Playthrough design pattern

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Alternate titles: Interactive Tutorial, Warm-Up Exercise.

Problem summary

The user wants to know how to use the different features of the application.

Example

▲ When signing up for a new Tumblr blog, your account is populated with content so that you can start exploring all the details. As you are browsing around, the interface is explained with inline help boxes.

Usage

Use when you want to introduce the core interactions of your product before letting them enter the full product
Use when you want to let users learn and explore the core skills needed to use the product
Use when you want to allow modeless assistance
Use when you want to allow users to get out into the full product world without facing horrible failure if they hadn’t gone through this
Use when you want to let users learn by doing
Use when you want to create a risk-free space for users to build skills and earn starting achievements
Use when you want users to develop a set of core competencies that help users transition to advanced actions
Use when you want to provide a positive first impression through giving a person an early success
Do not use when there is a chance that users will feel that you are providing too much instruction or hand-holding. At least make it possible to skip.

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More examples

See all 3 example screenshots

Solution

A dedicated and authentic space where beginners can safely explore and learn core skills.

Spare users from facing horrible failure by introducing them to core interactions. Let users learn and explore core skills before they enter the full product experience. Provide modeless text assistance and basic goals so they can play the interface but also learn the interface as they play.

A Playthrough is something that you provide, before letting someone enter a full product experience, that introduces them to the core interactions and let’s them learn and explore those core skills. This pattern is known from games, where new players are encouraged to try out a starter level, where they get modeless text assistance and some basic goals, so that they can play the game, but also learn the game, as they play.

Let users learn through real tasks

By asking users to make their first move on the application, an application can get users engaged right off the bat. This is common in applications that depend on curation by the user to get the app working.

Continue the experience seamlessly into the full product

Carry any achievements earned in the Playthrough forward into the full, and normal, product experience. Make the transition from the Playthrough to the normal product experience as seamless as possible.

Provide a skip option

Some people just want to get into deep waters form the start. Always allow escaping a Playthrough by skipping it.

Don’t drag it out

Limit the playthrough to relevant core tasks and user test your way into finding out what length is comfortable for users. Some users might like longer playthroughs than others, so be sure to allow escaping the experience, but still letting users keep their achieved artifacts.

Rationale

By allowing users to get out into the full product world early and safely, you can keep users from facing horrible failure if they hadn’t had an introduction.

Sources

¹ UX Flows: How to Turn Onboarding into an Amazing First Date with Your User by MK Cook

² UI design pattern tips: walkthroughs and coach marks

³ Patterns for new user experiences by Krystal Higgins