Designing a gamified feature to increase user engagement & retention.
Designing a gamified feature to increase user engagement & retention.
TEAM
TEAM
Solo Designer
Solo Designer
DURATION
DURATION
1 week
1 week
TAGS
TAGS
UX & UI Design, Visual Design, Prototyping, Gamification, User Engagement
UX & UI Design, Visual Design, Prototyping, Gamification, User Engagement
Introduction
What is The Garden?
What is The Garden?
The Garden is a platform where one can -
Showcase your work
Join a supportive community
Collaborate with other talented folks
Learn, grow, teach
Share your process & progress
Here is a sneak peak of the platform
Here is a sneak peak of the platform
During one of our design discussions, we were discussing the need for design interventions or concepts to increase user engagement and retention. We also needed to have a USP that would set our platform apart from the rest. I took up the initiative to conceptualize a feature that would meet these product needs.
During one of our design discussions, we were discussing the need for design interventions or concepts to increase user engagement and retention. We also needed to have a USP that would set our platform apart from the rest. I took up the initiative to conceptualize a feature that would meet these product needs.
HOW MIGHT WE
Increase users' average session time
Increase users' average session time
HOW MIGHT WE
Create a more immersive viewing experience
Create a more immersive viewing experience
HOW MIGHT WE
Increase user engagement & retention
Increase user engagement & retention
Existing Gamification
Seeds: The Garden’s virtual currency
Seeds: The Garden’s virtual currency
The Garden has an existing in app reward system called Seeds. The seed system acts as virtual currency for users to show appreciation for posts and build reputation within the platform.
The Garden has an existing in app reward system called Seeds. The seed system acts as virtual currency for users to show appreciation for posts and build reputation within the platform.
Design Concept
Growing your Garden, one post at a time
Growing your Garden, one post at a time
The idea for this feature stemmed from the name of our platform, "The Garden." By creating a visualization of each user's garden, we provide a tangible representation of their activity and engagement.
A modular tile system where each post that a user creates is represented by a tile on their profile. Every time a user posts, they can see their garden grow, offering a unique and motivating experience. This visual growth encourages users to share more, as they can watch their personal garden flourish with every interaction.
The idea for this feature stemmed from the name of our platform, "The Garden." By creating a visualization of each user's garden, we provide a tangible representation of their activity and engagement.
A modular tile system where each post that a user creates is represented by a tile on their profile. Every time a user posts, they can see their garden grow, offering a unique and motivating experience. This visual growth encourages users to share more, as they can watch their personal garden flourish with every interaction.
Leveling Up Gamification
From Appreciation to Action
From Appreciation to Action
Instead of using typical gamification techniques like points and badges, I decided to focus on intrinsic motivation for users and use core principles to drive user motivation
Progression: As users post more, their gardens grow, creating a sense of progress and achievement.
Data Visualization: An innovative way for users to visualize their post performance and engagement metrics.
More seeds received = Lush garden = higher engagementOwnership and Creativity: The modular grid allows users to personalize their gardens, fostering a sense of ownership and creative expression.
Instead of using typical gamification techniques like points and badges, I decided to focus on intrinsic motivation for users and use core principles to drive user motivation
Progression: As users post more, their gardens grow, creating a sense of progress and achievement.
Data Visualization: An innovative way for users to visualize their post performance and engagement metrics.
More seeds received = Lush garden = higher engagementOwnership and Creativity: The modular grid allows users to personalize their gardens, fostering a sense of ownership and creative expression.
PROGRESSION
DATA VISUALIZATION
+25 SEEDS
OWNERSHIP & CREATIVITY
Research & Exploration
The Role of Perspective in Game Design
The Role of Perspective in Game Design
The way a player experiences a game world is heavily influenced by the perspective chosen by the designer. Through secondary research, I explored how different design approaches, like narrative, mechanics, and aesthetics, all contribute to shaping user experience.
The way a player experiences a game world is heavily influenced by the perspective chosen by the designer. Through secondary research, I explored how different design approaches, like narrative, mechanics, and aesthetics, all contribute to shaping user experience.
FIRST PERSON
The camera is in the perspective of the player. You see the world through their eyes, as if you are in the game yourself.
THIRD PERSON
The camera allows you to see the character you're controlling. It's behind the player so that you often see their back as you move through the world.
TOP DOWN
The camera is positioned above the play area.
ISOMETRIC
Playfield viewed at an angle instead of flat from the side or top; perspective is used to give a 3D effect.
First Person vs Isometric Approach
The first person approach where users could walk around in their gardens and throw seeds to donate created a more immersive experience. However developing and implementing the isometric approach was significantly easier and this approach provided a more scalable canvas for future garden growth, ensuring a smooth user experience even as virtual gardens flourish.
The first person approach where users could walk around in their gardens and throw seeds to donate created a more immersive experience. However developing and implementing the isometric approach was significantly easier and this approach provided a more scalable canvas for future garden growth, ensuring a smooth user experience even as virtual gardens flourish.
First Person Approach
Isometric Approach
Final Designs
Designing tile modules for different states
Designing tile modules for different states
Next, we developed tile designs to visually differentiate post formats (regular posts, galleries, collaborative posts) and user engagement based on seed donations (fewer seeds received, more seeds received).
Next, we developed tile designs to visually differentiate post formats (regular posts, galleries, collaborative posts) and user engagement based on seed donations (fewer seeds received, more seeds received).
The Prototype
In the prototype below, I am presenting how the interactive garden feature would fit into our platform. By introducing this feature, we could potentially replace a user's profile with a representation of their garden. The same data points that we’d show on a user's profile are presented in a more engaging and unique way in this concept.
In the prototype below, I am presenting how the interactive garden feature would fit into our platform. By introducing this feature, we could potentially replace a user's profile with a representation of their garden. The same data points that we’d show on a user's profile are presented in a more engaging and unique way in this concept.
Conclusion
My Learnings
My Learnings
Here are some of my takeaways from working on this project -
I understood how gamification goes beyond points and badges and good gamification comes from understanding the psychology of user motivation.
A strong brand identity serves as the foundation for user experience. The "garden" metaphor not only resonated with the platform's name but also shaped the overall feel and functionality, creating a cohesive and engaging environment.
Here are some of my takeaways from working on this project -
I understood how gamification goes beyond points and badges and good gamification comes from understanding the psychology of user motivation.
A strong brand identity serves as the foundation for user experience. The "garden" metaphor not only resonated with the platform's name but also shaped the overall feel and functionality, creating a cohesive and engaging environment.
Given more time, I would have loved to explore in more depth about ways to incorporate social interactions in the interactive garden. Some of the ideas I had were -
Introducing a community garden where people's best works could be showcased.
A way for visiting different users' gardens
Allowing users to personalize their gardens
It's been an exhilarating exercise in pushing boundaries and going beyond the expected to create truly engaging user experiences.
Given more time, I would have loved to explore in more depth about ways to incorporate social interactions in the interactive garden. Some of the ideas I had were -
Introducing a community garden where people's best works could be showcased.
A way for visiting different users' gardens
Allowing users to personalize their gardens
It's been an exhilarating exercise in pushing boundaries and going beyond the expected to create truly engaging user experiences.
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Open to work
Let's work together!
Let's work together!
I'm open to discussing exciting work opportunities or freelance projects. Thoughtful discussions or debating the best pizza toppings are also welcome. Feel free to reach out!
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