My Role:
End to End Product designer
Tools:
Canva, Figma, Optimal workshop, Adobe photoshop
Time for completion:
100 Hrs
WhatsApp- Threads
Introduction
WhatsApp is a messaging app that is extensively used for sending text messages, making voice and video calls, sharing images and documents, and participating in group chats. It has emerged as the main mode of communication for personal, professional, and social purposes.
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My Idea
WhatsApp is a widely used messaging platform, but like any popular app, it has its gaps. One common frustration among users is the overwhelming pile of unread messages in group chats. To address this issue, I conducted thorough research on the app and identified a potential solution: Threads!
The addition of a threading feature in WhatsApp group chats could significantly improve user experience by addressing the key challenges of managing multiple conversations, reducing frustration, and enhancing the overall organization and focus within group chats.
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Empathize
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Define
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Ideate
Design
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Iterate
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Summarize
Empathize
"If you want to create a great product, you have to start by
understanding the people who will use it.” -Don Norman
Research
To understand the user frustrations and issues
I conducted user research
Interviews, Competitive analysis and Surveys
Research Objectives
1. Understand users needs and problems.
2. Explore desired features for improved performance
3. Uncover any pain points experienced by users
1. User Interviews
1. Five WhatsApp group users of different age groups were participated in a user interviews to explore the challenges they encounter in managing multiple conversations within group chats.
2. 70% users were frustrated with the WhatsApp groups. Many of them just ignore the groups because of the continuous traffic and many of them have put the WhatsApp groups on mute.
The current challenges users face include the overwhelming volume of unread messages, which makes it difficult to follow specific conversations. Additionally, context switching between different conversations within a single group chat is confusing and time-consuming, and important messages often get buried under a flood of new messages.
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2. Survey Results
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In the survey, I gathered valuable feedback ,users frustrations and some honest opinions.
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Define
“To find ideas, find problems. To find problems, talk to people.”
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-Julie Zhou, Former VP of Product Design at Facebook
Competitive Analysis
Having a competition makes the app more efficient and keeps designers busy to compete with the best out there. I researched similar platforms to WhatsApp like Viber, Signal and Telegram and found out some commonalities and differences. ​​​​​
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Personas
"I created 2 personas representing WhatsApp users diverse needs, with highlighting challenges faced by both personas like Timothy (A Baker and an engineer) and a student Priya( A student) who use WhatsApp for business and communicate with friends and family"
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"It is difficult to focus on one conversation when there is a pile of messages coming through the same group chat"
Affinity Mapping
The affinity map helped me clearly see the most important user needs and challenges related to the WhatsApp groups.
It guided me in prioritizing the next steps for refining the feature, ensuring that the final design would effectively address user pain points and enhance the overall group chat experience on WhatsApp.
Steps I followed:
1. Gather Data
2. Identify issues and concerns
3. Group common elements
4.Label common patterns
5. Analyse patterns
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Ideate
”If you think good design is expensive, you should look at the cost of bad design.”
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-Dr Ralf Speth, (CEO Jaguar Land Rover)
Project Goals
I developed project goals encompassing user goals, business objectives, and technical considerations to thoroughly explore the design requirements and address the challenges faced by users.
Business Goals:
I want to increase user engagement by raising the daily and monthly active users on WhatsApp and improving retention with features like threads to keep users coming back.
User Goals:
I aimed to help users stay organized by grouping related messages into threads, making it easier for them to follow specific conversations and reduce clutter.
Technical considerations:
ensuring that the threading feature worked seamlessly across all devices and It runs as smoothly to enhance the performance and usability of the app.
Feature Prioritization
With thorough research and understanding user needs I have made a list of essential features In the app.
These features are categorized by Must haves, nice to have, surprise element, and some futures that are good but can come later.
Information Architecture
Sitemap
I created a sitemap for WhatsApp to further test the feature design with the users and got the feedback. Sitemap is essential to visualizing the structure, planning and organizing the feature, enhancing user experience, and identifying potential issues early in the design process.
