Blue Angel App

I recently designed and developed an Oracle & Tarot Card App that transforms traditional printed decks into an immersive digital experience.

The goal was to create a seamless, intuitive platform that invites users to embark on a spiritual journey through accessible and meaningful card readings.

Through product research and user behavior analysis, I designed an engaging interface that simplifies browsing, purchasing, and using digital card decks. Packed with thoughtful features like Save a Reading, Restore Purchases, and customizable background music, the app ensures users can personalize and enhance their reading experience effortlessly.

From onboarding to navigation, I prioritized accessibility, dynamic visuals, and personalization to create a smooth and welcoming experience for all users. Regular updates keep the app fresh and consistently praised for its simple and user-friendly design.

Overview

The Oracle & Tarot Card App reimagines traditional card decks, bringing them into the digital realm to create an accessible and intuitive platform for spiritual exploration. Designed to meet the needs of both seasoned readers and beginners, the app transforms the card reading experience with modern features that feel natural and engaging.

Objective

To provide a seamless and immersive digital experience for users exploring Oracle and Tarot cards, while staying true to the spiritual essence of traditional readings.

Key Contributions

  • Conducted in-depth research to understand user needs, behaviors, and expectations.

  • Designed and prototyped intuitive features like Save a Reading, Restore Purchases, and customizable background music to elevate engagement and accessibility.

  • Created a streamlined interface for browsing, purchasing, and interacting with digital card decks, focusing on simplicity and flow.

Highlights

  • Save a Reading: A feature allowing users to revisit and reflect on their readings anytime.

  • Restore Purchases: Ensures users can effortlessly access previously bought decks.

  • Custom Background Music: Enhances the atmosphere with soothing tracks tailored
    to each deck.

  • Accessibility Features: Includes options like text-to-speech, dynamic visuals, and personalization to welcome users of all levels.

Results

The app has been widely praised for its intuitive design, ease of use, and ability to offer a meaningful and spiritual experience. Regular updates ensure the app remains relevant, engaging, and a trusted companion for users on their reading journey.

Problem

Traditional Oracle and Tarot card readings rely on physical decks, limiting accessibility and convenience for users who want a spiritual experience on the go. Many existing digital solutions fail to capture the intuitive and reflective essence of these practices, leaving users with clunky interfaces, limited features, and an uninspired experience.

Objective

To design a digital Oracle and Tarot card app that seamlessly transforms the tactile experience of traditional card readings into an engaging, intuitive, and spiritual digital journey. The app needed to offer modern features, accessibility, and customization while staying true to the reflective and meaningful nature of card reading.

Challenges

  1. Capturing the Spiritual Essence Digitally
    Transforming the deeply personal and tactile experience of traditional Oracle and Tarot card readings into a digital format without losing their reflective and spiritual qualities.

  2. Balancing Accessibility and Depth
    Designing an interface that welcomes beginners while providing meaningful depth and functionality for experienced users.

  3. Feature Integration
    Seamlessly integrating features like Save a Reading, Restore Purchases, and customizable background music while maintaining a clean and intuitive user interface.

  4. User Engagement
    Ensuring the app fosters engagement through dynamic visuals, smooth navigation, and features that encourage repeat use.

  5. Technical Constraints
    Collaborating remotely with a small development team to implement advanced functionality like text-to-speech, cross-platform compatibility, and data restoration.

  6. Ongoing Updates
    Maintaining a fresh and engaging experience through regular updates while adhering to the core spiritual and intuitive essence of the app.

Next up… Potential challenges for a project like designing a digital Oracle & Tarot Card app:

Design Challenges

  1. Preserving the Tactile Experience
    Recreating the ritualistic and sensory aspects of physical card reading in a digital interface, making it feel intuitive and immersive.

  2. Maintaining Usability
    Striking the right balance between simplicity for beginners and advanced features for experienced readers without overwhelming users.

  3. Personalization
    Enabling users to customize their experience (e.g., selecting background music or adjusting visuals) while ensuring the interface remains cohesive.

Technical Challenges

  1. Cross-Platform Compatibility
    Ensuring the app works seamlessly across multiple devices and operating systems while maintaining consistent performance and user experience.

  2. Data Security
    Protecting sensitive user data, such as saved readings and purchase history, while enabling features like Restore Purchases.

  3. Offline Functionality
    Providing a smooth user experience even without internet access, particularly for features like accessing purchased decks and saved readings.

