1. Flight Cancellation Notification

• Scenario

  A traveler is in an airport waiting for the last leg of a flight home when their flight gets abruptly canceled due to bad weather.

• Challenge

  Write a message from the airline app notifying them of the cancellation and what they need to do next.

• Constraints

  Headline: 45 characters max
  Body: 175 characters max
  Button(s): 25 characters max

• Reflection

  Finding out that your flight has been canceled at the last minute is a stressful experience that often requires action to be taken quickly. My headline aims to deliver the relevant information as concisely as possible so that the user can adjust their travel plans before it is too late. Meanwhile, the body text adds more details about why the flight was cancelled and offers potential next steps, while maintaining a sympathetic tone. The user is then prompted to either rebook their flight or contact the airline for a refund or advice.

2. Sports App Promotion

• Scenario

  A user is a working parent, and a big sports fan, in the midst of their favorite sports season who can no longer attend games.

• Challenge

  Write a promotional screen for an app that lets a user choose teams, sends game reminders, real-time score updates and highlight videos.

• Constraints

  Headline: 40 characters max
  Body: 175 characters max
  Button(s): 25 characters max

• Reflection

  The headline poses a question, prompting the user to look to the body text for an answer. The body text reassures the user that they can still keep up with their favorite sport team by advertising what the app does. Finally, the Call to Action button encourages the user to download the app. I used strong, bold colors such as red and navy blue to evoke feelings of sports.

• Scenario

  A user is a working parent, and a big sports fan, in the midst of their favorite sports season who can no longer attend games.

• Challenge

  Write a promotional screen for an app that lets a user choose teams, sends game reminders, real-time score updates and highlight videos.

• Constraints

  Headline: 40 characters max
  Body: 175 characters max
  Button(s): 25 characters max

• Reflection

  The headline poses a question, prompting the user to look to the body text for an answer. The body text reassures the user that they can still keep up with their favorite sports team by advertising what the app does. Finally, the Call to Action button encourages the user to download the app. Additionally, I used strong, bold colors, such as red and navy blue, in the design to evoke the feelings of energy and action that people feel when watching sports games.

3. Error State Message

• Scenario

  The user entered the wrong email address to sign in to their account.

• Challenge

  Tell the user to enter the right email.

• Constraints

  Body: 40 characters max

• Reflection

  This challenge was a small, yet important one. Error state messages are frustrating for users to encounter, so they must be straightforward and helpful. The text that I drafted states that there is something wrong with the entered email address and prompts the user to correct the mistake. I also highlighted the input box in red to help the user pinpoint where the error occurred.

4. Grocery Delivery Subscription

• Scenario

  A user is in their favorite supermarket. They open the supermarket’s app on their phone to see what’s on sale and are greeted by a promotion.

• Challenge

  Write a promotional home screen for a subscription service that delivers groceries to the user once-a-month for a flat fee.

• Constraints

  Headline: 45 characters max
  Body: 175 characters max
  Button(s): 25 characters max

• Reflection

  Since the goal of this challenge is to promote a service, I aimed to give my text a persuasive tone. The headline is straightforward and positively describes the advertised service. The body text provides more information about the subscription service, encourages the user to try it out, and reminds them that subscribing is risk-free.

• Scenario

  A user is in their favorite supermarket. They open the supermarket’s app on their phone to see what’s on sale and are greeted by a promotion.

• Challenge

  Write a promotional home screen for a subscription service that delivers groceries to the user once-a-month for a flat fee.

• Constraints

  Headline: 45 characters max
  Body: 175 characters max
  Button(s): 25 characters max

• Reflection

  Since the goal of this challenge is to promote a service, I aimed to give my text a persuasive tone. The headline is straightforward and positively describes the advertised service. The body text provides more information about the subscription service, encourages the user to try it out, and reminds them that subscribing is risk-free.

5. Unexpected Crash Message

• Scenario

  The user works in graphic design. While critiquing a design in a mobile app, their phone abruptly turns off. When they restart the phone, they reopen the app.

