BeReal.
BeReal.
Personal Project | Individual
Nurturing connections between friends with enhanced user interactions
Nurturing connections between friends with enhanced user interactions
Timeline
Timeline
July 2024 - September 2024
July 2024 - Sept 2024
Role
Role
UI/UX Design
UI/UX Design
UX Research
UX Research
Visual Design
Visual Design
Skills
Skills
Wireframing
Wireframing
Prototyping
Prototyping
Tools
Tools
Figma
Figma
The context
The context
A shift away from filtered perfection and curated realities
A shift away from filtered perfection and curated realities
BeReal launched in 2020 as an “anti-social media” platform social media centered around, well, “being real” and captured high praise. It promotes authenticity amongst its users by sending out a time sensitive notification where users have 2 minutes to share what they’re doing in that moment. I was particularly drawn to this app for this project because I was an avid BeReal user—it was probably my favorite social media due to its simplicity and new way of authentically staying connected with friends.
BeReal launched in 2020 as an “anti-social media” platform social media centered around, well, “being real” and captured high praise. It promotes authenticity amongst its users by sending out a time sensitive notification where users have 2 minutes to share what they’re doing in that moment. I was particularly drawn to this app for this project because I was an avid BeReal user—it was probably my favorite social media due to its simplicity and new way of authentically staying connected with friends.
BeReal’s timeline
BeReal’s timeline
More users leaving the platform.
More users leaving the platform.
This project was extremely open-ended to begin with. After conducting online research in BeReal's philosophy and trends overtime, I found some pretty shocking numbers. BeReal's active users skyrocketed to ~73 million users in August 2022 and has since dramatically plateaued to ~23 million users in just over a year.
This project was extremely open-ended to begin with. After conducting online research in BeReal's philosophy and trends overtime, I found some pretty shocking numbers. BeReal's active users skyrocketed to ~73 million users in August 2022 and has since dramatically plateaued to ~23 million users in just over a year.
The market
The market
An opportunity to enhance app complexity with new features
An opportunity to enhance app complexity with new features
BeReal seemed to have significant gaps in how it supports user connections and interactions. While social features such as stories and likes may not align with BeReal’s commitment to unfiltered content, it’s worth looking at how BeReal can introduce new features while being conscious to not compromise its commitment to authenticity.
BeReal seemed to have significant gaps in how it supports user connections and interactions. While social features such as stories and likes may not align with BeReal’s commitment to unfiltered content, it’s worth looking at how BeReal can introduce new features while being conscious to not compromise its commitment to authenticity.
BeReal’s community of users: past and present
BeReal’s community of users: past and present
Users growing distant and unmotivated to stay as engagement declines
Users growing distant and unmotivated to stay as engagement declines
I conducted user research by conducting live interviews with 8 users and dispersing a Google Form to 24 users with diverse BeReal experiences with an aim to now gain more context into what motivates them to stay and/or leave the platform. After synthesizing the data, I noticed a trend: recording memories was a core value for BeReal users, but user retention was higher when those memories were celebrated with friends.
I conducted user research by conducting live interviews with 8 users and dispersing a Google Form to 24 users with diverse BeReal experiences with an aim to now gain more context into what motivates them to stay and/or leave the platform. After synthesizing the data, I noticed a trend: recording memories was a core value for BeReal users, but user retention was higher when those memories were celebrated with friends.
User Interviews
User Persona and Journey
Main Pain Points
Main Pain Points
The temporary concept of BeReal is unmotivating
The temporary concept of BeReal is unmotivating
Three main points stood out from surveys and user interviews. With a goal to uncover the root cause of the decrease in engagement, I analyzed user interviews which revealed sentiments of defeat and, interestingly, acceptance.
Three main points stood out from surveys and user interviews. With a goal to uncover the root cause of the decrease in engagement, I analyzed user interviews which revealed sentiments of defeat and, interestingly, acceptance.
Problem Statement
Problem Statement
How might we nurture connections on BeReal through features for enhanced engagement?
How might we nurture connections on BeReal through features for enhanced engagement?
Design Keywords & Feature Brainstorming
Design Keywords & Feature Brainstorming
Staying aligned with user goals
In the context of sharing content, especially in this social media climate, it's easy to interpret the desire for engagement as a need for validation. Similarly, the desire to keep memories as an attachment to moments already passed.
Before ideating, I wanted to redefine these perspectives to align more genuinely with what users actually desire on this platform.
In the context of sharing content, especially in this social media climate, it's easy to interpret the desire for engagement as a need for validation. Similarly, the desire to keep memories as an attachment to moments already passed.
