MEX

In a previous MEX podcast, I mentioned the sleep app Pzizz. It uses ‘psychoacoustics’ to put you to sleep: in simple, layman terms, soothing music that knocks you out.

Part of the 2016 Wayra UK cohort, back when I mentioned them, they had a free app. I decided to try it out one night when I’d woken up at 0300 hours. It didn’t work for me. The music transitions were a bit rough, and some of the tracks included chimes, which would bring me back to an alert state just as I was drifting off. The UX and graphical design elements were, frankly, poor.

A few months ago, a new Pzizz app was launched. It offers a free 7-day trial, then it’s premium all the way. The app now has a rather beautiful, sophisticated feel. The UX has been streamlined to match the promise of sleep at the push of a button. The technology has also improved dramatically. The awkward transitions are largely gone and the chimes have been muffled.

For me, it’s a case of paying attention to how a startup progresses, evolves, matures. The technology, the graphical interface, the architecture – in sum, everything that contributes to the experience – has progressed piece by piece to make it a really good offering. What’s more, it’s now generating some revenue.

Part of Friday Inspirations, an ongoing MEX series exploring tangents and their relationship to better experience design.  We explain the origins of the Inspirations series in this MEX podcast and article.  Share your own inspirations on Twitter at #mexDTI.