Harmonizing Spiritual Experiences with 
Daughters App 

            
Product Design | Accessibility Practices (WCAG) | Prototyping | Business Alignment | Problem Solving | Artificial Intelligence | Human Interface Guidelines
20 min read

Daughters Mockups
👇🏼
Key Performance Indicators

84

Net Promoter Score demonstrating high user satisfaction

23%

Increase in ease of use, measured via user surveys and analytics data

95%

completion rates in the final version, soaring from 80%

Introduction
Daughters App - Illuminating Spiritual Connections
            

Embarking on a profound journey as the Product/UX Designer for Daughters App, I've embraced a holistic design approach, weaving together spiritual exploration, design innovation, and global connectivity. This detailed UX case study offers a nuanced exploration of the step-by-step process undertaken to craft an app that transcends conventional digital experiences, aiming to foster a deep sense of spiritual unity among women worldwide.

Daufghters Features Bento
What is Daughter App?
            

Embark on a spiritual odyssey with Daughters, an extraordinary faith-based social media app meticulously designed for women. Feel the divine pulse whether you're on the bustling streets or nestled in the comfort of your home. This app is more than a platform; it's a sacred space where the gift of prayer becomes a constant companion on your life's journey. Immerse yourself in an enriching and transformative experience, where the threads of spiritual intercession, community-building, and personal reflection intricately weave together, forming a tapestry of empowerment and connection.

Daufghters Features Bento
Design Process
Research and Discovery
            
1. Understanding User Needs

The design journey commenced with an immersive phase of research and discovery, aiming to unravel the intricate tapestry of our target audience's spiritual needs. This phase involved in-depth interviews, surveys, and active participation in online spiritual communities. To gain a comprehensive understanding, competitor app analysis and user feedback from existing spiritual platforms were integrated into our insights.

Instead of rushed wireframing, the journey commenced with a multi-pronged 3 week long research phase aimed at developing an empathetic understanding of the needs and contexts of our target audience.

  • Immersive 1-on-1 Interactions: Women engaged in free-wheeling discovery sessions aimed at decoding their deeper connections with faith - the practices resonating most, sources of doubt that test beliefs and motivations driving their need for spiritually aligned sisterhoods. 
  • Ethnographic Studies: Purely observational research conducted by embedding within 5 niche online groups where women converged around their faith, monitoring organic conversations to uncover interaction patterns, triggers that elicited most engagement and themes evoking maximum resonance.
  • Thought Leadership Outreach: Given the sensitivities around matters of faith, subject matter experts like sociologists, theologians and tech ethicists were consulted to determine philosophical parameters central to the app's purpose and guardrails to orient design choices. 
Daughters Woman Praying
At the Wailing Wall of Jerusalem
(Courtesy of Nava Esther)
Daughters Woman Praying
Observation - Woman Praying as one
2. Creating User Personas

The distilled insights were transformed into richly detailed user personas, embodying the diverse spiritual journeys and needs of our potential users. These personas became guiding beacons throughout the design process, ensuring that every design decision was rooted in empathy and a deep understanding of user aspirations.

Through extensive analysis of research data augmented by secondary sources, detailed user personas were constructed capturing the core segments within our target audience universe, spanning diverse demographics and spiritual Leanings:

  • Persona 1: Sophia, 30
    Occupation: Non-profit founder
    Location: USA
    Seeks: A tight-knit circle of spiritually-aligned women for shared prayer & a sense of community

  • Persona 2: Melina, 35
    Occupation: Social Media Influencer
    Location: Israel
    Seeks: Avenues for private contemplation & a platform for communal devotion aligned with her faith

  • Persona 3: Sarah, 32
    Occupation: Mother & Preacher
    Location: USA
    Seeks: Ways to form and maintain global connections centered around spiritual bonding
Daughters Moodboard
Mood Board - Establishing the Aesthetics
3. What Users Revealed

Three main things users wanted stood out when we studied their behavior and listened to them:
This understanding of user mindsets, motivations and contexts provided the foundation for subsequent design initiatives, ensuring continual alignment with audience ethos throughout concept crystallization.


  1. Meaningful Connections
    Users felt lonely in their spiritual journey. They wanted to connect deeply with others who get them, not superficial social media friends. They wanted to share prayers and beliefs freely without feeling weird or different.

  2. Guidance When Doubting
    Users struggled with doubts about their faith sometimes. They wished for guidance from people further ahead on a similar spiritual path. Like lamps lighting the way when the road gets hard or confusing. That could help them trust their beliefs again.

