UX Design Research

As the lead researcher, I conducted a survey with 50 participants and 10 semi-structured interviews to gather insights. The research aimed to uncover the motivations behind recording personal and loved ones’ stories, and to understand the barriers stopping people from engaging with Aatlas. Key themes included a desire to capture meaningful life moments, fears around judgment, and privacy concerns.

Using thematic analysis, I identified opportunities for improving the platform's design, branding, and marketing strategies to better align with user motivations. Recommendations included refining the user experience through guided prompts, enhancing privacy features, and emphasizing the value of recording stories in a natural, easy process.

Users are primarily motivated to record life stories as a way to reflect on personal growth, celebrate key moments, and express their individuality. However, significant barriers prevent them from engaging with the platform. These include fear of judgment from others, concerns about privacy, and uncertainty around how to effectively capture meaningful stories.

Notably, 80% of participants had not previously considered recording their own stories, often feeling their experiences weren’t “important” enough. When users do decide to record, they are more likely to document the stories of others, especially when there is a personal connection or curiosity about transformations and struggles.

The findings informed design recommendations, branding strategies, and marketing efforts to align Aatlas with user values and improve its appeal and usability.

The next steps involve applying these insights to optimize the user interface and define the target audience more clearly to increase engagement with the platform.