Notifications
NextLeap’s Learn in Public challenge (1/5)
Aditya Chainani | PM C28
Product Teardown
Overview User Persona Technology UX Key Metrics
What is Duolingo?
Key Value Proposition
Emerging Trends
Differentiation Factors
A free app that teaches
languages through fun,
interactive lessons
Positioning
Statement
A free, fun, and
engaging
language-learning
platform that
leverages
gamification and
personalization to
make learning
accessible to
everyone
Gamification
Streaks, experience
points (XP), and
leaderboards for a fun
& engaging experience
Adaptive Learning
Algorithm
Personalizes lessons
based on a user's
performance
Regardless of their
location or financial
situation
Accessible
Learning
Forums and many other
social elements
Community
Oriented
Life-Like
Communication
Lessons focus on a
real-life goal
Founded
2011
Users
500M+
CEO
Luis von Ahn
Market
Capital
$8.93B
Headquarters
Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania
Languages
Offered
42
Status
Public
Freemium
Accessibility
Many
Languages
Brand
Loyalty
Continuous
Innovation
Gamification
Mobile
Learning
Language
Certification
Competitors
Focuses on
real-life scenarios
and contextual
learning
Rosetta
Stone Provides a
platform for
learners to
practice with
native
speakers
Busuu
Uses AI to
adapt and
personalize
the learning
experience
Lingvist
Offers language
learning
solutions
tailored for
corporate
clients
Babbel
Emphasizes
memorization
techniques and
real-world
language usage
Memrise
Show me the money!!! (Revenue Sources)
Premium Subscription
that allows Ad-free
learning and offline
lessons and more
Super Duolingo
Subscription
Language proficency
evaluation recognized by
institutions, employers, and
immigration programs as a
credible assessment of
language skills
Language
Certification Tests
In-App Ads
leverage
Duolingo’s user
data and targeting
capabilities
Advertising
Partnerships
Customized language
learning courses and tools
to companies looking to
enhance their employees’
language skills
Language for
Business Solutions
Access to specialized
language courses, bonus
lessons, or further learning
materials
In-App
Purchases
Top 10
Languages Learnt
45.6m
Spanish
26.0m
French Japanese
21.5m
Korean
17.7m
German
17.4m
Italian
12.2m
Hindi
11.2m 9.84m
Chinese Russian
8.20m
Arabic
7.90m
(In millions)
Fictional languages
are taught too !
High Valyrian
(Would you learn it?)
Klingon
Freemium
Business Model
Core features of the app are free
to use, but additional features
and services are available
through a paid subscription
Overview User Persona Technology UX Key Metrics
Education
Time Constraints
Motivations Pain Points
Language Goals
Tech Skills
Priya Patel
29 y/o Female
Bangalore, Karnataka (Tier 1)
IT Consultant
Masters in Computer Science
Learn Spanish to
communicate with
international clients and
enhance career prospects.
High; uses smartphones and
apps extensively for both
personal and professional use
Busy work schedule with
limited time for language
learning
• Improve career
opportunities
• Build a global network
• travel for business
• Needs short,effective lessons
that can be integrated into a
busy schedule,
• Desires progress tracking.
Education
Time Constraints
Motivations Pain Points
Language Goals
Tech Skills
Arjun Sharma
20 y/o Male
Mumbai, Maharashtra
Engineering Student
Bachelors in Engineering
Learn German to prepare
for an exchange program
and future job
opportunities in Germany
Very high; uses various apps for
education and entertainment.
Flexible schedule with time
available for dedicated study,
but prefers engaging and
varied content.
• Prepare for studying
abroad
• Improve language skills
for future career
• Explore new cultures.
• Needs engaging, gamified
content to maintain motivation
• Enjoys community interaction
and practical language use.
