iMESSAGE FEATURE
Introducing a feature concept for iMessage to enable users to categorize contacts into custom clusters, improving message organization.
UX // 2 weeks // Self-Project
TIMELINE
September 2024 (3 days)
February 2025 (1 week)
ROLE
Independent Project
Sole Designer
SKILLS
Wireframing
Prototype
Interaction Design
User Research
TOOLS
Figma
TLDR;
Contact Clusters: Enhancing Communication Organization in Apple Messages
Contact Clusters is a feature designed for Apple Messages to help users efficiently manage their communications by categorizing contacts into personalized groups. This project aimed to simplify message management, improve prioritization of communications, and reduce clutter from unwanted messages.
Context
Project Orgin: How it all started
This self-initiated project began from a personal frustration with the current limitations of messaging apps, especially the difficulty of organizing and locating important messages amidst spam, reminders, and promotions.
Goals
Improve message management by enabling users to categorize contacts for better message tracking and prioritization.
User Story
As a busy college student,
Alex want to filter messages by importance so that I can focus on high-priority communications first.
Alex want to categorize my contacts so that I can quickly access messages from specific groups like family, friends, or project teams.
Alex want to see which messages are unread from priority contacts to ensure I never miss critical information.
Problem
How might we help users find important messages quickly to maintain effective communication?
In a sea of spam and notifications, important messages are easily overlooked.
Faced with the personal frustration of missing critical texts among countless spam messages, the need emerged for a solution. How might we help users quickly identify and access important messages to maintain effective communication? In today's messaging apps, essential communications are often lost amidst trivial alerts, leading to missed connections and opportunities.
The Process
The First Idea...
Folder system
After coming up with the initial folder system idea...
To ensure seamless integration with Apple’s existing UI, I designed the feature to be activated via a long-press on a contact, similar to the existing iMessage pinning feature.
Design System
Using exisitng Apple design systems...
To ensure visual cohesion with iOS, I referenced Apple’s design system and existing iMessage interface patterns when developing Contact Clusters.
By aligning with Apple’s established UI elements, I designed components that seamlessly integrate with the app’s aesthetic and functionality while maintaining a familiar user experience.
User Testing & A/B Testing
Contact Cluster Messages
First Round (6 Participants)
A
B
Option
Preference
Reasons (For)
Reason (Against)
A (Minimalist, No Images)
5 Preferred
Less crowded
Wanted images but felt cluttered
B (With Images)
1 Preferred
Liked having images
B (With Images)
Takeaway: Users liked images but felt they made the interface cluttered.
Second Round (7 Participants, Iterated Design)
A
B
Option
Preference
Reasons (For)
Reason (Against)
A (Balanced Minimalism + Images)
6 Preferred
Incorporated images without clutter
Preferred a more plain look
B (No Images)
1 Preferred
Liked simplicity
Found images unnecessary
Final Decision: Kept images but refined spacing for a cleaner look.
Contact Cluster Widget
A/B Testing: Out of 9 participants
A
B
Option
Preference
Reasons (For)
Reason (Against)
A (Unbounded Design)
2 Preferred
Liked the open layout
Felt untamed
B (More Structured Look)
7 Preferred
Looked more unified
Less necessary for some users
Final Decision: Implemented a structured cluster view for better organization.
Final Design
The final iteration of Contact Clusters seamlessly integrates with Apple Messages, providing an intuitive way for users to organize their conversations.
Key Features & Interactions
Transition from Default Messages to Cluster Contacts
Users can toggle between standard messages and cluster view, seamlessly organizing conversations without disrupting the default messaging experience.
Adding a Contact to an Existing Cluster
Users can long-press a contact, select "Add to Cluster" from the popup menu, then choose a cluster to categorize the contact.
Creating a New Contact Cluster
Users can long-press a contact to trigger a popup menu, select "Create New Cluster," title it, and add multiple contacts before finalizing.
Reflection
This project was my first deep dive into UI/UX design, allowing me to:
Develop fundamental Figma skills and refine my ability to prototype.
Apply Design Thinking principles to solve real user pain points.
Conduct usability testing to iterate based on user feedback.
Challenges and Growth
Concept to Execution: I had the idea early on but needed to build foundational UX skills before bringing it to life.
Balancing Simplicity & Functionality: Finding the right balance between customization and clutter was a key learning experience.
Iterating on Feedback: The A/B testing process reinforced the importance of user research in decision-making.
This project ignited my passion for human-centered design, and I look forward to applying these learnings to future UX challenges.
Next Steps
Further usability testing to refine cluster interactions.
Prototype animations for a smoother UI experience.
Explore Apple’s API feasibility for future development.
Hillary Co
since 2024
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