My Role:
UXR
Timeframe:
4 months
Tools:
Google Forms
Category:
Human-AI
Overview
Turning coffee-shop conversations into product decisions at a 0-to-1 AI startup.
KIID AI is building a social platform where people create an AI avatar of themselves and interact with their friends' avatars. As a marketing and UX research intern, I recruited early users, ran feedback sessions, and brought findings directly to the CEO and design team.
Problem
The product was pre-launch with no user base, and the design team didn't know what would make someone open the app, come back, and invite a friend. Early users found the avatar uncanny, the AI's tone off, and onboarding too long.
Solution
I recruited users from a campus coffee tab, trading a free coffee for a few minutes of honest reaction. I turned those chats into structured interviews and a findings presentation. The team redesigned the avatar, rewrote the AI's language, and shortened onboarding. Users went from "creeped out" to "excited," and I moved into a dedicated UX role.