• Limited spending capacity
Overview User Persona Technology UX Key Metrics
Notifications
Notifications
Feelings
Journey
Duolingo has revolutionized how
notifications can be sent to not just
enhance the user learning experience
but also enhance sales and business
outcomes by utilizing user data to
target premium membership
The notifications
have even found
a fan base
amongst the
meme makers.
Push Permission
Excited &
curious
Reminder
Motivated
Proud &
encouraged
Tensed Competitive Excited Accomplished Excited
Streak
Update
Applause
New Goal
Reminder
Continuation
New
Language
Skill
Update
Friend’s
Progress
Extra
Challenge
Badges
Leaderboard
Practice
Areas
Reward
Claim
Cheer
Goal Setup
In-App
Sign Up
Daily
Practice
Achievement Challenges
Social
Competition
Special
Events
Course
Completion
Re-engagement
Overview User Persona Technology UX Key Metrics
In-App
Notifications
Push
Notifications
Bandit Algorithm
Every User gets a different
notification. The AI learns which
notification works best for the
particular user and optimises
the next notification
Simple
Reminder
Emotional
Connect
Appeal to
Conscience
Daily Streak Reminders
Achievement Unlocked
XP Goal Progress
Skill Level Up
Practice Reminders
Leaderboard Updates
Shop Promotions
Event / Challenge
Friend Activity
Overview User Persona Technology UX Key Metrics
Duolingo Push
Premium feature that takes
Push notifications out of your
phone and into the real world!
Duo the Owl will literally show
up to remind you to practice.
The most unique experience a
user can get...
“Duo appeared while I was on a
second date. We didn’t make it
to the third date, but I did
make it to the third lesson of
the Flirting skill in my French
course!”
Ashley F.
Pittsburgh, PA
You can find him in your
notifications
Your #1 fan &
biggest cheerleader
Duo User Interface (UI)
User Experience (UX)
Design Goal
He is
Helpful
Motivating
Dedicated
A green owl
Concise Messaging
Bright &
Engaging Icons
Friendly Tone and Language
Clear Call-to-Action (CTA)
Timely Customized
Non- Intrusive
Adaptive
Motivating Social
To create a learning environment that
makes the users feel at ease and have a
positive outlook towards the process. The
app as well as the notifications have a
clean design and clear goal defined which
is to “encourage learning for all”
Duo enters
our world !
The official mascot
of Duolingo
Familiar
Face ?
Overview User Persona Technology UX Key Metrics
What Works Can be Improved
What Why
Engagement
Reminders
Motivational
Messages
Achievement
Alerts
Daily
Reminders
Regular reminders
keep users
practicing and
motivated.
Encouraging
messages that
celebrate user
progress.
Notifications about
completed lessons
or streaks.
Prompts users
to return and
practice each
day.
Supports
maintaining a
learning routine.
Reinforces user
commitment
and progress.
Boosts
motivation and
satisfaction.
Helps users stay
consistent and
engaged.
What How
Enhanced
Personalization
Timer based
notifications with
personalized page
access similar to
discovering a new
location.
When the user opens
the app through the
notification they
should reach a
personalized page
that otherwise cannot
be accessed.
Intelligent Timing
Optimize the
timing of
notifications based
on user activity
patterns and time
zones.
Use data to
determine the best
times to send
notifications for
maximum
engagement.
Reduced
Notification Fatigue
Interactive Content
Balance the
frequency and
content of
notifications to
prevent overload.
Add interactive
elements to
notifications, such as
quick exercises or
practice prompts.
Add features like
quick actions or
mini-lessons directly
in notifications.
Implement a system
to monitor user
responses and adjust
notification frequency
dynamically.
Overview User Persona Technology UX Key Metrics
Open Rate
What Why
Click-Through
Rate (CTR)
Retention Rate
Post-Notification
Conversion Rate
Opt-Out Rate
The percentage of users who
open push notifications or
in-app messages.
The percentage of users who
interact with the notification
(e.g., tapping a link or button).
The percentage of users who
continue to use the app after
receiving a notification.
The percentage of users who
continue to use the app after
receiving a notification.
