REMINDERS
ABOUT THIS PROJECT
Forgetting to do things can be frustrating
This project is an imagined feature for WhatsApp (Instant messaging app) solving the pain point that Many WhatsApp users frequently forget tasks and promises made within conversations, leading to missed opportunities, delayed responses, and overall inefficiencies in managing their daily responsibilities. This forgetfulness affects both personal and professional interactions, causing frustration and potential negative consequences in users' lives.
Contribution
Product Designer,
Research, conceptualization, design, and prototyping.
Duration
4 Weeks
Target audience
Whatsapp Users
01
Here is how it all started
It all started when, my friend talked to me about this scenario about constantly forgetting small everyday tasks, and getting buried inside important ones
User receives a message that needs an action
User things about the message so that they don't forget it
User looks at all the important things in to-do list, but the message still remains on whatsapp
User goes back home after work
Friend asks about the message
User totally forgot the message
User forgot it because of numerous messages coming through whatsapp
User adds the message to calendar so that it is not forgotten
Task added
Fig 1: storyboard
Which made me wonder,
"Is this a common problem"?
02
Understanding if this problem really exist?
I started with a short survey of 128 WhatsApp users to gather insights into their task management practices and preferences. Participants were asked a series of questions to assess their usage patterns, frequency of forgetting tasks, current methods of reminder, perceived success of those methods, and their opinions on potential WhatsApp features for helping them remember communications happening through WhatsApp.
128
User surveys
6
Questions
4
Interviews
10
Questions
What I wanted to know, and what I got?
​I want to know if users have this problem/ what is the percentage of users who have this problem.
How often do users encounter tasks or reminders within their WhatsApp conversations? Is it a common occurrence to solve?
What are the different ways they organize their tasks now? what are the tools users use?
How successful are users in their current method of doing this?
How helpful it would be for the user if this problem were solved as a feature on WhatsApp?
What are the different tasks that users come through on WhatsApp? Are there common patterns?
What are the different tasks that users come through on WhatsApp? Are there common patterns?
Fig 11: Google forms insights
51%
of users utilize WhatsApp for both personal and work-related communication
53%
of users reported frequently forgetting promises made on WhatsApp
90%
Users employ various methods for reminders within WhatsApp. 10% utilize external tools like Google Calendar
30%
perceive their methods as not very successful or not at all successful.,
25%
users perceive their methods as not very successful or not at all successful.
Hence proved
There is a clear need and desire for WhatsApp to introduce features that assist users in remembering and completing tasks received through conversations. These features should integrate smoothly with existing workflows, respect user privacy, and maintain the simplicity of the messaging platform.
03
Deep dive
User interviews Assumptions
Conducted user interviews with 4 users to better understand their needs and pain points
01
Users are finding it difficult to remember tasks that comes within whatsapp
02
The current functionality within WhatsApp (pinning chats, starring messages) is insufficient for managing tasks.
03
Users prefer a task management solution that seamlessly integrates within WhatsApp without requiring them to switch between apps.
Identifying patterns from user conversations
Each colour represents a user
Fig 2: Affinity mapping in Figjam
I asked myself if there are a lot of other external task management tools,
Why do we need a feature inside WhatsApp?
And these were my answers;
-
Convenience: Seamless integration within WhatsApp eliminates the need to switch between apps, reducing friction and improving workflow.
-
Context Preservation: Tasks stay connected to the original conversation where they were discussed, providing a better context for completion.
-
Simplicity: Learning and managing a new tool adds complexity. The integration leverages existing WhatsApp knowledge and habits.
Meet Emi
What might be the reasons why these events occurred to Emi?
Pain points identified
1
Limited Pinning
The limited number of pinned chats frustrates users by hindering easy access to task reminders, as to see the pinned message entering the conversation is necessary and forgettable.
2
Unreliable Unread Messages
Marking messages as unread is an unreliable reminder system for users because new messages constantly push them down the list.
3
Forgetfullness and Embarrassment
Users feel embarrassed about having to rely on others to remind them of tasks discussed on WhatsApp.
4
Lack of Reminder System
There's no built-in reminder system within WhatsApp to automatically remind users about tasks arising from chats, Creating calendar entries for every small task feels like a hassle for users.
04
Competitor analysis
Did a study around different reminders, and tasks Apps to get an understanding about how they are doing it, what is working, what is not working, and what could be improved
To-doist
Slack
Teams
Trello
Any do
Apple reminder
Tasks
Notion calendar
Apple calendar
Google calendar
Microsoft To-do
Fig 3: Competitor logos
05
Understanding WhatsApp
Information Achitecture of WhatsApp
By mapping out the existing information architecture of WhatsApp,helped me gain a comprehensive view of how the app is currently structured. This helped me identify potential locations where the reminder feature could be integrated.
Fig 4: WhatsApp IA
Eg potential locations on Top Nav and chat area
06
Ideation
Slide 1/3
1
(Context-based) Clicking individual chats will reveal options that will include remind, clicking remind would bring a sheet where you can enter your details
Pro: Showing the user upfront when they try to do an action
​
Con: On iOS the experience is easy, but on Android users have to click the overflow menu, an additional step to discover
2
Introduce a new icon on top nav bar inside chats, clicking it would open up a page to set reminder
Pro: showing upfront, users might notice the new icon
​
Con: Using the already cramped real estate, can be pushy. Complicated new screen and might lose the simplicity of actions on WhatsApp
07
Defining the solution
After analyzing the pros and cons of each option, decided to go with this option due to its simplicity and activates when the user needs it and not pushing them to use it
The action should feel like part of the conversation and not intentional
Fig 5: Mid fidelity designs
08
Design Analysis
The happy flow
Editing reminders
Long pressing on the message would allow users to add it as a reminder
How do reminders work inside group messages
Feature announcement
Users will be introduced to the new reminder feature through multiple touchpoints. When they access the hamburger menu, they will see an option highlighting the feature. Additionally, WhatsApp will announce the update via WhatsApp Status, ensuring widespread awareness.
Upon selecting the reminder option, a sheet will appear, explaining how users can effortlessly set reminders by long-pressing a chat. This seamless introduction ensures users quickly understand and adopt the new functionality.
Due reminders
09
Next steps
User Feedback & Refinement
-
Gather feedback from users interacting with the solution.
-
Identify any usability issues or areas for improvement.
-
Implement refinements based on insights.
Scaling & future iterations
Expand the project by allowing shared reminders, where multiple people can be included in a task.