• Challenge

  Write a message that the user will read immediately upon opening the app. What do they need to know? What steps (if any) do they need to take to recover their content? What if they can't recover the content?

• Constraints

  Headline: 40 characters max
  Body: 140 characters max
  Button(s): 20 characters max

• Reflection

  Many apps nowadays have an auto-save feature, so I took that into account for this challenge. The headline acknowledges the problem of the unexpected crash, while the body text takes on a reassuring tone to let the user know that their work is still intact. I chose to create two buttons and allow the user to choose whether they want to resume their work or do something else on the app.

6. Traffic Hazards

• Scenario

  It’s Monday. A user has just gotten into their car to drive to work. They plug their phone into the car and start driving.

• Challenge

  How would you let the user know there’s a fire happening in a nearby town that is causing road closures? The effect on their commute is unknown, but there is a definite danger if the fire gets closer. How do you communicate this to them? When? Write it.

• Constraints

  Headline: 30 characters max
  Body: 45 characters max
  

• Reflection

  For this challenge, I designed a push notification from a navigational app. Warning the user about potential danger is the most important task, so the headline emphasizes that there is an active fire nearby. The body text further explains that there are road closures ahead, so the path is being rerouted. I intentionally kept the text as short and concise as possible so the user could quickly read all of the information while driving and make a decision about where to go.

• Scenario

  It’s Monday. A user has just gotten into their car to drive to work. They plug their phone into the car and start driving.

• Challenge

  How would you let the user know there’s a fire happening in a nearby town that is causing road closures? The effect on their commute is unknown, but there is a definite danger if the fire gets closer. How do you communicate this to them? When? Write it.

• Constraints

  Headline: 30 characters max
  Body: 45 characters max
  

• Reflection

  For this challenge, I designed a push notification from a navigational app. Warning the user about potential danger is the most important task, so the headline emphasizes that there is an active fire nearby. The body text further explains that there are road closures ahead, so the path is being rerouted. I intentionally kept the text as short and concise as possible so the user could quickly read all of the information while driving and make a decision about where to go.

7. Score Update

• Scenario

  A sports fan is at a wedding while their favorite team is playing against their arch-rivals. Their team scores.

• Challenge

  How would you, quickly, let the sports fan know about the latest play, the current score, and the key players? Write it.

• Constraints

  Headline: 30 characters max
  Body: 45 characters max
  

• Reflection

  Weddings can be busy and chaotic, leaving guests with little time to check their phones. Keeping that in mind, I designed a push notification that lets the user know what happened in the game with just a quick glance. The headline simply provides the current score, while the body text shows who scored a goal.

8. Concert Notice

• Scenario

  The user is a casual music fan and (on occasion) goes to live concerts. They have a music player app on their phone.

• Challenge

  Tell the user that one of their favorite bands is playing live in their town. How would you compel them to want to go?

• Constraints

  Headline: 30 characters max
  Body: 45 characters max
  ‍Button(s): 25 characters max
  

• Reflection

  For this challenge, I designed a small ad on the homepage of the user's music player app. The headline uses bold text to catch the user's attention and inform them of the concert in their city. The body text provides more information about the show and uses the scarcity principle (and FOMO) to encourage the user to attend the concert. Finally, the button gives users a convenient, easy way to purchase tickets. The connotations behind the bright green color of the button encourage the user to proceed with the purchase, as well as catch the user's eye.

• Scenario

  The user is a casual music fan and (on occasion) goes to live concerts. They have a music player app on their phone.

• Challenge

  Tell the user that one of their favorite bands is playing live in their town. How would you compel them to want to go?

• Constraints

  Headline: 30 characters max
  Body: 45 characters max
  Button: 25 characters max
  

• Reflection

  For this challenge, I designed a small ad on the homepage of the user's music player app. The headline uses bold text to catch the user's attention and inform them of the concert in their city. The body text provides more information about the show and uses the scarcity principle (and FOMO) to encourage the user to attend the concert. Finally, the button gives users a convenient, easy way to purchase tickets. The connotations behind the bright green color of the button encourage the user to proceed with the purchase, as well as catch the user's eye.