The percentage of users who
opt-out or disable
notifications.
Provides insight into user
satisfaction and the potential
negative impact of
notifications.
Indicates how effectively
notifications drive key user
actions and business
outcomes.
Assesses the impact of
notifications on user retention
and ongoing engagement.
Measures how effectively
notifications drive user
actions and engagement.
Indicates the initial
engagement and relevance
of the notifications to users.
Here are some more memes since
you stuck around till the end
Thank you!

Duolingo App Notification Technology Breakdown

  • 1.
    Notifications NextLeap’s Learn inPublic challenge (1/5) Aditya Chainani | PM C28 Product Teardown
  • 2.
    Overview User PersonaTechnology UX Key Metrics What is Duolingo? Key Value Proposition Emerging Trends Differentiation Factors A free app that teaches languages through fun, interactive lessons Positioning Statement A free, fun, and engaging language-learning platform that leverages gamification and personalization to make learning accessible to everyone Gamification Streaks, experience points (XP), and leaderboards for a fun & engaging experience Adaptive Learning Algorithm Personalizes lessons based on a user's performance Regardless of their location or financial situation Accessible Learning Forums and many other social elements Community Oriented Life-Like Communication Lessons focus on a real-life goal Founded 2011 Users 500M+ CEO Luis von Ahn Market Capital $8.93B Headquarters Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Languages Offered 42 Status Public Freemium Accessibility Many Languages Brand Loyalty Continuous Innovation Gamification Mobile Learning Language Certification Competitors Focuses on real-life scenarios and contextual learning Rosetta Stone Provides a platform for learners to practice with native speakers Busuu Uses AI to adapt and personalize the learning experience Lingvist Offers language learning solutions tailored for corporate clients Babbel Emphasizes memorization techniques and real-world language usage Memrise Show me the money!!! (Revenue Sources) Premium Subscription that allows Ad-free learning and offline lessons and more Super Duolingo Subscription Language proficency evaluation recognized by institutions, employers, and immigration programs as a credible assessment of language skills Language Certification Tests In-App Ads leverage Duolingo’s user data and targeting capabilities Advertising Partnerships Customized language learning courses and tools to companies looking to enhance their employees’ language skills Language for Business Solutions Access to specialized language courses, bonus lessons, or further learning materials In-App Purchases Top 10 Languages Learnt 45.6m Spanish 26.0m French Japanese 21.5m Korean 17.7m German 17.4m Italian 12.2m Hindi 11.2m 9.84m Chinese Russian 8.20m Arabic 7.90m (In millions) Fictional languages are taught too ! High Valyrian (Would you learn it?) Klingon Freemium Business Model Core features of the app are free to use, but additional features and services are available through a paid subscription
  • 3.
    Overview User PersonaTechnology UX Key Metrics Education Time Constraints Motivations Pain Points Language Goals Tech Skills Priya Patel 29 y/o Female Bangalore, Karnataka (Tier 1) IT Consultant Masters in Computer Science Learn Spanish to communicate with international clients and enhance career prospects. High; uses smartphones and apps extensively for both personal and professional use Busy work schedule with limited time for language learning • Improve career opportunities • Build a global network • travel for business • Needs short,effective lessons that can be integrated into a busy schedule, • Desires progress tracking. Education Time Constraints Motivations Pain Points Language Goals Tech Skills Arjun Sharma 20 y/o Male Mumbai, Maharashtra Engineering Student Bachelors in Engineering Learn German to prepare for an exchange program and future job opportunities in Germany Very high; uses various apps for education and entertainment. Flexible schedule with time available for dedicated study, but prefers engaging and varied content. • Prepare for studying abroad • Improve language skills for future career • Explore new cultures. • Needs engaging, gamified content to maintain motivation • Enjoys community interaction and practical language use. • Limited spending capacity
  • 4.
