Progressive Discovery
Onboarding isn’t just about teaching—it’s about inspiring curiosity. By letting users discover features at the right time, you turn onboarding into an exploration, not a chore. Instead of overwhelming users with a firehose of information, progressive discovery allows them to uncover your product’s depth naturally as they grow more comfortable.
Why IKEA?
The IKEA Effect, coined by researchers in 2011, explains how people value things more when they’ve had a hand in creating or discovering them. Similarly, when users explore your product at their own pace and uncover features themselves, they feel more invested and connected to the experience. Products like Slack and Trello embrace this idea, revealing advanced features only when users are ready to use them, making the experience feel fresh and rewarding.
Your action items are…
Hide advanced features initially: Keep the interface clean and focused by only showing the most critical tools for beginners. Reveal advanced features progressively based on user actions or milestones.
Example: Slack introduces workspace integrations only after users are familiar with messaging basics.
Use hotspots and tooltips: Subtle, visual cues can guide users to discover new features as they become relevant.
Example: Mailchimp provides a tooltip to educate users about a toggle switch that shows the best days to send emails to customers, powered by Send Day Optimization.
Encourage exploration: Design the onboarding flow to encourage users to click and discover around, rewarding them with hints and insights.
Example: Canva starts its homepage with the question, “What will you design today?” to encourage exploration of its features below (Whiteboards, Presentations, etc.), motivating users to try each feature individually.
The Treasure Hunt perspective
Imagine your product as a treasure map, with onboarding as the starting point. Instead of showing every secret up front, you guide users to discover new “treasures” at the right moments, keeping the journey exciting and rewarding. Every milestone feels like a win, and users can’t wait to see what’s next.
Progressive discovery keeps the experience fresh and prevents overwhelm.
By timing feature reveals to align with user needs, you make each interaction feel purposeful and exciting.
Encouraging exploration builds confidence and investment in the product.