9. Expired Credit Card

• Scenario

  The user is trying to rent a car using an application but the credit card on file has expired.

• Challenge

  Write them an error message so that they can correct the problem.

• Constraints

  Headline: 30 characters max
  Body: 45 characters max
  

• Reflection

  This challenge had tight character constraints, so I aimed to communicate the issue explicitly while providing a straightforward solution for the user. The first part of the error message states in semibold text that the provided credit card is expired, while the text beneath it tells the user what they need to do to rectify it. I also edited the confirmation button to be more transparent in order to prevent the user from proceeding with the rental process until the error is fixed.

10. User Location

• Scenario

  The user is trying to view a website to help them buy a car. But, the content can’t load without the user’s location. They need to enter their ZIP code and first name.

• Challenge

  Ask them where they live and who they are without sounding like you're unnecessarily mining their data.

• Constraints

  Headline: 25 characters max
  Body: 45 characters max
  ‍Button(s): 15 characters max
  

• Reflection

  Data privacy is a big deal to many users, so it can be hard for websites to collect the necessary data. I chose to start off with a headline that includes the phrase "for you," emphasizing the website's desire to personally cater to the user. The headline is followed by the body text, which prompts the user to enter their personal information and explains that the information will lead to personalized, better-fitting search results. Finally, the button text shows that sharing this information will allow the users to browse cars in their area that they can easily buy.  

• Scenario

  The user is trying to view a website to help them buy a car. But, the content can’t load without the user’s location. They need to enter their ZIP code and first name.

• Challenge

  Ask them where they live and who they are without sounding like you're unnecessarily mining their data.

• Constraints

  Headline: 25 characters max
  Body: 45 characters max
  Button: 15 characters max
  

• Reflection

  Data privacy is a big deal to many users, so it can be hard for websites to collect the necessary data. I chose to start off with a headline that includes the phrase "for you," emphasizing the website's desire to personally cater to the user. The headline is followed by the body text, which prompts the user to enter their personal information and explains that the information will lead to personalized, better-fitting search results. Finally, the button text shows that sharing this information will allow the users to browse cars in their area that they can easily buy.  

11. Contact Lens Subscription

• Scenario

  An elderly user is doing a Google search to find an easy way to buy contact lenses online.

• Challenge

  Write a title and meta description for a website that sells subscription contact lenses delivered to a user every 30 days—convince them to try it.

• Constraints

  Title: 60 characters max
  Meta Description: 160 characters max
  

• Reflection

  Day 11's challenge had a rather unique prompt. Instead of just creating an ad or notification, today I also had to heavily focus on SEO practices. I created a title that lets users know how easily they can obtain their contact lenses, making sure to mention the keywords "contact lenses" and "Trusight." The meta description includes more keywords to promote the site in the search results, as well as positive phrasing that persuades users to try out the subscription service. Since this scenario is about providing an easy method of purchasing contacts, I made sure to add details about how convenient the process is and how high-quality the contacts are.

12. Invalid Name Error

• Scenario

  A user is creating an account. When they come to the step where they are asked to enter their name, they get an error message. A fraud detection software thinks their name is fake—but it’s wrong 5% of the time.

• Challenge

  Write an error message that prompts them to fix the error without shaming them for having a fake-sounding name.

• Constraints

  Body: 45 characters max
  

• Reflection

  I created a simple error message that tells the user that the name they entered is invalid and prompts them to enter something else. Since the challenge mentions that the fraud detection software can be faulty, I wanted to add "or contact support for help" at the end of the second sentence in case the user entered their real name correctly, but character constraints were too tight. Instead, I added a link at the bottom for users to contact support. Additionally, I used the first person pronoun we in the error message to convey that it is the software's fault for not recognizing the name, not the user's for having an unusual name.

• Scenario

  A user is creating an account. When they come to the step where they are asked to enter their name, they get an error message. A fraud detection software thinks their name is fake—but it’s wrong 5% of the time.

