Soft Space
What is the experience I like to examine & reimagine?
This platform transforms real interviews with elderly and middle-aged individuals into AI-generated videos, sharing their life experiences and lessons. By reflecting on past mistakes, the project aims to help young people gain perspective and make more thoughtful life choices.
Through whose lens will you be looking through in my human-centered design explorations?
To improve the experience for Gen Z, this platform focuses on people who feel uncertain about their future, are facing social or personal difficulties, or are just stepping out of their comfort zone into the real world. It is designed for young individuals who want to grow, change themselves, and become better versions of who they are.
Research
Actionable Advice Is Critical
“Practical advice is most trustworthy to me because it’s actionable and realistic. I value guidance that I can actually apply to my life, rather than abstract theories or vague encouragement.”
Bite-Size & Structured Content Wins
“Baby steps that are fed to me one by one rather than all at once”, “Basically having the first step”
Personalization & Relatability Matter
“Advice given to me by people who have had similar experiences to me and had those experiences within a relevant time period.” “Personalized advice to navigate specific situations.”
Empathy & Emotional Support Are Valued
When someone acknowledges my feelings and experiences without minimizing them, even if they don’t agree or have the same experience.” “If it looked fun rather than medical. Also if it builds community with your existing friends that’s a plus”
Frictionless, Secure Sharing Drives Participation
“Clear consent, an option to stay anonymous, and the process doesn’t take too long.”
Initial Problem Statement
Gen Z students and early-career young adults need trustworthy, concise life lessons delivered in engaging, short-form formats because we found they feel overwhelmed by vague or preachy advice and struggle to take the first actionable step without guidance
Feedback from nearly 25 people
My first idea is not a grateful one. people don’t like it at all.
I have to think another way to make people like it.
01. Want to have my own journey.
02. Don’t like people telling me what to do
03. If i went the wrong path I have to deal with it by myself to make it right or keep going.
04. I don’t like to read autobiography because it feels a bit like reading self-help books.
05. I don’t trust AI telling me what to do.
06. people sometime don’t know what they are looking for but they feel uncertain.
07. People need emotional support
08. The prototype Too much information to fill out
09. What is my experience will using the app
10. What is the difference between other apps
Problem Statement
Single adults aged 20–30 need an emotionally safe and low-pressure way to express uncertainty and seek support because they are navigating major life transitions while feeling isolated from their social networks. We found they often struggle to articulate their feelings clearly and formal counseling or professional help can feel intimidating or inaccessible at this stage
Target Persona
Single people aged 20-30, who are just entering the workforce or about to graduate from university and are going through a period of confusion, feeling lonely because their friends have moved away or they have relocated for work, they may need counseling.
Biography
Age: 20-30
Gender: Female (she/her)
Race/Ethnicity: Asian
Stage: 4th year college student
entering the workplace
Education: Undergraduate
Location/Context: Lives on-campus
Emotion
Carrying
Connected
Seen/understood
“I don’t know exactly what I’m feeling… just that something feels heavy and quiet.”
Frustrations
don’t fix in with the community
live alone no one to talk to
A family member had just pass away
Goals
Free for all users
Emotional support, people connect safely
anonymous
feel, protection
Current State Metaphor
Many young adults in transition feel like they are floating without an anchor — disconnected from familiar structures, unsure of their emotional state, and without a clear place to rest their thoughts.
Future State Metaphor
Users are no longer drifting endlessly; they have a quiet place to pause, reflect, and feel less alone before moving forward.
Soft Space
Unlike most mental-health or peer-support apps that focus on crisis, diagnosis, or structured therapy, this app provides a low-stakes emotional buffer for young adults experiencing life transitions — a gentle, anonymous space to express uncertainty and feel less alone
01. Feel lonely
02. People move to different county they need people to talk to
03. Express themselves
04. Need to know local job market
05. A place to ask information
