Issue 27: How to Personalize Design Like Notion, Spotify, and Strava

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Yo, it’s Kushagra! Welcome to the “FOCUS: 3 Edition”

Summer’s a wrap, and so is the chill vibe in Europe. Time to flip the switch and get back to hustle mode. My feed’s been all about people going founder mode—zeroing in on what actually matters, and that’s what we’re vibing with today.

To nail great design, you gotta have some non-negotiable rules—kinda obvious, but crucial for any digital product to pop. Let’s break down the essentials, and keep it real!

Why Your DIY IKEA Bookshelf Is More Valuable🛠️

Ever notice how much more you appreciate something you put together yourself, like that DIY IKEA bookshelf? That’s the IKEA Effect in action. People value things more when they’ve had a hand in creating them.

By letting users customize their dashboards or build their own reports, you’re giving them a stake in their experience. It’s not just about how it looks; it’s about the personal touch they add.

A great example is Notion. I love how it lets me drag and drop blocks to customize my workspace exactly how I want it. The more I personalize it to fit my needs, the more connected and invested I feel in using it long-term.

This customization makes users feel like they’ve built something unique. They’ll appreciate the tool more and use it more frequently because it’s tailored to their needs. It’s like they’ve crafted their own little empire within the app. 🌟

Why Free Trials Can Make Your Product Irresistible🆓

Ever experienced something for free and then struggled to let it go? That’s the Endowment Effect. People tend to value things more once they’ve experienced them.

Offering a free trial instead of just a money-back guarantee gives users a taste of the product. They start to see its value and become more reluctant to give it up.

A real-life example is Spotify. I’ve seen how offering a 30-day free trial for premium features works wonders. During this time, users get used to ad-free listening, offline downloads, and unlimited skips. Once they experience these perks, it’s hard for them to go back to the free version, making it much easier to convert them into paying subscribers.

By the end of the trial, users are so invested that paying for the full version feels like a natural next step. They’ve already seen the value and don’t want to lose it. It’s like they’ve been given a taste of something great and want more. 🤑

Harnessing the Zeigarnik Effect to Boost User Motivation📈

Ever left a task unfinished and found it nagging at you? That’s the Zeigarnik Effect. People are driven to complete tasks that they’ve started.

By showing users their progress, you tap into this psychological trigger. When they see how close they are to finishing a task or reaching a goal, they’re more motivated to complete it.

A good example is Strava. I use its progress tracker to log my workouts, and as I see my progress toward my fitness goals, it keeps me motivated to push further. The visual representation of my achievements and milestones helps me stay on track and continue using the app regularly.

Key Features:

1. Personal Challenges: Create and customize personal or friend-based challenges, making goals feel unique.🎯

2. Virtual Badges: Earn and showcase badges for achievements and milestones, adding prestige.🏆

3. Adaptive Goals: Goals adjust based on your performance trends, keeping you challenged and motivated.📈

Personal Take

When you let users have a stake in their experience, whether by customizing their interface, trying out features for free, or seeing their progress, they become way more invested in your product.

When people feel like they’ve built, tested, or achieved something with your product, they’re not just using it—they’re loving it and sticking with it.

So, focus on making your users feel like they own a piece of the experience. That’s how you turn them into loyal fans.🌟

What I found amazing this week

Samsung Mocks Apple, Ends Up Facing Its Own Design Flaws📱

This track gave me a serious boost—check out ‘Growing Up’ By Kyu🎵

Ex-Meta VP Reveals 25 Years of Game-Changing Design Insights🎮