How to Enhance Native Platform Experiences with Flair ✨
Transform a Minimum Viable to a Minimum Lovable Product
Introduction
When creating a product, organisations often target the “Minimum Viable Product” (MVP) — the leanest functional version. However, as user expectations evolve, we must shift our focus from MVP to a “Minimum Lovable Product” (MLP). This shift involves adding features and rethinking the user experience to emphasise emotional engagement and delight.
Stakeholders frequently request to “make it pop,” but what does this indeed mean? In a world where customer engagement is paramount, “making it pop” can be translated into adding “flair” — that extra layer of polish that transforms a product from merely functional to genuinely memorable. Flair — visual, auditory, tactile, and interactive enhancements — turns a product into something users enjoy, share, and remember. This word-of-mouth engagement can become an organic marketing tool, driving success beyond the basic functionality of the MVP.
What Is Flair?
To explore the essence of flair, I led a workshop with my design and research team and business stakeholders to define its core attributes. The discussion revealed that flair involves sensory and interactive elements that elevate user engagement while preserving core functionality. These subtle touches — animations, sound, haptics, gestures — create delightful experiences without overwhelming users.
Animation & Transitions 💫
Animations are visual cues that smooth transitions between actions or states. They provide immediate feedback, making interactions feel polished and intuitive.
Examples:
- Button animations upon tap
- Page transitions between sections
- Toast notifications with sliding animations
- Organisation mascots or logos with subtle movements
Sound 🎶
Sound, often overlooked, adds a layer of sensory feedback. It enhances user interaction by signalling success, failure, or notifications and intrigues us with its potential to improve user experience.
Examples:
- Sound on tap (keyboard clicks, confirmation beeps)
- Notifications with distinct tones (e.g., “kerching” for successful transactions)
- Background music in gaming apps
Haptics (Touch Feedback) 👆
Haptic feedback — through device vibrations — makes interactions tactile, enhancing the connection between users and their devices.
Examples:
- Vibration on touch or long-press actions
- Micro-vibrations when scrolling or selecting
- Device vibration on success or notifications
Native Gestures 🤳
Gestures create seamless and intuitive interactions tailored for mobile platforms.
Examples:
- Tap: Activating or selecting items
- Double Tap: Zooming or toggling states
- Swipe: Scrolling or navigating
- Long Press: Triggering secondary actions
- Pinch: Zooming in or out
- Shake: Undoing actions
- Drag & Drop: Rearranging items
Native Features 📱
Leveraging native platform capabilities enhances personalisation and immersion.
Examples:
- Infinite scroll for uninterrupted browsing
- GPS for location-based services and personalisation
- Camera and microphone for AR, VR, or social sharing
- Biometrics (face ID, fingerprint) for secure authentication
Gamification 🕹️
Game-like elements — points, badges, leaderboards, or progress tracking — boost user engagement by turning mundane tasks into rewarding experiences. Gamification motivates users to return, explore, and share.
Linking to Third-Party Apps
Integrating with third-party platforms increases social engagement and user convenience, creating buzz and fostering word-of-mouth marketing.
New Features to Get People Talking
The platform improves customer engagement by adding seamless experiences and standout features that generate buzz and serve as a marketing tool through word of mouth. See the Monzo example below.
A Perfect Example of Flair — Monzo Bank Transfer
Monzo, a banking app, exemplifies how combining functionality with flair enhances user experience.
Key features
- Animations: Smooth toast-up animations for the number keyboard.
- Sound: Distinct keyboard tap sounds for immediate feedback.
- Face ID Authentication: Quick, secure logins.
- Success Sound: The famous “kerching” on successful transfers adds delight.
- Haptics: Vibrations on success for tactile feedback.
- Transitions & Infographics: Smooth transitions with full-screen infographic animations reinforce success visually.
Monzo’s flair has made it a benchmark for great design, turning routine banking tasks into enjoyable, shareable experiences.
Summary
In today’s competitive digital landscape, MVP solutions are no longer sufficient. Products must go beyond viability to become lovable. Incorporating native platform flair — animations, sound, haptics, gestures, and other features — transforms functionality into delight. These small details create significant impacts, shifting focus from delivering a functional product to crafting one user’s genuine love.
By adopting this approach, you build a product that drives long-term engagement and becomes a talking point for users, fostering organic growth and success.
