Improving monetization flow for an AI assistant
Company
Iris
Year
2024
Area of focus
Digital Product Design
Mobile App Design
Prototyping
Iris Twin is an AI version of a creator that talks with fans in the creator’s own style. Fans pay for conversation time. The goal was to find where fans dropped out of the payment flow and redesign it so more of them upgrade.
My role. I was the only product designer, in the App team. I led the design work end to end: problem framing, design direction, UX and UI. I worked with a user researcher, a data analyst, product managers, engineers and UX writers.
Iris Twin is an AI version of a creator that talks with fans in the creator’s own style.
Fans pay for conversation time. The goal was to find where fans dropped out of the payment flow and redesign it so more of them upgrade.
My role. I was the only product designer, in the App team. I led the design work end to end: problem framing, design direction, UX and UI. I worked with a user researcher, a data analyst, product managers, engineers and UX writers.
Iris Twin is an AI version of a creator that talks with fans in the creator’s own style. Fans pay for conversation time. The goal was to find where fans dropped out of the payment flow and redesign it so more of them upgrade.
My role. I was the only product designer, in the App team. I led the design work end to end: problem framing, design direction, UX and UI. I worked with a user researcher, a data analyst, product managers, engineers and UX writers.
The Problem
The Problem
The existing monetization flow converted only ~2% of the total user base and experienced significant drop‑offs. Fans often failed to encounter engaging touchpoints that encouraged them to upgrade, and the flow felt transactional rather than connected to the value of the product. This lack of motivation not only hurt conversion, it also limited trust in the experience.
At the same time, the flow lacked a framework to support upcoming features such as subtitles, profile customization, paid content, AI image generation, and other premium tools, which limited the product’s ability to scale its value and revenue potential.
The existing monetization flow converted only ~2% of the total user base and experienced significant drop‑offs. Fans often failed to encounter engaging touchpoints that encouraged them to upgrade, and the flow felt transactional rather than connected
to the value of the product. This lack of motivation not only hurt conversion, it also limited trust in the experience.
At the same time, the flow lacked a framework to support upcoming features such as subtitles, profile customization, paid content, AI image generation, and other premium tools, which limited the product’s ability to scale its value and revenue potential.
The existing monetization flow converted only ~2% of the total user base and experienced significant drop‑offs. Fans often failed to encounter engaging touchpoints that encouraged them to upgrade, and the flow felt transactional rather than connected to the value of the product.
This lack of motivation not only hurt conversion, it also limited trust in the experience.
At the same time, the flow lacked a framework to support upcoming features such as subtitles, profile customization, paid content, AI image generation, and other premium tools, which limited the product’s ability to scale its value and revenue potential.
Current Flow
The core app’s interaction centers
on “energy”: the more you converse with
a selected Twin, the more energy you consume - similar to a mobile phone battery. Once energy runs out, users are prompted to pay
to continue.
Based on the key insights identified from user feedback below,
let’s examine what’s not working in this flow.
Please note: Audio included. Enable sound.
Business Goals
Improve Monetisation
& Boost Revenue
Unify and enhance the current “recharging” experience, making it smoother and easier to interact with the agent without uncomfortable interruptions.
Increase
Engagement
Encourage more users to choose Iris Twin as their primary AI assistant by increasing average session duration and monthly active sessions per user.
Foundation
for Future Features
Create a scalable design solution that anticipates upcoming features, such as profile, paid content, an AI image generator, subtitles and more.
Background
Current Flow
Current Flow
The core app’s interaction centers on “energy”:
the more you converse with a selected Twin,
the more energy you consume - similar to a mobile phone battery.
Once energy runs out, users are prompted to pay to continue.
Based on the key insights identified from user feedback below,
let’s examine what’s not working in this flow.
The core app’s interaction centers on “energy”:
the more you converse with a selected Twin,
the more energy you consume - similar to a mobile phone battery.
Once energy runs out, users are prompted to pay to continue.
Based on the key insights identified from user feedback below,
let’s examine what’s not working in this flow.
Please note: Audio included. Enable sound.
Please note: Audio included. Enable sound.
Business Goals
Paywall
The redesign addressed key usability challenges by improving hierarchy.
The pricing tiers were reorganized into equally weighted, clearly defined blocks, enhancing readability.
Visual emphasis shifted from the dominant Twin image to the pricing and purchase area, with high‑contrast buttons and explicit action language like “Unlock Access” to communicate the upgrade path.
User Research
Background
Key Insights
Key Insights
01
Users struggled to locate and understand core interaction areas like the profile and Guest status
02
01
Pricing options and time limits were confusing, leading to decision fatigue and unclear cost‑value assessment
Users struggled to locate and understand core interaction areas like the profile and Guest status
02
Pricing options and time limits were confusing, leading to decision fatigue and unclear cost‑value assessment
03
The Twin avatar dominated the purchase flow, making it unclear whether users were confirming a payment or continuing a conversation
The Twin avatar dominated the purchase flow, making it unclear whether users were confirming a payment or continuing a conversation
Improve Monetisation & Boost Revenue
Unify and enhance the current “recharging” experience, making it smoother and easier to interact with the agent without uncomfortable interruptions.
