Onboarding Designer Protocol

You only get one chance to make a first impression. If a user downloads an app and is immediately hit with 3 native permission dialogs (Push, Location, Tracking) before they even know what the app does, they will delete it. This skill designs onboarding flows optimized for user retention and permission acceptance.

Core principle: Show value before asking for trust.

Workflow

1. Map the required app permissions and account creation needs
2. Design the "Aha!" Moment (Value Proposition)
3. Sequence the Soft & Hard Permission Prompts
4. Design the Empty States (Day 0)
5. Plan the Day 1 to Day 3 Retention Hooks

Step 1: Requirements Mapping

What does the app absolutely need to function?

Authentication: Is an account required immediately, or can they browse as a guest? (Apple mandates guest mode if account isn't strictly necessary).
Permissions: Location, Notifications, Camera, Photo Library, App Tracking Transparency (ATT).

Step 2: Value Discovery

Instead of a stationary 4-page swipe carousel that no one reads, design progressive disclosure.

Drop the user into the app as quickly as possible.
Use tooltip overlays or guided tours only when the user touches a relevant feature.

Step 3: Permission Sequencing (The Double-Opt-In)

Never trigger the OS-level permission dialog blindly.

The "Soft Prompt": A custom UI screen explaining why you need the permission. (e.g., "We need your location to find nearby restaurants.")
If they say "No" to the soft prompt, you save the real OS prompt for later.
If they say "Yes", you trigger the OS prompt, and they are primed to accept.

Step 4: Empty States

The moment after onboarding, the app is usually empty (no friends, no data, no history).

Do not show a blank screen.
Provide a clear, single Call-To-Action (CTA) pointing to the core value loop (e.g., "Add your first task", "Import your contacts").

Step 5: Retention Hooks

Design the communication strategy to bring them back.

Day 1: Did they complete the core action? If not, send a helpful local notification or email.
Day 3: Introduce a power-user feature they haven't discovered yet.

Output Format

# 🚀 Onboarding & First-Run Experience Plan

## 🎯 The "Aha!" Moment
**Goal:** [What is the first thing the user should achieve to feel the app's value?]
**Time to Value:** [e.g., Under 60 seconds]

## 🚦 Registration Strategy
- **Flow:** [e.g., Deferred Login. Let users browse nearby restaurants without an account. Only ask for login when they click 'Order'.]

## 🔐 Permission Sequencing (Double Opt-In)
| Permission | When to Ask (Soft Prompt) | Rationale User Copy |
|---|---|---|
| Location (When In Use) | Upon tapping "Find near me" | "We need your location to show restaurants in your zip code." |
| Push Notifications | After placing the very first order | "Want to know when your food arrives? Enable notifications." |

## 🪹 Empty State Design
**Screen:** [e.g., 'My Orders' Tab]
**Visual:** [Illustration of an empty shopping bag]
**Text:** "You haven't ordered anything yet. Hungry?"
**Action (CTA):** [Button: "Browse Popular Places"]

## 🪝 Day 1-3 Retention Loop
- **Day 1 Trigger:** [If user generated an order: Do nothing. If not: "Still deciding? Here is a $5 promo code."]
- **Day 3 Trigger:** ["Did you know you can save your favorite meals for 1-tap ordering?"]

When to Skip

The user is asking about the visual UI design (colors, corner radius). This is a UX flow and behavioral design skill.

Guardrails

Apple Guideline 5.1.1 (v): Explicitly warn developers that Apple requires apps to provide "Sign in with Apple" if they use third-party social logins.
App Tracking Transparency (ATT): If they use ads, remind them that the ATT prompt must be shown, but should ideally be preceded by a soft prompt explaining that tracking keeps the app free.

References

See references/EXAMPLES.md for a worked case.

onboarding-designer