• Challenge

  Write an error message that prompts them to fix the error without shaming them for having a fake-sounding name.

• Constraints

  Body: 45 characters max
  

• Reflection

  I created a simple error message that tells the user that the name they entered is invalid and prompts them to enter something else. Since the challenge mentions that the fraud detection software can be faulty, I wanted to add "or contact support for help" at the end of the second sentence in case the user entered their real name correctly, but character constraints were too tight. Instead, I added a link at the bottom for users to contact support. Additionally, I used the first person pronoun we in the error message to convey that it is the software's fault for not recognizing the name, not the user's for having an unusual name.

13. Delivery Driver Notification

• Scenario

  A short-haul truck driver has a phone app that monitors his route, schedule, fuel & deliveries. He has 6 more deliveries before stopping for fuel and lunch. Due to unexpected traffic, he’s behind schedule. He can choose to stay on his planned route for a few more stops, but risk running low on fuel and missing lunch, or he can get fuel and lunch now and finish the deliveries later.

• Challenge

  Write a push notification alerting him of this dilemma and options.

• Constraints

  Headline: 30 characters max
  Body: 45 characters max
  Button(s): 25 characters max
  

• Reflection

  This challenge involved creating a push notification for an app that helps a delivery driver on the job. This scenario had a lot of information and very few characters to work with, so I had to be selective about what to include. The headline focuses on the key issue of low fuel by alerting the driver. The body text explains that there are 6 stops left on the delivery route and prompts the driver to make a decision about what to do. The user can select one of the two buttons to stay on the route or be directed to the nearest gas station for food and fuel.

14. App Malfunction

• Scenario

  A user is shopping using a price comparison app that boasts “real-time” pricing on items. As they are checking the price of an item, something goes wrong. The problem is unknown.

• Challenge

  Write a message that informs the user that they cannot access the app right now. You cannot specify "why" the app doesn't work, you also want them to continue using the app.

• Constraints

  Headline: 30 characters max
  Body: 120 characters max
  Button(s): 15 characters max
  

• Reflection

  I created a non-specific error message in response to this challenge that lets the user know that something is going on with the app without giving any details. The headline explains that there is an error with the app, while the body text takes on an apologetic tone and provides further instructions. Since the prompt states that the app can't be accessed at the moment, I chose to add a single button that allows the user to relaunch the app (and hopefully fix the problem) without providing the option of just closing the error message and trying to return to the previous screen.

• Scenario

  A user is shopping using a price comparison app that boasts “real-time” pricing on items. As they are checking the price of an item, something goes wrong. The problem is unknown.

• Challenge

  Write a message that informs the user that they cannot access the app right now. You cannot specify "why" the app doesn't work, you also want them to continue using the app.

• Constraints

  Headline: 30 characters max
  Body: 120 characters max
  Button(s): 15 characters max
  

• Reflection

  I created a non-specific error message in response to this challenge that lets the user know that something is going on with the app without giving any details. The headline explains that there is an error with the app, while the body text takes on an apologetic tone and provides further instructions. Since the prompt states that the app can't be accessed at the moment, I chose to add a single button that allows the user to relaunch the app (and hopefully fix the problem) without providing the option of just closing the error message and trying to return to the previous screen.

15. Banking App Onboarding

• Challenge

  Write a multi-screen onboarding experience for a banking app that automatically pays a user's bills every month—as long as they set it up correctly.

• Constraints

  Headline: 45 characters max
  Body: 100 characters max
  Button(s): 25 characters max
  

• Reflection

  The final prompt of this challenge called for the creation of multiple onboarding screens for a banking app, so I created an intro screen, two screens for some of the features that the app provides, and a call-to-action screen. Each screen is formatted similarly to keep with the app's theme and help the user navigate the app. The headline on each screen tells the user what they can do with the app, while the body text provides more details on how to do it and why this is helpful. Finally, the button at the bottom of each screen concisely prompts the user to go to the next stage of the onboarding process. For this challenge, I used a professional, informative tone, befitting of a bank, to convey information about the app's features and point out how helpful each one is.