Before ideating, I wanted to redefine these perspectives to align more genuinely with what users actually desire on this platform.
Feature Considerations
Bringing to life new features
Bringing to life new features
Building upon our selected features
Building upon our selected features
I had decided to go forth with designing a new notification hub to help promote shared interactions, request tag to encourage shared moments through a streamlined process, and tagged posts to help deepen friendships on BeReal. After developing mid-fi's, I conducted 2 live interviews for feedback.
I had decided to go forth with designing a new notification hub to help promote shared interactions, request tag to encourage shared moments through a streamlined process, and tagged posts to help deepen friendships on BeReal. After developing mid-fi's, I conducted 2 live interviews for feedback.
Lo-fi mockups
Feedback from first round user testing from peers, mentors, and teammates
Mid-fi mockups
Feedback from first round user testing from peers, mentors, and teammates
A Critical Moment and Pivot
A Critical Moment and Pivot
I realized that the public tagged posts in a user’s profile presented a concerning red flag: it could incite less authenticity, moving away from BeReal’s philosophy.
The intention behind seeing people’s tagged posts was to help the platform feel less temporary and, thus, promote deeper connections between friends with a limited, yet lighthearted view of their memories. However, I felt the biggest consequence of this would be people wanting to curate their posts for better display as it's public to everyone.
I ideated new solutions that kept this aspect of a playful feature that could deepen 1:1 connections without promoting a curated reality.
I realized that the public tagged posts in a user’s profile presented a concerning red flag: it could incite less authenticity, moving away from BeReal’s philosophy.
The intention behind seeing people’s tagged posts was to help the platform feel less temporary and, thus, promote deeper connections between friends with a limited, yet lighthearted view of their memories. However, I felt the biggest consequence of this would be people wanting to curate their posts for better display as it's public to everyone.
I ideated new solutions that kept this aspect of a playful feature that could deepen 1:1 connections without promoting a curated reality.
Final Feature Suggestions
Final Feature Suggestions
Three new features for enhanced engagement
Three new features for enhanced engagement
Notification Hub
Notification Hub
Browse the notification hub for alerts including reactions, comments, tag requests, and follow requests. Interactions are made tangible and immediate. This can help promote engagement and, in turn, make users feel seen by their close friends.
Browse the notification hub for alerts including reactions, comments, tag requests, and follow requests. Interactions are made tangible and immediate. This can help promote engagement and, in turn, make users feel seen by their close friends.
Request Tag
Request Tag
Request a tag in a BeReal that you have a cameo in! Moments with friends and family are just as precious as those alone. Tagging friends promotes cherished connection. Requesting a tag streamlines the process and can help increase engagement.
Request a tag in a BeReal that you have a cameo in! Moments with friends and family are just as precious as those alone. Tagging friends promotes cherished connection. Requesting a tag streamlines the process and can help increase engagement.
Shared Memories
Shared Memories
Look back on BeReals with friends in which both of you are tagged. These memories are unique to each friend and are not visible to anyone else. Keep making couch potato and fancy night out memories with friends without worrying about losing them.
Look back on BeReals with friends in which both of you are tagged. These memories are unique to each friend and are not visible to anyone else. Keep making couch potato and fancy night out memories with friends without worrying about losing them.
Wrapping up
Wrapping up
Key Takeaways
Key Takeaways
Behold… my first design case study! With this came a plethora of questions about the design process as well as Figma workflows.
This project was valuable in many ways. First, it exposed me to the UI design elements of a well-known platform in which I noted the spacing, typography, and information hierarchy. I also explored the many videos that Youtube had to offer on Figma basics as well as animations which I started to pick up speed with throughout the course of this project! Second, it taught me to consider the BeReal designers' intention — both in implementing current features and in choosing perhaps not to include the new features I had ideated. With this in mind, I reflect on the importance of remaining open to new ideas and iterating over feedback and user testing. I am extremely proud of these new feature suggestions and hope to one day talk through them with the designers at BeReal!
Behold… my first design case study! With this came a plethora of questions about the design process as well as Figma workflows.
This project was valuable in many ways. First, it exposed me to the UI design elements of a well-known platform in which I noted the spacing, typography, and information hierarchy. I also explored the many videos that Youtube had to offer on Figma basics as well as animations which I started to pick up speed with throughout the course of this project! Second, it taught me to consider the BeReal designers' intention — both in implementing current features and in choosing perhaps not to include the new features I had ideated. With this in mind, I reflect on the importance of remaining open to new ideas and iterating over feedback and user testing. I am extremely proud of these new feature suggestions and hope to one day talk through them with the designers at BeReal!
Let's make a more productive and connected tomorrow!
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