Sought: Small Stories, Big Impact.

Prototype link (Please submit a link to a playable prototype, not a link to your design file) Link
Describe your project (max 150 words) The rise of AI has shaped an idealistic perception of perfection and hyper-efficiency, influencing human thinking and fostering an increasing desire for flawlessness. The pursuit of high productivity has led us to prioritize efficiency over emotional expression, making it increasingly difficult—and often uncomfortable—to openly share our feelings. Therefore, we ask how might we encourage small yet meaningful interactions to cultivate a space where people feel comfortable exploring their individuality and expressing themselves to others?

Our project Sought aims to encourage self-expression through a shared sense of understanding with others, creating a safe space to share emotions, embracing individuality, and fostering meaningful connections. By facilitating small yet impactful interactions, Sought helps individuals navigate the pressures of perfection and productivity, allowing them to express themselves freely without fear of judgment.

Describe your research process and findings. If you conducted any surveys or interviews, please include the survey form and/or interview questions here. If you conducted secondary research by pulling from online sources, please include a link to your sources. (Max 500 words)

We began our research by discussing the challenges of being human, particularly the discomfort that comes with feeling and expressing emotions. Many people struggle with being vulnerable, often finding themselves stuck with their own thoughts rather than sharing them with others.

To further understand this issue, we conducted market research, a survey, and an in-person interview. Our goal was to explore whether people feel comfortable having deep or uncomfortable conversations with strangers, where they would feel most at ease doing so, and what factors might help alleviate their discomfort.

After gathering responses, we thematically organized our insights to uncover patterns in people’s hesitations and fears. A key finding was that many individuals are afraid of rejection and often don’t know what to say in vulnerable situations.

According to our survey: 54% of participants expressed a fear of rejection. 72% reported experiencing social anxiety. 91% reported feeling safe in anonymous, online spaces. 100% stated that they are unsure of what to say

From these insights, we concluded that fostering casual, heartfelt, and small yet meaningful interactions is crucial to our project. By designing an experience that encourages organic emotional expression in a comfortable and supportive way, we aim to help individuals feel more at ease when connecting with others.

Interview Questions: Same as survey questions

Competitive Analysis: We conducted a competitive analysis of three mobile apps—Whisper, Peek, and MoodUp—and identified a common trend: while these platforms focused on connection through humorous memes and engaging games, they lacked space for deeper, meaningful conversations. Users often turned personal struggles into jokes for online entertainment, making light of their experiences rather than exploring them in an open and supportive way.

With this in mind, we designed Sought to fill this gap by providing a safe and thoughtful space where people can not only share their personal thoughts but also delve into the deeper stories behind them. By focusing on*heartfelt storytelling and shared understanding*, Sought encourages users to move beyond surface-level interactions, finding comfort and solidarity within a supportive community.

Describe your most important design decisions. What research findings and/or user testing results led you to make these decisions? (Max 500 words)

Creating a Thoughtful, Safe Space for Reflection and Connection

An Unconventional UI Designed for Comfort and Ease Despite the time constraints, we wanted to experiment how our UI can encourage sharing stories and empathy. Therefore, our home screen is simple; inputs are integrated into the visual scene, and the day’s prompt is the only significant text content. Interactions are straightforward (either respond to the prompt, view a response you received, or view your archived letters).

The Letter System: Encouraging Deeper Reflection One of our key innovations is the recorded letter system, which allows users to share their thoughts through voice recordings rather than text. While transcription is available for accessibility, we intentionally prioritized voice input after conducting in-person interviews. One participant noted that speaking their thoughts aloud helped them enter a more contemplative and explorative state—a sentiment echoed by others. This approach makes interactions feel more personal, fostering deeper emotional engagement while still preserving anonymity. Users are encouraged to respond to prompts by drawing from their past experiences, not just to share, but to guide, teach, and offer perspective. Ensuring Ethical, Safe, and Anonymous Interactions

Maintaining anonymity was a priority from the start. Our survey revealed that 91% of respondents felt most comfortable opening up in anonymous online spaces, reinforcing the need for a platform where users can share freely without fear of judgment. However, with anonymity comes responsibility. To counteract malicious content and bad actors, we implemented AI-driven content moderation designed to identify harmful speech while respecting the nuances of personal storytelling. We also carefully considered the ethical implications of saved letters and voice recordings. While these recordings add depth and authenticity to the experience, we implemented privacy-focused measures to ensure that user data remains secure and protected. Each recording will be thoroughly scanned by AI for any inappropriate words to avoid sending hate speech to others. Additionally, recordings at unnecessarily high or low volumes will be discarded to avoid online trolls with malicious intent.

Proximity Interaction This interaction was inspired by the idea of gaining insight from a brief encounter—something more tangible than receiving distant advice or guidance. We focused on the symbolic nature of crossing paths with someone during daily routines—remaining anonymous yet still sharing a moment of knowledge or reflection. The proximity system works when a user receives a letter in their mailbox at a random time of the day from someone they’ve passed by that has answered the daily prompt. By not alerting someone immediately, we keep users’ anonymous. We limited it so as not to overwhelm people, with such deep pieces we want users to take it in and ponder.

Finding Joy in Everyday Moments At its core, Sought is about making reflection an effortless, natural part of daily life. Whether during a morning commute or before bed. In doing so, they not only express themselves but also help others gain new perspectives.