Back to WorkGuest Mode
Product Design
AlivecorGuest Mode
vs Ghost Mode
Delineating EKG data for users. The absence of Guest Mode limits the experience for shared users, making it harder to design for real-world use cases and show inclusive, growth-oriented thinking.
- Role
- Product Designer
- Timeline
- 3 Months
- Team
- 1 PM, 2 Devs
- Metric
- Customer Retention
Guest
Context
Kardia is a leading personal EKG device and app. This project focused on closing a specific gap: guest EKG recording.
- Missed Opportunity. Missed opportunity to acquire potential users.
- Negative Experience. Users unable to save recordings for others, creating friction in shared use.
- Data Integrity. Guest recordings polluted primary user data, reducing insight accuracy.
Current State
The user could only save a recording from the Instant Analysis screen — with no way to attribute it to a guest.
By forcing a “Save & Close” action at the end of a personal medical analysis, the app failed to account for shared users, forcing them to pollute the primary user's data or abandon the flow entirely.
The Problem
- Low Visibility. Users were often unaware that guest recording was even an option.
- Inaccurate Data. EKGs recorded by guests without proper identification compromised the accuracy of the app’s insights for the primary user.
- Missed Opportunities. The existing flow did not capture guest user information, hindering future user acquisition.
The Solution
One seamless guest recording experience, embedded in the existing flow — no separate mode, no disruption.
Process
- Quantitative Research. Understanding the Kardia user base. Guest users are typically spouses, family, and friends.
- Explorations. Iterating through mobile UI screens, integrating medical-grade accuracy with consumer-friendly aesthetics.
- Usability Testing. Reiterating on feedback through user flows and brainstorming sessions.
Narrowing
- Before recording. Asking users who is recording before it begins has faced resistance historically and doesn't serve the best experience.
- During recording. Not ideal — hands are engaged with the Kardia device during recording.
- Post recording (selected). Ideal. Confirm who recorded the EKG after the fact.
Ideations & Testing
- Ideation 1. Checkbox at the bottom of the result page before saving.
- Ideation 2. Mid-page context box integrated with the clinical data.
- Ideation 3 (winner). Explicit assignment via a dropdown selector before the primary action.
Ideation 3 — Winning Flow
96.8%
Success Rate
3.2%
Drop-off
Existing Flow
36.7%
Success Rate
63.3%
Drop-off
Outcome
The Sticky Bottom Selection
We selected Ideation 3. It reduced friction for existing users while keeping options open for Guest users — an explicit, inline selection before the primary action.
Before & After
Results
Guest recording over time (avg. figures, since Q3 2024)
+2.5%
iOS Users
+3.8%
Android Users
Learnings
- Mental Models. User mental models dictate how users navigate through a flow.
- Business Alignment. Understanding constraints and goals early on shapes the optimal design.
- Reduce Friction. Better UI should not come at the cost of worse UX.
I believe identifying a guest even before the recording begins needs to be tested more. The intent for a user before recording is vastly different than a user who just wants to view the result post-recording.