Problem
Most loyalty apps fail because they focus on transactions, not connections.
Discounts and points are short-term motivators - they don’t build habits or attachment.
Our challenge was to go beyond “earn and burn” mechanics and design something that feels rewarding to use.
Core issues I identified:
1
No emotional reason to return – loyalty felt mechanical
2
Repetitive flow – scanning receipts without variation or feedback
3
Lack of identity – users didn’t feel seen or valued by the app
Approach
To make the product habit-forming, I turned to behavioral psychology and the Hooked model (Nir Eyal).
Instead of focusing on features, I focused on loops - what keeps people coming back.
The key insight:
“People don’t chase points. They chase progress, recognition, and small wins.”
I reframed the experience around emotional rewards:
How I Solved It
I designed a product experience that reacts to user behavior — small animations, progress indicators, and language that celebrates micro-wins.
The idea was to transform each scan into a moment of progress.
Clear entry point – one big button, one simple action.
Instant reward – visual feedback and tone that triggers dopamine, not just data.
Progress over points – focusing on journey, not numbers.
Recognition cues – subtle badges, tier visuals, celebratory micro-copy.
Each screen communicates emotion: anticipation → action → reward → pride.
The result is a loop users can feel, not just see.
Outcomes
Through design alone, the MVP gained a sense of purpose and momentum.
Results:
A clear emotional arc for each session (anticipation → satisfaction).
A defined core loop ready for real-world testing.
Reflection
sometimes it starts with a question:
“How do we make people feel good using this?”
That’s the power of behavioral design: clarity, emotion, and meaning — all through pixels.