StoryJam

Generative research on AI interfaces for youth storytelling

Duration
2 months

Client
StoryJam
(EdTech Startup)

Team
3 UX Researchers
2 UX Designers
2 Engineers

Research Methods
Participatory Co-Design
Contextual Inquiry
Affinity Mapping
Storyboarding

Tools
Figma, Mural

PROBLEM

RESEARCH GOALS

IMPACT

StoryJam aims to develop a child-friendly AI creativity platform. In 2022, this was an underexplored area in the market, with limited research on how children understand and interact with AI.

• Understand how children perceive and interact with AI.

• Design AI products that are fun and engaging for kids.

Transformed an edtech startup from concept to prototype (0-1).

Shaped product direction and design based on feedback from young users.

Promoted AI literacy in kids and positively shifted children's perception of AI as creative aid rather than hindrance.

Participatory Co-design workshops

2

11

Participants

Cross-functional
stakeholders involved

4 DESIGN SESSION 1

TECHNOLOGY IMMERSION
(120 MINS)

To understand how children perceive and interact with AI, we asked children to freely interact with Storyjam’s AI models with 3 different communication methods - chat (GPT3), voice (client built), and image generation (DALL-E 2).

RECORDING FEEDBACK

OBSERVATIONS & CHALLENGES FROM SESSION 1

The feedback from technology immersion which highlighted the user needs were recorded using the below techniques.

• Question of the Day
To learn interesting child persona data and think about the context before the session activities.

• Big Ideas
Children provide feedback and improvement suggestions on each AI feature.

• Line Judging
Standing on a taped line to indicate preference (like, dislike, meh) and explaining the choice for AI features.

“Can AI make me into a Disney Princess?”

Feedback from children uncovered critical pain points and opportunities when interacting with AI

Perceived to be invisible &
intimidating for its all-know attitude

Find AI unfamiliar

Children couldn’t write prompts
and AI was treated as search engine

Difficulty in prompt writing

Each AI model constrained to text,
voice or image reducing flexibility

Limited input methods

Children wanted to customize the
colors and shapes of image results

Lack of Authority

DESIGN SESSION 2

PLANNING - OVERCOME CHALLENGES FROM SESSION 1

StoryJam made an unified AI and introduced it as a potential friend to find collaborative experiences children like to create.

We used unstructured storyboards to visualize how children incorporate AI in their creations.
I created design cards to help children understand AI capabilities and express story ideas.
We also used the "Bags of Stuff" prototyping technique, allowing children to use various materials to express their AI experience ideas.

Design Cards

STORYBOARD ACTIVITY

Children created games with silly stories where AI acted either as an ally or competitor

  
        Step
        Description
      
        Goal
        Create a fun experience with Story Jam pieces from Tuesday that you could play with your friends
      
        Question of the Day
        What is your favorite game to play with friends? Why?
      
        Materials
        Big paper, Design cards, Art supplies, Bags of Stuff materials
      
        Task
        Draw/write an experience on the big paper where you, AI and your friends can participate together
      
        Prompts
        Replayability, Challenge element, sharing, & remixing with friends
      
        Debrief
        Post session, 20-minute discussion on impressions and observations from the session.

ANALYSIS

AFFINITY ANALYSIS

We used affinity mapping to categorize all findings, leading to brainstorming sessions and the creation of product concepts

“I want to draw my own hat”

OVERARCHING
DESIGN THEMES

After 4 brainstorming sessions, we prioritized the following themes which showed potential for scaling opportunities

Integrated, multimedia, multi-modal interactions
Interaction with the unified AI made children less confused and use AI with confidence

Need for Onboarding
Interaction with the unified AI made children less confused and use AI with confidence

Magic Button
Children wanted a button to alert AI for more content when they felt stuck or need help in prompts writing

Hybrid-Tangible creations
Children expressed interest in customizing their AI creations and printing to showcase and share

DESIGN

CROSS-FUNCTIONAL COLLABORATION

To decide on the product concept we had 2 Zoom meetings to discuss features and their feasibility

PRODUCT CONCEPT

Utilizing Mixing ideas technique, we conceptualized an AI storytelling app that aligned with the findings

Storytelling app task flow sketch

Main interaction screen

DESIGN ITERATION 1 -
MID FIDELITY

I got invested in the project and decided to translate the concept to design to initially understand app interface

USER TESTING

FINAL DESIGN

To evaluate app reception and AI interaction patterns, I conducted user testing with 7 children

  
        Step
        Description
      
        Goal
        Identify interaction challenges children face when using the AI storytelling app
      
        Question of the Day
        "What's the best story you've ever created or imagined?”
      
        Tasks
        
          Write a story using the app's prompts and tools
Customize an image to go with the story using the app's features

        Recording Feedback
        
          Observe and take notes
Record video of the testing sessions
Conduct brief post-test interviews
Line Judging

AI avatar as a button
Children kept pressing the avatar to explore options

Agency to draw their own images
Expressed interest in drawing what they want

Motivation to write story
Difficult to write stories without context

Leading discussion
Desired AI to start conversations and show new ideas

I designed a storytelling app where the user - Solves a riddle, Reads a story as reward,
Gets inspiration, and Creates own story

Read storybook

Create your own storybook

Play game to find a storybook

Draw Pictures

AI Interactions

DELIVERY

JOURNEY MAP

I developed a comprehensive user journey to guide informed decisions on next effort priorities and ensure the product meets user needs.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

I documented and delivered a comprehensive report including research methodologies, actionable insights, product design & direction, future opportunities, and raw data to the product owners.

Me

TAKEAWAYS

Given more time we would have…

• Scaffold for young minds
During the project, I discovered the critical importance of scaffolding for our youngest users. Initially, I assumed children aged 6-8 could intuitively grasp AI concepts, but I quickly realized this was an oversight. By providing more detailed examples and step-by-step guidance on AI features, we significantly improved their understanding and engagement.

• Empower stakeholders with knowledge
Developing an orientation on Cooperative Inquiry for StoryJam stakeholders became essential. I learned that briefing them on research methods enhances their understanding, leading to more effective collaboration and informed decision-making.

TESTIMONIALS

Manny Fassihi, CEO, StoryJam

“Dinesh, These are fantastic! Thank you so much for taking this first stab at translating our concepts into design.”

Elizabeth Bonsignore, Research Scientist, KidsTeam

“Belatedly, echoing thanks to Dinesh for all his wonderful ideas– and for his macabre masterpiece of an AI-supported graphic Novel o_0

We’ll be incorporating these ideas into our report, along with design time with Dinesh over the past few days.”