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Tl;DR

My role

My Impact

My Resume

Helping Teens Move From Chat to Real Plans

Helping Teens Move From Chat to Real Plans

Sodality Tech

TL;DR

Ping was designed to help teens turn online conversations into real-world plans.

Ping was designed to help teens turn online conversations into real-world plans.

I worked on Ping to design the end-to-end experience for social planning, from intent to meetup while also addressing privacy concerns and decision fatigue.

I worked on Ping to design the end-to-end experience for social planning, from intent to meetup while also addressing privacy concerns and decision fatigue.

My Impact

After my work, Ping showed strong signs of traction and engagement.

After my work, Ping showed strong signs of traction and engagement.

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~0%

~0%

~0%

User base grew

User base grew

11k - 14k

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+0.0%

+0.0%

+0.0%

Day 30
Retention rates

Day 30
Retention rates

3.9% industry average

0.0/5

0.0/5

0.0/5

0.0/5

Strong user engagement

Strong user engagement

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0%

0%

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Teens feel disconnected despite spending endless hours online

Teens feel disconnected despite spending endless hours online

Common Sense Media, 2022

and in-person connection in a fun, low-pressure way.

and in-person connection in a fun, low-pressure way.

Ping’s goal was to bridge this online interaction

Ping’s goal was to bridge this online interaction

But, there were 3 things that were getting in the way of real plans…

But, there were 3 things that were getting in the way of real plans…

Online interactions often feel surface-level and lack depth.

Switching between apps made coordination frustrating.

Privacy concerns make users wary of location-sharing.

My role

As a product designer, I designed the experience that helped groups move from “maybe” to “let’s go.”

As a product designer, I designed the experience that helped groups move from “maybe” to “let’s go.”

How I approached the problem

I treated planning as a social problem, not a scheduling one. I asked question like…

I treated planning as a social problem, not a scheduling one. I asked question like…

Arjun

What makes people hesitate?

Where does pressure creep in?

How can participation feel optional but inviting?

Key design decisions

With all these in mind, there were 3 pivotal decisions that brought the best of Ping

With all these in mind, there were 3 pivotal decisions that brought the best of Ping

Location and presences were surfaced with granular controls

Location and presences were surfaced with granular controls

From eraly surveys and later product feedback, it was clear that users preferred control over their "social presence" So this granulairty made it so that the design offered controlled visibility and didn't force users into always sharing their location.

Shifting focus from extrinsic to intrinsic motivation

Shifting focus from extrinsic to intrinsic motivation

Extrinsic motivation only lasts as long as the rewards given are good. In most cases, intrinsic motivation makes users feel like the app is helping them and not that the app is forcing them to do something.

Finally, introducing chat DMs within the app after multiple iterations

Finally, introducing chat DMs within the app after multiple iterations

Instead of switching between apps to chat and coordinate meetups, DMs help navigate that problem. This stemmed from multiple iterations of this feature until the feedback was positive.

Systems thinking behind the scenes

But as Ping grew, complexity increased! So, I designed an atomic design system with hundreds of reusable components to support rapid iterations, keep interactions consistent, and support developers.

But as Ping grew, complexity increased! So, I designed an atomic design system with hundreds of reusable components to support rapid iterations, keep interactions consistent, and support developers.

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Components

Components

Using AI

My Impact

After all those changes, Ping showed strong signs of traction and engagement.

After all those changes, Ping showed strong signs of traction and engagement.

~0%

~0%

~0%

~0%

User base grew

User base grew

11k - 14k

+0.0%

+0.0%

+0.0%

+0.0%

Day 30
Retention rates

Day 30
Retention rates

0.0/5

0.0/5

0.0/5

0.0/5

Strong user engagement

Strong user engagement

What I learnt

This project taught me many things that I've since applied in my course as a designer. It taught me how powerful pausing to validate assumptions and systems thinking before scaling make rapid and meaningful changes possible, especially when behavior change is the goal.

This project taught me many things that I've since applied in my course as a designer. It taught me how powerful pausing to validate assumptions and systems thinking before scaling make rapid and meaningful changes possible, especially when behavior change is the goal.

Kyle

Beyond his design expertise, Arjun is a visionary thinker, adept at expanding his skills demonstrating a profound understanding of the intersection between design, technology, and business.

tap to like

Kyle

CTO

Assaf

Head of Eng

Kyle

Beyond his design expertise, Arjun is a visionary thinker, adept at expanding his skills demonstrating a profound understanding of the intersection between design, technology, and business.

tap to like

Kyle

CTO

Assaf

Head of Eng

That’s how I approached this problem.

This is one example of how I make complex things make sense. But, here’s another project where I worked through a different kind of complexity…

This is one example of how I make complex things make sense. But, here’s another project where I worked through a different kind of complexity…

Arjun

Check this out!