Permission Slip by Consumer Reports
Permission Slip is an app created by the non-profit Consumer Reports, as a tool to help users manage their data privacy and advocate for themselves by assisting them to send legal requests to opt out of sale or delete their data entirely. The team at Input Logic and I have worked closely on this project from its initial conception through branding and identity, wireframes, and continuous iteration, testing, and development over the years. Permission Slip is live in the app store and has been covered thoroughly in the media since it's official launch in 2023.
Team members on this project include Nick Johnson, Nelson Reid, Caitlin Aboud, Cory Shadt, and many more at Input Logic.
Building & growing the Permission Slip brand
From the beginning, we focused on creating a brand and product that feels approachable while addressing the technical topic of data privacy. We created an analog-inspired illustration style and a logo reminiscent of physical papers and manual filing requests to bring the brand to life. The inviting color palette doesn't take itself too seriously and the illustrations have a slight irregularity, conveying a sense of playfulness that you might not expect in an app that helps you manage your data privacy."
Iterating, getting user feedback and scaling
Over the years Permission Slips user base has grown large and active, so we had to work carefully to expand and design features and user flows carefully, ensuring that we don't disrupt the experience for existing users. Instead, we aim to provide them with delightful ways to continue building their data privacy toolkit. In the initial MVP, users could swipe through companies similarly to how they would on a dating app, making the list of companies feel less limited. As the list of companies grew, we had to completely redesign the layout of the app to make it easier to discover companies and accommodate sending new types of requests.
Different types of requests
As Permission Slip expanded, the app's functionalities also grew. Initially, users could only send Agent Requests, which involved PS's team of lawyers sending requests on the user's behalf as an authorized agent. As time went on, we had to develop a system to accommodate new types of requests such as Data Broker requests to companies that specialize in selling and trading data for profit, or Self Requests to companies like Facebook that make it more difficult to act on behalf of a user, instead providing a step-by-step guide on how users can do it themselves.
Digging into unique user experiences
Considering the complex nature of the topic, the slightly older audience from Consumer Reports, and the fact that the app facilitates actual legal requests, all these factors compelled us to go through a comprehensive process of exploration, design, stakeholder reviews at various levels, testing, more design, and finally, development. Every screen, workflow, and word was meticulously planned to ensure clear communication and effortless functionality.
Powerful tools with lasing impact
Permission Slip brings a lot of power and autonomy to its users. It supports them in understanding and navigating the complex world of data collection, something that is often kept quiet intentionally by bad actors who sell and trade data for profit. Through careful and thorough design over the years, we have not only power the design and development behind these data requests, but also helped users understand how their data is managed, sold, and traded with much more clarity and understanding. Permission Slip is available in the App Store and continues to grow and improve as the years go by.
