Thrive Global

My Role:
Director of Design, Product (Thrive APP)

Hands-on Director/Designer handling everything from project planning, running design sprints, wireframes, high-res UI, making sure things were shipped for all mobile products on iOS and Android. Additionally, overseeing a team of 4 designers on various partnership work.

I also designed an entirely new app, Reset, which became integrated within the Thrive app and became a publically-available Zoom plug-in.

Thrive App on the
App Store & Play Store

As the Director of Design at Thrive Global, my challenge was to bring Thrive's behavior change principles and content to a mobile format, enabling users to work on their Microsteps anytime, anywhere. A significant challenge was aligning various stakeholders, given the diversity of goals across teams, while delivering on Thrive's mission to support wellness through behavioral change.

My task was to redesign the content-heavy Thrive app to emphasize behavioral change aspects more, improving the overall user experience. In addition to planning, design sprint management, wireframing, and UI design, I led a team of four designers working on various partnership projects.

I took the lead in overhauling the Thrive App, which had been a decent MVP but had interaction issues and a cumbersome process for managing Microsteps. I kept the existing brand style guide and used the same illustrations for consistency and to prevent the new look from being too jarring.

The redesign process involved creating user journey maps, exploring new aesthetic directions, and focusing on Microsteps. We launched Thrive 1.4, which was well received by executives, users, and our founder, Arianna Huffington.

We developed specific features such as "Reset," a 60-second feature blending images and sounds into a custom slideshow with a breathing indicator and haptic feedback. This feature was integrated into the core Thrive app.

Additionally, we developed "Thrive Connect," a browser extension that works with Google Calendar to help employees connect and provide feedback. We also designed Thrive Customer Dashboards and created partnership works with other companies.

The updated Thrive App significantly improved the user experience and made behavioral change principles more accessible to users. The Reset feature, Thrive Connect browser extension, and Customer Dashboards were successful additions that further enriched user interactions. The acceptance by stakeholders, including Arianna, affirmed our approach and design execution.

The Thrive App

My first task was to overhaul the Thrive App. Thrive 1.0 was a decent MVP, but had some interaction issues and was very heavy on content, and managing Microsteps was cumbersome.

What excited me the most about working on the Thrive App was the idea of designing tech to get people to use less tech. At Thrive, we did that with Microsteps, the too-small-to-fail actionable steps that contribute to bigger changes over time.

User Journey

Adhering to the existing brand style guide and using the same illustrations as before to maintain consistency and to not have the new look be too jarring.

Thrive 1.4

VISUAL EXPLORATIONS

However, after meeting with the team it became obvious rather quickly that we needed to prioritize keeping as much of the original interface and branding elements while seperating a Journey from the content.

A more simplified approach was taken, and I made sure to improve upon the app as much as possible while setting it up for bigger improvements and making it much easier to integrate with the various partnerships. 

Large Banner Posters made for web & conference displays

A few more improvements including Oura Ring integration, an audio player, and a brand-new layout for content.

Reset

A specific ask from Arianna, dubbed “Reset”. A 60-second feature that blends images and sounds provided by Thrive and/or the user into a custom slideshow with a breathing indicator and haptic feedback. Instead of it being its own app – it was placed into the core Thrive app in 4th tab position. Think of it as Ken Burns meets Instagram stories with music.

The biggest challenge for Reset was having a proper flow for adding music to video & audio, and after speaking directly with Spotify and other streaming services I decided not to partner but to allow the creation of a Reset with one’s own audio with the sacrifice of providing an easy way to directly share to social media (as we were not set up to buy millions of potential licenses).

The various Resets I saw created by teammates and their families (those who were willing to share) was wonderfully heartwarming and incredibly amusing.

Thrive Connect

A browser extension that works with Google Calendar to help employees connect with teammates and provide feedback.

Customer Dashboards

Partnerships

A sprinkling of examples of the partnership work made with other companies, including Walmart, Salesforce, SAP, natura, and First Responders First.

Systems thinking:

I considered the broader ecosystem in which the Thrive app exists, emphasizing behavioral change principles and making them more accessible.

Interaction design:

I focused on addressing interaction issues and enhancing the user interface design to create a smoother user journey.

Service design:

I was able to restructure the delivery of Thrive's content and Microsteps in a more user-friendly and intuitive manner.

Critical thinking:

I recognizied the app's shortcomings and formulated a strategic redesign approach.

Collaboration:

I worked closely with a team of engineers, data scientists, behavioral scientists, project managers, designers, stakeholders, and partnered with other companies to ensure a well-rounded product design and development process.