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User Flow
I created the user flow for a smooth navigation and visualizing user journey.
​This ensures the threading feature is intuitive, user-friendly, and effectively integrated into the WhatsApp app.
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Design
"Good design, when it’s done well, becomes invisible. It’s only when it’s done poorly that we
notice it." — Jared Spool
​Prototyping
Mid fidelity designs
I designed the WhatsApp UI design and tried to incorporate thread feature to make the overall performance smoother and user friendly.
I prioritized accessibility and familiarity to seamlessly integrate the thread feature into the app's design.
Mid fidelity User Testing
I conducted mid-fidelity user testing to evaluate the design of the new thread feature in WhatsApp. I created a functional prototype that allowed users to interact with the feature by performing tasks like starting and navigating threads. I observed how they used the feature, gathered their feedback, and identified any areas where they experienced confusion or difficulty.
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Mid Fidelity Prototype User testing-
Method
Presented testers with Mid Fidelity designs and conducted question answer sessions.
I contacted all the testers via mail, Phone and in person.
I asked them to use the Figma prototype and try to complete the task from navigating from main page to the thread and return to main page.
Success metrics-
1. Users were satisfied with the design and navigation from one page to the next
2. No confusion in design part to navigate
3. Users were able to recognize the buttons and navigation paths
4. Users successfully returned to main page after navigating from the new thread page.
5. 5/5 users were able to complete the task in less than 2 minutes
6. No accidental clicks, No errors while completing the task.
Doubts-
1. Two users asked about the react/reply buttons for individual members in the thread and if that is necessary.
I shared the idea of getting all the votes and getting everyone involved was my main purpose in this design and they were satisfied with the answers.All of the users thought that the design was similar to whatsApp, intuitive and familiar for thread feature.
Questions-
1. Will there be thread in thread option for this design right now?
2. can we add images and add and schedule calls in thread?
3. Can we share the thread with other people outside of WhatsApp?
I would like to come back to these questions sometime in the future.
Hi fidelity design
Updating the interface while keeping it familiar was key.
I added the threads feature to WhatsApp’s existing chat layout, so users would see it clearly without changing their usual navigation. This feature helps users create and manage discussions within group chats more effectively.
I then asked 5 users to test the high fidelity prototypes for WhatsApp thread feature and the results are below:
User Testing
“The best kind of design isn’t necessarily an object, a space or a structure: it’s a process
dynamic and adaptable.”- Don Norman
User Testing
I did a user testing for the new threads feature to make sure it was clear and easy to use. The test showed that the feature worked well and fit nicely with WhatsApp’s design.
Users wanted better ways to see different threads clearly to avoid confusion.
One user pictured using the threading feature every day to keep track of and manage different conversations, helping them stay organized and focused.
Design Iteration
After the user testing and considerations I made necessary alterations to the design. Then I asked 5 of the users to test the design and all the users were satisfied with the changes.
Positive impact of Threads
The introduction of threads had a positive impact on WhatsApp, significantly improving how group chats were organized. Users could easily follow specific conversations without being overwhelmed by unrelated messages, making communication more focused and efficient. The main chat became less cluttered, and users found it easier to locate important messages and stay engaged in relevant discussions. This feature also encouraged better collaboration within group chats.
Through this process, I learned the importance of balancing new functionality with the familiar user experience. I saw firsthand how small changes, like adding threads, can make a big difference in user satisfaction and overall engagement
Reflection
Adding the thread feature to WhatsApp was a valuable learning experience for me. It reinforced the importance of understanding user needs deeply before introducing a new feature. I learned how essential it is to balance innovation with simplicity, ensuring that new functionality seamlessly integrates into an existing interface without overwhelming users.
The process also taught me the value of user feedback and iterative design. By continuously testing and refining the feature, I was able to make adjustments that improved usability and user satisfaction. Overall, I gained a greater appreciation for how thoughtful design can solve user pain points and enhance the overall experience without disrupting familiar workflows.
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"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication."
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— Leonardo da Vinci
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