Sticky design: keep users coming back
Weekly Design
#008: Sticky design: keep users coming back
Hey friends 👋
This is Balint from “The Psychology Behind Design” and Balint Studio.
Every Thursday, I share 3 quick product design tips for founders and designers.
3-2-1: Vamos!
1. The "Aha Moment"
Identify your product's core value
Deliver it within the first 3 interactions
Example: Loom’s simple feature to record your screen
Result: Users who hit the "aha moment" are 4x more likely to become regulars.
2. Habit loops: Build your product into daily routines
Use push notifications wisely (think value, not noise)
Create daily streaks or challenges
Reward consistent usage with unlockable features
Outcome: 30% increase in daily active users for habit-forming features.
3. Three design patterns for lasting engagement:
Customizable dashboards: Let users make the product their own
Milestone celebrations: Acknowledge user progress visually
Contextual help: Use tooltips to educate, not overwhelm
Remember: Great products grow with their users.
My Favorite Thing this Week
🎨 Design - Numans is my new favorite website, it’s easy to navigate, has delightful images and interactions.
2. 🪚 Tool - Loom is one of those tools that I cannot live without. As you an see over the past year, I’ve recorded 242 videos. Sending a Loom at the end of the day has become my ritual. Instead of draining time with unproductive meetings, I send a quick Loom update. It’s saved me hours, kept my energy up and clients or colleagues love it.
🧠 Psychology - This screen from the Ahead app tackles procrastination in a friendly, engaging way.
Here's how:
1. Accessibility: Simple language and high-contrast elements adhere to accessibility principles, making the content widely understandable.
2. Social Proof: The "19k learners" statistic leverages the psychological principle of social proof, reassuring users they're not alone in this struggle.
3. Gamification: The "88% match" suggests a game-like element, tapping into our innate desire for achievement and progress.
This screen makes tackling procrastination feel doable and even a bit fun.
It's designed to motivate users to take that first step towards changing their habits.
That's all for now
Thanks for reading the newsletter.
I hope this helps you make better design decisions.
If you liked this, please reply. It helps me know you're reading.
Balint 🫶
P.S. Before you go, here are 3 ways we can connect.
1. Need a design partner? - At Balint Studio, we're designing complex things simple, whether it’s a web or mobile app, tailored for startups and software companies.
1. Check out my eBook - “The Psychology Behind Design” a simple guide that'll show you how design really works. It's packed with cool ideas that are easy to understand.
3. Show Off Your Work: Got something cool? It could be featured in this newsletter.