current strategic emphasis is on Meta platforms, specifically targeting products on Instagram and Facebook. This approach aligns with our overarching marketing strategy to maximize visibility and engagement across these influential platforms.