  3. Supportive Community
    Some users felt shy or scared about their personal faith around friends who see religion differently. They hoped to find a community that celebrates what they believe in. So they don't feel pressure to change or hide who they are. A safe, welcoming space gives them confidence.
Crafting the Experience
            
Ideation and Blueprinting

The ideation phase was characterized by the creation of over 20 wireframes, prototypes, and mock-ups using Figma. This iterative process embraced constant feedback loops with stakeholders, users, and spiritual experts, ensuring that each design iteration evolved in alignment with our user personas and resonated with the spiritual essence we aimed to capture.

With insights distilled from primary research, the next phase involved blueprinting the contours of the intended user journey:

  • Persona Articulation: Consolidating understanding into two pivotal but differing orientations - Sophia the spiritual seeker still exploring her faith’s tenets and Fatima the practising believer seeking tighter bonds with her existing communities. 

  • Scenario Mapping: Leveraging storyboarding techniques to craft roadmaps representing desired user journeys spanning emotionally resonant triggers like moments of self-doubt to the role of communal prayer in fortifying conviction.

  • Information Architecture: Translating mapping into detailed sitemaps and user flows accounting for variances across user personas and emphasizing logical yet intuitive navigation.

With clarity on navigational skeleton and critical micro-interactions, the stage was set for shaping tactical design directions. 

Daughters User Flow v1
User Flow for Version 1.0
Daughters User Flow v2
User Flow for Latest Version
iOS App Design
            
Human-Centered Design Principles

The iOS app design phase became a canvas for crafting an ethereal experience, meticulously aligning with Apple's Human Interface Guidelines. We infused human factors psychology into every pixel, interaction, and navigation element, ensuring that the digital experience mirrored the profound spirituality we sought to facilitate.

Accessibility Practices (WCAG)

A steadfast commitment to accessibility practices, adhering to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), was paramount. Designing with empathy and inclusivity ensured that users with diverse abilities could seamlessly access and engage with the app's spiritual offerings.

Daughters Initial Conceptualization and Wireframes
Initial Conceptualization and Wireframes
Stakeholder Collaboration
            
Harmonizing Perspectives with Participatory Design

Collaboration with stakeholders was a continuous, dynamic process involving regular workshops, design reviews, and alignment sessions. Stakeholder feedback, coupled with exhaustive analysis of user personas, shaped the evolution of our information architecture. This iterative refinement process resulted in a user flow achieving an impressive 85% task completion rate pre-launch, reflecting the harmonious integration of diverse perspectives.

The Daughters App Experience
Mission
            
Defining the Spiritual Nexus

The mission of Daughters App was meticulously crafted - to serve as a global nexus where women could converge through the transformative power of prayer. This mission aimed to create a digital space where spiritual intercession, community-building, and personal reflection could intertwine seamlessly, fostering a shared sense of purpose and connection.

Key Features
            
1. Virtual Wailing Wall

A sacred virtual space where women globally unite in intercession, experiencing the profound synergy of collective devotion. Users step into a realm where prayers transcend geographical barriers, creating a digital sanctuary for shared spirituality. The design ensures that the visual elements and interactions within this space evoke a deep sense of reverence and unity.

Daughters User Flow v2
Woman Praying at the Wailing Wall
Daughters User Flow v2
Woman Praying at the Wailing Wall
Experience spiritual connection at the Virtual Wailing Wall.
Daughters App Feed and BibleGPT
2. Focus on Prayer

The entire app is a sanctuary crafted around the act of sharing prayers, creating an intimate space for users to express their deepest devotion and thoughts. This intentional focus on prayer permeates the design, from the typography choices to the imagery used, ensuring that every visual element reinforces the sacred nature of the user's spiritual expression.

Daughters Prayer note at Wailing Wall
Prayer Notes at the Wailing Wall
Prayer Notes at the Virtual Wailing Wall
Find solace and prayer at the Virtual Wailing Wall.
Daughters App Feed and BibleGPT
3. Social Connection + AI Driven Bible GPT

Daughters App is not just a platform; it's a global initiative mobilizing a million Esthers toward the virtual Wailing Wall. It breaks down boundaries, fostering a sense of unity among women worldwide. The app becomes a conduit for shared faith, bridging geographical distances and creating a global sisterhood. User interfaces for connection and community-building were designed to evoke a sense of warmth and inclusivity.

Woman in Prayer GroupsWoman in Prayer Groups
Women in Prayer with the Bible
Your Feed with AI Driven BibleGPT
Personalized Feed and BibleGPT
Daughters App Feed and BibleGPT
4. Prayer Groups and Chats

Integrated prayer chains within group chats foster support among remarkable women. It's a space where shared faith and collective strength intertwine, creating a virtual community that extends beyond individual interactions, reinforcing the app's role as a facilitator of spiritual connections. More than just a regular the design of group chat interfaces prioritizes clear communication and ease of interaction to strengthen the bonds of this virtual spiritual sisterhood.

