Making Feature Discoverable using TipKit — LinkedIn

Creating a Tip to enhance feature discoverability over the iOS & iPadOS using SwiftUI

When was the last time you connected with a person on LinkedIn in a Social Setting?

I assume, You just type their entire name right?

You double-checked if the entire name is typed correctly?

LinkedIn had already developed a QR feature where users can connect via Profile QR or Scan Feature.

How many of you know that it exists?

If its a Yes, Awesome! You’ve already discovered it by chance.

If its a No, (THIS IS WHERE TipKit comes into picture for iOS Platforms)

TipKit is a framework developed by Apple.

What Apple says is -

you can teach someone about a brand-feature, help with discovery of a hidden feature. (or) show a faster way of accomplishing the task.

What it does?

- you can show tip as popover to educate users about new feature.

- you can show an Inline View in UI.

When I was attending a few Design/Dev Meetups in Hyderabad & Bengaluru.

I noticed that many of the folks try connecting with others by just typing the entire name in the textfield.

In return we get something like these… Whats your fullname? See if name is entered correct? and what not

Where the idea got sparked?

I was at a meetup recently in Bengaluru conducted by Swift Bengaluru. there i got a chance to meet Swiggy’s Engineering Manager Agam Mahajan, and Indie Dev Rudrank Riyam.

After the event ended. I went to Agam Mahajan had a discussion on Swiggy’s hiring and stuff.

Do you know how we got connected? Through QR Feature. Yes!

While many of people that I had personally connected never knew the feature exists in LinkedIn.

To my knowledge it was proven that all Design-Focused Startups tend to notice on such details as like Agam Mahajan does. (🙌🏻)

That was the moment I wanted to make this feature discoverable to iOS.

Feature Discovery is something that nudges users discover a new feature either by providing tooltips on the User Interface.

I remember when I was in 10kdesigners Cohort I learnt a new term HOW MIGHT WE?

How might we enhance feature adoption to the existing users?

How might we nudge users for the new feature?

How might we make user tasks simpler and seamless?

It all comes by a saying like

“Design is where we solve problems.”

In one of the previous WWDC23 talks. One framework which stood interesting to me was TipKit. It helps users to discover a feature by providing tooltips.

My question was —

WATCHING TALKS IS GREAT but WHERE can i possibly IMPLEMENT ?

Started thinking deep where can i potentially make use of this feature.So that it delights user.

Suprisingly, LinkedIn popped onto my head. LinkedIn has some features that are not discovered by most of the users. Designing a tooltip for a new feature would make sense and increase product discovery.

Started building a basic tooltip from groundup with SwiftUI in XCode

For building the tooltip I took references from the OG Stewart Lynch. His videos on the topic was power packed with much detail.

I often refered articles written by Rudrank Riyam.

Here is the simple Prototype Video Links of how it works.

— — iOS Prototype , iPadOS Prototype — —

Linkedin — if you are reading this. You did a great job in designing the feature but its not yet discovered by most of the people.

Feature Adoption starts with Educating Users with New Features.

Lastly, All I want to tell is : Usage of such tips Saves time to the User.

Thanks for skimming though the casestudy. Im still in upgrading my portfolio and eager to know more about Design Process of iOS Platforms.

Connect with me: X , LinkedIn