Portrait Video for Bite-sized Learning
Shaping the core experience through fast experiments, real user feedback, and agile product thinking.
About the Product
Arena Strive delivers personalized learning to help clinicians thrive in high-demand settings.
At its core are daily 5-minute tool videos, bite-sized, portrait-format lessons tailored through wearables and coaching. Designed for on-the-go use, they must be fast, focused, and visually engaging to drive daily habit.
Role
Product Designer
Timeline
2023 - 2024
Tools
Figma, Figjam, JIRA, Notion, Protopie, Maze
Collab
Content Lead, Engineers, Product Lead
TL;DR
"I joined during the shift from audio to video and led the end-to-end design of the new portrait video experience, shaping core interactions through fast, iterative design cycles."
Challenge
Clinicians had limited time and attention so our content needed to be fast, focused, and habit-forming.
Solution
Designed a mobile-first, portrait video flow supporting a consistent 5 min daily rhythm.
impact
Increased lesson completion and daily engagement, which drives stronger retention.
Empathize
Meet Our Users
Clinicians on the frontline of care
Our users are busy healthcare professionals working in high-stakes environments where every second matters.
A cardiovascular surgeon performing long-hour surgeries with full focus
An inpatient nurse managing constant interruptions and urgent care needs
A physician coordinating with care teams during long, unpredictable shifts
We’re always on the move, juggling priorities while expected to perform at a high level. Time is limited, but staying sharp matters. Learning needs to be quick, relevant, and fit naturally into our day.
- Sarah, ICU RN
Define 01
Build the Product Vision Together
Pre-design, 2023 Q2
Video Was Ready, The App Wasn’t.
When I joined, the app only supported audio. We had video content, but no way to show it inside the app.
This meant users missed out on seeing real people, body language, and visual coaching. It also meant the app couldn’t deliver a strong sense of storytelling or connection.
We saw a clear opportunity to bring that content to life.
Bridging frontline realities with product strategy.
Clinicians are short on time, yet behavior change relies on building consistent learning habits. To support this, I needed more than just empathy. I needed alignment.
I led cross-functional alignment with engineering, clinical, and content teams to shape a shared product vision grounded in user insights. I ensured that what we defined was not only user-centered but also aligned with business priorities and feasible within product and content constraints.
User Needs
Learn one practical, high-performance tool per day, in around 5 minutes.
Business Goal
Make short-form video content the primary driver of engagement and progression.
Product Constraints
Tools follow a linear path, and limit by one tool per day, meaning no skipping ahead!
Engagement Metric
Complete at least 12 of 30 tools during a 6-week program.
Brand Value
Every tool should feel premium, scientific, and credible for a high-performance audience.
Linear Progression of the tool predetermines the core flow.
Define 02
The Objective and Expected Outcome
Design Objective
Designing for time-starved clinicians on the move
Design a learning experience that meets clinicians where they are, five minutes a day, to deliver relevant, actionable tools that help them understand and apply high-performance techniques.
Expected outcome
12 tools over 6 weeks
Guide clinicians through at least 12 meaningful tools over a six-week coaching journey that supports their growth, recovery, and personal wellness, in or outside the hospital.
Design & Iterations
An Evolution Era from Agile Approach
This portrait video experience didn’t come together all at once. It took many small steps, fast feedback, and close collaboration with the team. We worked in short cycles, learning from each release and building on what we learned.
Phase 1, 2023 Q3
First Video Experience
In 2023, we launched the first version of our portrait video player. The goal was simple: turn audio tools into video and make daily learning easy to find, watch, and understand, especially for busy clinicians.
* Video content has been hidden to protect confidential company material.
A prototype recording of the initial video experience introduced in Phase 1.
Two-Part Video Flow
Builds consistency and scales easily
Fixed Player
Supports existing video library with minimal engineering
Visual Progress Bar
Guides users without extra effort
Phase 2, 2024 Q3
Bigger Screen,
Better Gestures,
More Immersive learning
In 2024, our content team re-edited the coaching videos to bring more clarity, personality, and warmth to each session. Around the same time, a rebrand initiative gave us an opportunity to rework how videos showed up across the app, visually and functionally.
* Video content has been hidden to protect confidential company material.
Improved Video Controls
Keeps users focused and in flow
Micro-interactions in Motion
Reduces friction and reinforces brand identity
Video Error Handling
Turn frustration into clarity
The Impact
From MVP to Daily Habit
Expected outcome
12 tools over 6 weeks
Higher completion rates within the 6-week program window.
More meaningful coaching interaction due to better progression in lessons.
Increased interaction with wearable data as users practiced learned tools.
Higher DAU as Content became the engine for daily app use.
By early 2025, portrait video had become more than just a feature. It became part of the user’s routine. A quick tap. A trusted coach. A small, intentional pause in the day.
Agile wasn’t just how we worked. It was how we listened, learned, and evolved together. This success didn’t come from one big launch. It came from fast, focused iterations, and staying aligned as a team each step of the way.
You’ve reached the end — thanks for reading!