Daughters User Flow v1
Women Together in Prayer Chains
Daughters User Flow v2
Women Find Healing through Prayer Groups
Prayer Groups with Prayer chain
Daughters App Chat and Prayer Chain
5. Customizable Experience

Users have the liberty to personalize their feed and journal with archived prayers and posts, providing a personalized spiritual journey. This customization feature empowers users to shape their individual experience, creating a more intimate connection with the app and their faith. The design ensures that customization options are intuitive and reflect the diverse spiritual paths of users.

Your Profile with Personal & Dream Journal
Daughters App Profile and Journal

Daughters App on the Web

            
User-Centric Design

Personalization

            
Journey Customization

One of the central tenets of Daughters App is personalization. Users can customize their feed and journal, tailoring the app to resonate with their individual spiritual journey. This personalization goes beyond aesthetics; it's a journey customization that enhances the app's resonance with each user's unique spiritual path. The design of personalization features aims to be intuitive, allowing users to curate an experience that aligns with their evolving spiritual needs.

Daughters Customizations
Curate an experience that aligns with your evolving spiritual needs
Ease of Use
            
Simplicity and Clarity

The iOS app design prioritizes simplicity and clarity, ensuring an intuitive and accessible experience for users, ultimately contributing to a 23% increase in ease of use. This deliberate focus on usability aims to make the spiritual journey facilitated by the app accessible to a diverse audience, fostering inclusivity in the realm of shared faith. The design choices prioritize clear navigation, concise information architecture, and seamless interactions to enhance the overall ease of use.

Daughters App Ease of Use
Spiritual journey facilitated by the app accessible to a diverse audience, fostering inclusivity in the realm of shared faith
Community Building
            
Beyond Functionality

Features like group chats and social connections are not just functionalities; they are avenues for fostering a global community where women find solace and strength in shared spirituality. These features are carefully crafted to go beyond mere interaction, creating a sense of belonging and support among users who share a common spiritual journey. The design of community-building features emphasizes creating a warm, inviting, and inclusive digital space for users to connect and share their spiritual experiences.

Daughters App Beyond Functionality
A global community sisters creates a sense of belonging and support
Spiritual Focus
            
Every Design Decision

Every aspect of the app revolves around the profound act of prayer. It's a design philosophy that encapsulates the spiritual essence, making Daughters App a sacred space for users. This intentional focus on spirituality informs every design decision, ensuring that the app remains true to its mission of being a conduit for spiritual connection and expression. The design elements, color palettes, and imagery are carefully curated to evoke a sense of reverence and create a digital environment conducive to deep spiritual contemplation.

Daughters Spiritual Focus
A Prayer focused app evokes a sense of reverence and create a digital environment conducive to deep spiritual contemplation.
Impact and Results
1. Global Reach

Daughters App has transcended geographical constraints, connecting women from diverse corners of the world. The app is a testament to the vision of fostering a global community rooted in shared faith. The Global reach is a quantitative metric and a qualitative reflection of the app's success in creating meaningful connections among women worldwide. User interfaces facilitating global connections prioritize inclusivity and cultural sensitivity, ensuring a seamless experience for users from various backgrounds.

2. User Satisfaction

Stakeholder feedback and optimization efforts resulted in an outstanding 80% task completion and increased  to 95% through optimization in the final version, indicating satisfaction and a seamless alignment with user needs. User satisfaction goes beyond mere functionality; it reflects the app's ability to fulfill its mission of facilitating spiritual connections and creating a meaningful and satisfying user experience. The design continually evolves based on user feedback, ensuring an ongoing commitment to enhancing the user experience.

3. Ease of Use

The redesign of the iOS app has had a tangible impact, with a 23% increase in ease of use. This has significantly broadened the platform's accessibility, making it more inclusive. The emphasis on ease of use goes beyond convenience; it is a strategic decision to ensure that the app remains accessible to users of varying technological backgrounds, enhancing the reach of its spiritual offerings. Ongoing usability testing and iterative design improvements are integral to maintaining and improving the app's ease of use.

Conclusion
            

The Daughters App is not just an application; it's a spiritual odyssey that intertwines the digital realm with the sacred act of prayer. As a Product/UX Designer, my contributions have gone beyond crafting interfaces; they have been instrumental in curating an experience that transcends the virtual space. The journey continues, and as we strive to enhance the Daughters App, our commitment remains unwavering - to be a beacon of faith and connection for women worldwide. The app is a testament to the harmonious integration of design principles, spirituality, and global connectivity, creating a digital sanctuary for shared devotion and unity. The ongoing design evolution reflects our dedication to providing every user with a meaningful and enriching spiritual experience.