User Experience Challenges

  1. Onboarding
    Designing a welcoming and straightforward onboarding process that introduces new users to the app’s features without overloading them with information.

  2. Accessibility
    Incorporating accessibility features like text-to-speech, larger font sizes, and intuitive navigation to make the app usable for a wide audience.

  3. Engagement and Retention
    Keeping users engaged over time through compelling features, regular updates, and a seamless, enjoyable experience.

Collaboration Challenges

  1. Remote Team Coordination
    Ensuring smooth communication and collaboration between UX/UI designers and developers, especially when working in different time zones.

  2. Feature Prioritization
    Deciding which features to prioritize within the constraints of time, budget, and available resources.

Business Challenges

  1. Monetization
    Balancing monetization strategies like in-app purchases with a user-friendly experience that avoids feeling overly commercial.

  2. Market Competition
    Differentiating the app from existing Oracle and Tarot apps while appealing to a niche audience.

Research

The digital Oracle and Tarot card app market offers a variety of applications catering to users seeking spiritual guidance and self-reflection.

Here are some notable competitors:

Golden Thread Tarot
Developed by Labyrinthos, this app provides a clean interface for tarot readings and includes features like a log for daily card pulls, allowing users to track patterns over time.

Luminous Tarot
Also from Labyrinthos, Luminous Tarot offers a similar experience to Golden Thread but with different aesthetics, catering to users' visual preferences.

Wisdom of the Oracle Cards
Created by Colette Baron-Reid, this app blends elements from various divination tools, providing users with messages about different aspects of their journey.

Guiding Light Oracle Cards
Designed to delve into the hidden areas of the psyche, this app helps users gain a broader perspective on their lives.

Deckible
This platform manages multiple card decks, offering a modern experience that integrates tarot, mindfulness, and coaching decks into a tactile digital format.

In terms of market research, the global tarot cards market is experiencing steady growth. According to Verified Market Research, the market size was valued at USD 1.292 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 1.589 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 3.51% during the forecast period.

This growth is driven by increasing interest in mysticism and spirituality, the popularity of tarot in mainstream culture, and the enhanced online presence of tarot card readings and decks. Additionally, the rise of holistic wellness trends and the influence of social media have contributed to the expanding market.

Understanding the competitive landscape and market dynamics is crucial for positioning a new Oracle and Tarot card app effectively, ensuring it offers unique features and resonates with the target audience.

Testimony

Designing the Blue Angel Oracle & Tarot Card App was one of the most fulfilling projects I've worked on. From the initial idea to the final product, I focused on creating an experience that felt intuitive, engaging, and true to the spiritual essence of card readings and the companies main brand look and feel.

I’m especially proud of features like ‘Save a Reading’ and ‘Restore Purchases’, which make the app both functional and personal. Balancing simplicity with depth was a key goal, and seeing how users have embraced the app has been incredibly rewarding. This project challenged me to think creatively and deliver a solution that truly stands out in the digital card reading Space."*

General Research Findings

  1. User Preferences

    • Many users seek an experience that feels authentic and reflective of traditional card reading rituals.

    • Personalization is highly valued, such as the ability to choose deck themes, customize visuals, and enable or disable background music.

  2. Common Pain Points

    • Digital card apps often lack intuitive navigation and meaningful interactivity, leaving users feeling disconnected.

    • Limited accessibility features (e.g., text-to-speech) can alienate potential users, especially those with disabilities.

    • Users find it frustrating when purchased decks are not easily recoverable or accessible across devices.

  3. Market Trends

    • There is increasing demand for spiritual and mindfulness tools that integrate seamlessly into daily life.

    • Features that encourage long-term engagement, like tracking progress or saving readings, are key to user retention.

    • Aesthetic quality and design simplicity greatly influence user trust and app adoption.

Actionable Questions
"How Might We’s"

  1. Improving User Experience

    • How might we recreate the tactile and ritualistic experience of traditional card readings in a digital environment?

    • How might we design a navigation system that feels effortless for both beginners and advanced users?

  2. Enhancing Accessibility

    • How might we ensure the app is fully accessible to users with varying needs, such as those who rely on text-to-speech or larger fonts?

    • How might we make personalization features simple to use while enhancing inclusivity?

  3. Boosting Engagement

    • How might we create features that encourage users to return regularly, such as daily challenges, personalized insights, or journaling tools?

    • How might we integrate storytelling elements or guided experiences to deepen the connection users feel with the app?

