Leap Chats
Leap
2022
Brief
Build a mobile-first video chat platform tailored for the 55+ demographic to foster authentic connections.
Project details
Our original concept at Leap, and our first product, was Leap Chats. Designed for the 55+ community, the platform aimed to foster global connections through brief, topical video chats. The idea was simple: join a 15-minute moderated chat on a predetermined topic, then break into small groups for deeper discussion. Afterward, users could connect with new people or join groups to keep the conversation going. However, as COVID wound down and other challenges arose, it became difficult to retain users beyond a dedicated core. Ultimately, we decided to pivot and shut down the service. As someone who both built and used the product, it was tough to let it go—it truly was something special.
Joining in two taps
Getting users into a chat quickly was a primary goal in building the app. Whether entering from a push notification, home screen, or calendar, the focus was on effortless entry. The user flow starts on the home screen, where users see the next upcoming chat and tap the chat card. They then receive a brief camera preview before entering the lobby, where the Leap Leader (the topic creator and chat moderator) greets participants as they join.
After a brief topic introduction, the Leap Leader breaks the lobby into small groups with a couple of taps, allowing 2-4 people to discuss the topic. When the small group chat concludes, everyone returns to the main room for a recap facilitated by the Leap Leader before going about their day—all within just 15 minutes.
After a brief topic introduction, the Leap Leader breaks the lobby into small groups with a couple of taps, allowing 2-4 people to discuss the topic. When the small group chat concludes, everyone returns to the main room for a recap facilitated by the Leap Leader before going about their day—all within just 15 minutes.
Creating a chat as easily as possible
Once the platform reached a stable point, it became clear that we needed to empower our Leap Leaders to create their own chats directly from their iPhones or iPads—previously a manual task handled on the backend. Introducing a "Create Chat" button on the calendar screen allowed users to navigate to a dedicated creation interface, using familiar iOS components to set the topic, description, time, date, and select from a curated set of images sourced from stock websites. Users could then preview the chat in its final form, with the option to make edits or publish it directly. This intuitive, end-to-end process simplified chat creation for anyone familiar with iOS and significantly reduced the record-keeping burden on our team.
Adding more features
With chats and related features in a strong place, our next focus was on enhancing the experience outside of the chat sessions. We updated Leap Leader and user profiles to include more detailed information about the chats they hosted or attended. Additionally, we made chat categories visible within the interface, enabling users to more easily discover topics similar to those they enjoyed—an essential feature given the wide range of chat topics. We also introduced groups for streamlined organization of people, chats, and related content, which we tested in partnership with AGEIST magazine.
Responding to user requests, we added the ability to continue conversations beyond the chat. This included group messaging for members within a group and a direct messaging system for users who had connected in small group sessions, allowing for more personal follow-ups. These updates enriched the overall platform, fostering deeper connections and easier navigation.
Responding to user requests, we added the ability to continue conversations beyond the chat. This included group messaging for members within a group and a direct messaging system for users who had connected in small group sessions, allowing for more personal follow-ups. These updates enriched the overall platform, fostering deeper connections and easier navigation.