    Overview User PersonaTechnology UX Key Metrics Notifications Notifications Feelings Journey Duolingo has revolutionized how notifications can be sent to not just enhance the user learning experience but also enhance sales and business outcomes by utilizing user data to target premium membership The notifications have even found a fan base amongst the meme makers. Push Permission Excited & curious Reminder Motivated Proud & encouraged Tensed Competitive Excited Accomplished Excited Streak Update Applause New Goal Reminder Continuation New Language Skill Update Friend’s Progress Extra Challenge Badges Leaderboard Practice Areas Reward Claim Cheer Goal Setup In-App Sign Up Daily Practice Achievement Challenges Social Competition Special Events Course Completion Re-engagement
  • 5.
    Overview User PersonaTechnology UX Key Metrics In-App Notifications Push Notifications Bandit Algorithm Every User gets a different notification. The AI learns which notification works best for the particular user and optimises the next notification Simple Reminder Emotional Connect Appeal to Conscience Daily Streak Reminders Achievement Unlocked XP Goal Progress Skill Level Up Practice Reminders Leaderboard Updates Shop Promotions Event / Challenge Friend Activity
  • 6.
    Overview User PersonaTechnology UX Key Metrics Duolingo Push Premium feature that takes Push notifications out of your phone and into the real world! Duo the Owl will literally show up to remind you to practice. The most unique experience a user can get... “Duo appeared while I was on a second date. We didn’t make it to the third date, but I did make it to the third lesson of the Flirting skill in my French course!” Ashley F. Pittsburgh, PA You can find him in your notifications Your #1 fan & biggest cheerleader Duo User Interface (UI) User Experience (UX) Design Goal He is Helpful Motivating Dedicated A green owl Concise Messaging Bright & Engaging Icons Friendly Tone and Language Clear Call-to-Action (CTA) Timely Customized Non- Intrusive Adaptive Motivating Social To create a learning environment that makes the users feel at ease and have a positive outlook towards the process. The app as well as the notifications have a clean design and clear goal defined which is to “encourage learning for all” Duo enters our world ! The official mascot of Duolingo Familiar Face ?
  • 7.
    Overview User PersonaTechnology UX Key Metrics What Works Can be Improved What Why Engagement Reminders Motivational Messages Achievement Alerts Daily Reminders Regular reminders keep users practicing and motivated. Encouraging messages that celebrate user progress. Notifications about completed lessons or streaks. Prompts users to return and practice each day. Supports maintaining a learning routine. Reinforces user commitment and progress. Boosts motivation and satisfaction. Helps users stay consistent and engaged. What How Enhanced Personalization Timer based notifications with personalized page access similar to discovering a new location. When the user opens the app through the notification they should reach a personalized page that otherwise cannot be accessed. Intelligent Timing Optimize the timing of notifications based on user activity patterns and time zones. Use data to determine the best times to send notifications for maximum engagement. Reduced Notification Fatigue Interactive Content Balance the frequency and content of notifications to prevent overload. Add interactive elements to notifications, such as quick exercises or practice prompts. Add features like quick actions or mini-lessons directly in notifications. Implement a system to monitor user responses and adjust notification frequency dynamically.
  • 8.
    Overview User PersonaTechnology UX Key Metrics Open Rate What Why Click-Through Rate (CTR) Retention Rate Post-Notification Conversion Rate Opt-Out Rate The percentage of users who open push notifications or in-app messages. The percentage of users who interact with the notification (e.g., tapping a link or button). The percentage of users who continue to use the app after receiving a notification. The percentage of users who continue to use the app after receiving a notification. The percentage of users who opt-out or disable notifications. Provides insight into user satisfaction and the potential negative impact of notifications. Indicates how effectively notifications drive key user actions and business outcomes. Assesses the impact of notifications on user retention and ongoing engagement. Measures how effectively notifications drive user actions and engagement. Indicates the initial engagement and relevance of the notifications to users.
  • 9.
    Here are somemore memes since you stuck around till the end Thank you!