Increase
Engagement
Encourage more users to choose Iris Twin as their primary AI assistant by increasing average session duration and monthly active sessions per user.
Foundation
for Future Features
Create a scalable design solution that anticipates upcoming features, such as profile, paid content, an AI image generator, subtitles and more.
Design Constraints & Tradeoffs
User Research
Interruptions
Interruptions
System‑triggered prompts (energy low) can break user flow.
Design response: Use conversational UX, reassuring language to frame interruptions as helpful, not disruptive.
System‑triggered prompts (energy low) can break user flow.
Design response: Use conversational UX, reassuring language to frame interruptions as helpful, not disruptive.
Choice
Complexity
Choice
Complexity
Showing several subscription options with similar emphasis can confuse users and make it hard to spot the best choice.
Design response: Establish a clear visual hierarchy, using contrast and grouping to guide users’ attention and simplify decision‑making within the paywall.
Showing several subscription options with similar emphasis can confuse users and make it hard to spot the best choice.
Design response: Establish a clear visual hierarchy, using contrast and grouping to guide users’ attention and simplify decision‑making within the paywall.
Gesture Сonflict
Gesture Сonflict
Profile placement or activation gesture may overlap with the default iOS swipe‑up, causing confusion and accidental actions.
Design response: Use alternative gestures or activation zones clearly separated from system ones. Add visual cues to confirm intentional input and prevent interference with system navigation.
Profile placement or activation gesture may overlap with the default iOS swipe‑up, causing confusion and accidental actions.
Design response: Use alternative gestures or activation zones clearly separated from system ones. Add visual cues to confirm intentional input and prevent interference with system navigation.
Choice Complexity
Showing several subscription options with similar emphasis can confuse users and make it hard to spot the best choice.
Design response: Establish a clear visual hierarchy, using contrast and grouping to guide users’ attention and simplify decision‑making within the paywall.
Gesture Сonflict
The profile component and its expansion gesture may overlap with the default iOS swipe‑up, causing confusion and accidental actions.
Design response: Use alternative gestures or activation zones clearly separated from system ones. Add visual cues to confirm intentional input and prevent interference with system navigation.
Design Exploration
Design Constraints & Tradeoffs
Business Impact
Profile
Profile
Login
Login
Since the profile’s expandability wasn’t recognized by users, I introduced a grabber element and a You badge to unify navigation and status into a single clear system. I also extended the draggable interactive area to the bottom 25% of the screen size, making the action more discoverable, reducing gesture errors, and reinforcing consistency with system‑level interactions.
Since the profile’s expandability wasn’t recognized by users, I introduced a grabber element and a You badge to unify navigation and status into a single clear system. I also extended the draggable interactive area to the bottom 25% of the screen size, making the action more discoverable, reducing gesture errors, and reinforcing consistency with system‑level interactions.
Since the profile’s expandability wasn’t recognized by users, I introduced a grabber element and a You badge to unify navigation and status into a single clear system. I also extended the draggable interactive area to the bottom 25% of the screen size, making the action more discoverable, reducing gesture errors, and reinforcing consistency with system‑level interactions.
Login
These changes made the login prompt easier to find, and more people created an account.
These changes made the login prompt easier to find, and more people created an account.
These changes made the login prompt easier to find, and more people created an account.
Paywall
Paywall
The redesign addressed key usability challenges
by improving hierarchy.
The pricing tiers were reorganized into equally weighted, clearly defined blocks, enhancing readability.
Visual emphasis shifted from the dominant Twin image to the pricing and purchase area, with high‑contrast buttons and explicit action language like “Unlock Access” to communicate the upgrade path.
The redesign addressed key usability challenges
by improving hierarchy.
The pricing tiers were reorganized into equally weighted, clearly defined blocks, enhancing readability.
Visual emphasis shifted from the dominant Twin image
to the pricing and purchase area, with high‑contrast buttons and explicit action language like “Unlock Access” to communicate the upgrade path.
Conversational UX
Conversational UX
The avatar now explains pricing and limits inside the conversation. Fans pick a weekly plan, unlimited access, or sharing to earn bonus time, and get answers where they asked the question instead of on a separate sales screen.
Please note: Audio included. Enable sound.
By having the avatar talk directly
with users, the flow clarifies complex pricing and limits through simple, empathetic dialogue. Fans pick a weekly plan, unlimited access, or sharing to earn bonus time, and get answers where they asked the question instead of on a separate sales screen.
Please note: Audio included.
Enable sound.
Conversational UX
The avatar now explains pricing and limits inside the conversation. Fans pick a weekly plan, unlimited access, or sharing to earn bonus time, and get answers where they asked the question instead of on a separate sales screen.
Please note: Audio included. Enable sound.
Business Impact
Engagement
Monthly active sessions per user went from 11 to 33, and average session length from 5.2 to 7.6 minutes.
Monthly active sessions per user went from 11 to 33, and average session length from 5.2 to 7.6 minutes.
Conversion
After the redesign shipped, conversion went from ~2% to ~5% of users.
After the redesign shipped, conversion went from ~2% to ~5% of users.
Final Takeaway
