# Phase 30: Onboarding Redesign - Discussion Log

> **Audit trail only.** Do not use as input to planning, research, or execution agents.
> Decisions are captured in CONTEXT.md — this log preserves the alternatives considered.

**Date:** 2026-04-12
**Phase:** 30-onboarding-redesign
**Areas discussed:** Flow structure, Catalog integration, Visual style & tone, Trigger & skip behavior

---

## Flow Structure

| Option | Description | Selected |
|--------|-------------|----------|
| Welcome → Pick hobby → Browse catalog → Done | Hobby personalizes catalog, categories auto-created | ✓ (hybrid) |
| Welcome → Search catalog → Done | Skip hobby, direct search | |
| Welcome → Profile → First setup → Done | Profile-first, then setup building | |

**User's choice:** Hybrid — display name in signup, hobby selection for personalization, catalog browse, auto-create categories. Quick but captures the important stuff.
**Notes:** User wants display name captured at signup (Logto), not during wizard. Profile pic is post-signup, not important for onboarding. Liked hobby question and category auto-creation. Noted that category editing needs to be available (separate concern).

## Hobby Selection

| Option | Description | Selected |
|--------|-------------|----------|
| Predefined grid of hobbies | Visual grid with icons | |
| Free text + suggestions | Type hobby, get suggestions | |
| Tag-based selection | Show catalog tags grouped by hobby | |
| Hybrid (cards + tags) | Card-based layout backed by catalog tags | ✓ |

**User's choice:** Between options 1 and 3 — card-based layout backed by tags. Starting with outdoor stuff (climbing, hiking, bikepacking, cycling) but extensible.

---

## Catalog Integration

| Option | Description | Selected |
|--------|-------------|----------|
| Curated picks grid | Popular/essential items, tap to check off | ✓ (adapted) |
| Full catalog search | Drop into CatalogSearchOverlay | |
| Category-first browse | Browse by category then items | |

**User's choice:** Show popular items from most popular tags for that hobby. Not full search — too overwhelming. Popular = owner count for now, real analytics later.
**Notes:** User sees value in tracking views/popularity long-term but acknowledged it's a future enhancement.

| Option | Description | Selected |
|--------|-------------|----------|
| Batch at end | Collect selections, confirm on summary screen | ✓ |
| Immediate add | Each tap adds instantly | |
| You decide | Claude picks | |

**User's choice:** Batch at end

---

## Visual Style & Tone

| Option | Description | Selected |
|--------|-------------|----------|
| Full-screen experience | Each step full viewport, big visuals, immersive | ✓ |
| Card modal (refreshed) | Keep centered card, update visually | |
| Inline page flow | Real routes, not modal | |

**User's choice:** Full-screen experience

---

## Trigger & Skip Behavior

| Option | Description | Selected |
|--------|-------------|----------|
| First login, skippable | Shows after first login, all steps skippable | |
| First login, hobby required | Hobby step required, others skippable | ✓ |
| You decide | Claude picks | |

**User's choice:** Hobby step required (essential for personalization), other steps skippable

---

## Claude's Discretion

- Hobby card design and icons
- Number of items/tags per hobby
- Step transitions and animations
- Router integration approach
- Empty hobby handling

## Deferred Ideas

- View/click analytics for popularity ranking (→ 999.8)
- Category editing UI (separate improvement)
- Profile pic during onboarding (→ profile page)