  4. Technical Challenges

    • How might we ensure a seamless cross-device experience so users can easily recover their decks and saved readings?

    • How might we design for offline functionality while maintaining the full richness of the app’s features?

  5. Building Trust and Value

    • How might we visually and functionally differentiate the app from competitors to establish it as a leader in the digital spiritual space?

    • How might we offer compelling, meaningful updates that keep users engaged without disrupting their existing experience?

Empathetic Findings
(User Perspectives)

  1. Desire for Authenticity
    "I love the idea of digital card readings, but I want the experience to feel as meaningful as sitting down with a physical deck. The ritual and connection are important to me."

  2. Frustration with Usability
    "Sometimes, these apps feel clunky or hard to navigate. I just want something simple that lets me find what I need without feeling overwhelmed."

  3. Value of Personalization
    "Everyone’s journey is different—I want an app that feels like it’s tailored to me. Whether it’s the visuals, the music, or even saving my favorite readings, it should feel personal."

  4. Accessibility Needs
    "I have trouble reading small fonts, and most apps don’t seem to think about that. I need features that make the experience more accessible to me."

  5. Need for Seamless Functionality
    "It’s frustrating when I switch devices and my purchases or saved readings aren’t there. I want to feel like everything is always in sync and easy to access."

  6. Encouragement to Return
    "I want an app that keeps me engaged—a daily card pull, a way to track my progress, or something that inspires me to reflect regularly."

  7. Emotional Connection
    "Card reading is a spiritual practice for me. I need an app that understands that and creates a space where I feel calm, connected, and inspired."

  8. Desire for Flexibility
    "Sometimes I want to read cards in complete silence, and other times,
    I love having soothing music in the background. I like having control over those little details."

Wireframes

Demonstrating the perceived flow of the App through first wireframes:

Onboarding:
Helping user to set their intentions before entering into their new world of Digital Tarot and Oracle Cards.

Homescreen:
From the splash screen, ‘Onboarding’ screens (see above), the ‘Product’ page and the ‘Purchase’ screen.

Save Reading Feature:

When a user chooses to do a multiple card reading, they get the option to ‘Save The Reading’, that then becomes available in the Apps Library.

Here are some ideal personas for the Oracle & Tarot Card app
based on the research findings and user needs:

Personas

1. The Spiritual Seeker

Name: Emma
Age: 32
Occupation: Yoga Instructor
Tech-savviness: Moderate

Motivation: Emma is looking for a tool to help her with self-reflection and personal growth. She loves spiritual practices and wants to use card readings as
a way to connect with her
inner self.

Needs & Pain Points:

  • Desires a meaningful and authentic card reading experience.

  • Prefers simplicity and intuitiveness in app design—too many features overwhelm her.

  • Needs the app to reflect her spiritual values and rituals.

    Goals:

  • A digital card reading experience that mirrors the authenticity of traditional tarot readings.

  • Personalization options like customizable card spreads, calming background music, and daily reminders to engage with the app.

2. The Busy Professional

Name: Mark
Age: 40
Occupation: Lawyer
Tech-savviness: High

Motivation: Mark is interested in spiritual tools but needs something that fits into his busy lifestyle. He wants a quick, easy way to pull cards for guidance on the go.

Needs & Pain Points:

  • Needs a fast and accessible way to get card readings without navigating complex interfaces.

  • Needs features that allow him to track past readings and restore purchases easily across devices.

  • Would like an app that works offline for when he’s traveling.

    Goals:

  • A straightforward, efficient reading process that can fit into a busy schedule.

  • Features like Save a Reading and Restore Purchases to access past readings anytime, anywhere.

3. The Beginner Tarot Enthusiast

Name: Sophie
Age: 25
Occupation: Graphic Designer
Tech-savviness: High

Motivation: Sophie has just started exploring tarot and oracle card readings and wants an easy-to-use app that helps her learn as she goes. She’s looking for an educational experience that guides her through card meanings and spreads.

Needs & Pain Points:

  • Needs an easy-to-follow interface with tutorials and clear explanations of card meanings.

  • Wants an app that offers daily pulls, guided readings, and helps her learn and track her progress.

  • Needs accessibility features like adjustable fonts and text-to-speech.

    Goals:

  • A user-friendly, educational experience with a focus on learning.

  • Daily guidance and simple, intuitive features that help her grow
    her tarot skills.

Blue Angel Publishing

Mobile // Prototype (video) //

  • App Screens.

  • Apple Store.

  • App Selection.