A new iMessage feature to text on your own schedule.
It’s not easy to stay in touch. Life is busy and sometimes, things get in the way. Introducing a new iMessage feature allowing users to schedule text messages and respond back on their own time.
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Role
Timeframe
Industry
Tools
It’s hard to stay in touch
Whether it's long hours at work or being in different timezones, there are many obstacles that make corresponding with friends and family challenging. Due to this, many iPhone users prefer texting over other forms of communication. In fact, 75% of my research participants said that was their preferred way of communicating on their phone.
Left on read
Even though most iPhone users prefer to text, it can be challenging to remember to text back. Most of us have experienced both sides of that struggle, either forgetting to respond or unintentionally ghosting a friend.
A better way
I wanted to know how iMessage users automate and schedule their lives so I could develop a new feature that makes staying connected via text easier.
Reading the room
I interviewed iPhone users to learn how they use automation to help schedule and make plans in their lives. I also asked their opinion of iMessage and their reasoning behind being iPhone users. Finally, I conducted a qualitative survey to gain perspective from a larger user base on the same topics.
Research analysis
Common themes
The missing link
The data confirmed my belief that most iPhone users would benefit from a new feature that allowed them to schedule text messages to send at specific dates and times.
User personas
Primary features
There were three primary elements of the new feature I wanted to focus on to make sure it was user-friendly and intuitive.
Schedule text messages
Send
text now
Delete scheduled text
Schedule text messages
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Send now & delete scheduled texts
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Sketching the feature
Based on the user personas and user flows I created, I sketched the concept for the schedule text feature, making sure to incorporate the well established functionality that iPhone users know and love.
Schedule message
Send now & delete
Mid-fidelity wireframes
The wireframes below showcases the process of having the schedule message feature integrate into iMessage in a familiar way users currently engage with the product.
Schedule text messages
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Send now & delete scheduled texts
Testing the new feature
After creating the high-fidelity wireframes and prototype, I brought the new feature to iMessage users to gain feedback.
Feedback
Prioritization
Schedule feature icon
The feedback I received the most was that users originally had a hard time recognizing the schedule feature button due to the icon. I changed the icon to be more easily recognizable.
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Clicking options
Originally, the scheduled text options appeared when users click on the text message. However, during usability testing I discovered that users were clicking on the icon next to the text as well. I changed the design to allow users to click the icon to pull up the options as well.
