Maxine Lui

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App Access & IAP
iOS
product
marketing

Nitro wanted to begin offering a free trial to Nitro PDF Pro - iPad & iPhone as well as switch from perpetual licensing to a subscription model. The free trial would allow users to interact with the app features and understand its product value before committing to a purchase. In order to support these business goals, our team redesigned the welcome and in-app purchases experience.

I was responsible for design, working closely with Product & Engineering, Marketing, and Brand Design to complete this project.

key collaborators

angel vu, francisco cantu

New screens in the user journey as users log in or purchase access to Nitro PDF Pro for iPad & iPhone

Project Objectives

  • Enable users to gain app access through either an existing license or in-app purchases
  • Align visuals with company branding and iOS paywall best practices
  • Display the subscription in a clear and approachable way

User Journey Mapping

As the business was offering subscriptions directly through Nitro as well as on the App Store, we were aware this could be confusing to users. We needed to craft a clear happy path for each user type to easily obtain access to the app. For users who access the app with their Nitro Account, it was imperative they did not accidentally subscribe twice through in-app purchases through confusion during this process.

User Types

Chart displaying the different user types who are accessing Nitro PDF Pro for iPad & iPhone

User journey map

User journey map for users trying to get access to features in the app

Iteration

Once we mapped out the main screens and steps a user will take, I gathered references and design ideas. I took note of existing experiences and why they worked well and if it would apply to our use case. I worked closely with the brand designers to ensure my use of color and illustrations were up to brand standards. I tried different layouts, emphasizing certain content, and iterated on both iPad and iPhone sizes. I was especially attentive to the CTA copy to create a clear user experience.

References

examples of design references including other app screenshots and Nitro branding and graphics

Screenshot of drafts

screenshot of example design drafts

Production

After designs were approved by the team, including Product & Engineering and Marketing stakeholders, I cleaned up specifications for hand-off. Working in step with our developer, I provided user journeys, localization tests, and component breakdowns to communicate clearly at every level of detail.

Specifications

screenshot of design specificationsscreenshots of localization tests and user journeys for design specifications

The evolution of in-app purchasing

Nitro PDF Pro - iPad & iPhone's in-app purchasing user flow has evolved over time, taking in branding changes and business model adjustments. My job was to support the goals of the company at the time and to allow for design flexibility where we foresee any expansion from there. As a team, we monitored app downloads and successful subscriptions, and we would revisit content strategy and design when needed.

The evolution of the in-app purchasing experience of Nitro PDF Pro for iPad & iPhone

© 2026 Maxine Lui

About me

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