Mobile application for exchanging gifts
About
Secret Santa is an app for anonymously exchanging gifts on Christmas Eve. And not only. Some users access the application at any time of the year. Because there are many reasons to make each other happier with gift-giving.
The application is suitable for both family and corporate use. Each participant in the game receives a gift from kind Santa. And who will be hiding under this mask is known only to the organizer.
From App Idea to Second Redesign
App Idea
The idea of creating the Secret Santa mobile application came up spontaneously from the company’s Initiative Council a month before the New Year. Taking into account moderation in app stores, there was almost no time left. But we successfully released the application for three platforms: Android, iOS, Windows Phone.
Take-off
Our goal was to popularize the application and make it stand out from its competitors. We added elements of animation and gamification to the design, thanks to which the number of users increased 7 times.
Further Research
We analyzed various scenarios of user behavior, conducted a focus group survey and studied comments in stores. We found out that the application logic can be made even simpler and more understandable.
First App Redesign
After studying user behavior scenarios, we redesigned the application. Version 2019 aimed to:
- make application logic as simple as possible;
- facilitate creating and launching a game;
- increase control and transparency of the game;
- popularize the application.
Second App Redesign
Over the last 4 years the design has become outdated, so we decided to breathe new life into it and make it even more festive-looking. Therefore, firstly, we conducted a UI audit and identified growth areas. After that we completely updated the interface design. Now the new visual brings even more Christmas mood. Along the way, we improved some functions for the convenience of users.
Version 2023 and Version 2019: Differences
- An entirely new look.
- Now emails are displayed in the list of participants, so it is much easier to deal with players who have similar names. And one can immediately see a mistake (if any) in a friend’s email.
- We have added a game completion feature. All completed games are stored in the account history.
- Screen orientation has been blocked. Previously, when the phone was rotated, the orientation changed, and because of this, the pictures got stretched and became unattractive. This bug has been fixed in the new version.
- Now users can delete their account. If a user wants to delete their data from the Secret Santa application, they can easily do so.
- We have added one more authorization method in the application for Android — through a Google account, for iOS — through an Apple ID.
“Unfortunately, we had to give up supporting iOS 14 and below. But this did not affect the app competitiveness, since in 2023 statistics show that iOS 14 is used by less than 3% of users”
How the App Works
1. The game master downloads the app and registers. Then they start creating the game: select date, time, and leave a comment. If the game master also wants to participate in the gift exchange, they select Take Part in the Game. After the game master has created a new game, they need to add participants. Minimum number — 4 people.
2. There are two ways to add participants. The first is to manually enter everyone's name and email. The second is to generate an invitation link and send it to friends via SMS, messenger or email. After clicking on the link, the friend enters their name and email. They can also indicate the categories of gifts that they would love to receive.
3. All participants must confirm their email. To do this, they will receive an email with a confirmation link. If someone forgets to confirm their email, the game will not start. The organizer checks whether all friends have been added to the game. If they are sure that everything is fine, they can start. The game master clicks Start Game and emails with the participants’ names are sent to Secret Santa.
4. After the game is over, the End Game button appears. If all the gifts have been given, one can safely tap it. Then the game will switch to the status Completed. And the game master will always be able to find the game in their account history.
“The design has become more modern, Christmas illustrations have been added, the mood of the application has become festive”
Advantages
- The application is free for users.
- A minimum of 4 people are required to run the game. There is no limit on the maximum number of players.
- The admin (game master) can see in the list of participants who is giving a gift to whom. The function is especially convenient when parents play with children. No one will get confused and forget to congratulate their giftees (recipients).
- Only the game master has to install the application on their phone and register. The remaining players simply confirm their participation via email.
Results
Technologies and Integrations
Technology stack
Integrations
- Integration with email and SMS distribution service to confirm email and participation in the game.
- Integration with Google and Apple ID for an additional authorization option.
- Integration with PhoneNumberKit to determine the regional phone number with country codes.
