Heirloom

Prototype link

Describe your project (Max 150 words)

Generational gaps can interfere with our relationships with loved ones, often leading to misunderstandings as a result of different experiences and values. As a product of nostalgia, connection, and growth, Heirloom is a mobile application that restores experiences that are often lost with time and helps users form stronger connections with their loved ones. Through Heirloom, users will complete tasks assigned based on their loved ones’ cultural backgrounds and individual interests, including watching films in a loved one’s native tongue or jamming to music originating from another era. These tasks can be shared or completed together, encouraging users to reflect on their experiences, spend more time with their loved ones, and create new memories. Heirloom encourages users to take action towards an intimate understanding of their loved ones and finally bridge that generational gap.

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)

Our research began with a close examination of what it means to “bridge generational gaps.” In the initial phase, we identified how these gaps appear in everyday life. According to the National Library of Medicine (link), a substantial proportion of older adults experience digital exclusion. Similarly, research from the Impact 360 Institute and Barna Group (link) shows that only 46% of Gen Z feel truly understood by their parents or guardians. These findings led us to focus on three guiding questions: how generational differences are perceived, how they manifest as user pain points, and how they might be addressed or reinforced through design. To explore these questions, we conducted user interviews centered on relationships between parents and children. Several key patterns emerged; for one, children often struggle to reach out to parents or grandparents due to language barriers or fear of conflict. Parents, on the other hand, value time spent with their children and are often pleasantly surprised when their children take the initiative to connect. Both groups identified differences in values and beliefs as the primary barriers to stronger relationships, reinforcing the role generational gaps play in everyday interactions. These insights informed our next steps as we transitioned toward the design phase. We conducted a second round of interviews (interview script) with the same participants, along with a survey (survey form), to better understand how a digital product could support meaningful and intimate cross-generational interactions. In the follow-up interviews, parents expressed greater awareness and acceptance of generational differences. We also found that shared interests significantly strengthen parent-child relationships; children who shared common interests with one parent were more likely to feel closer to that parent. To explore this further, we distributed a short survey to 47 participants, asking about generational identity, perceptions of younger and older generations on a 1-5 scale, and interest in popular culture from other generations. The survey was shared via SMS and Instagram stories, which explains why most respondents were Gen Z (mostly ages 18-19), with some participants in their late forties and early fifties. Results showed that respondents felt they moderately understood older generations and felt similarly understood by them. However, many believed they understood younger generations better than those generations understood them. Music from older generations emerged as the area of greatest cross-generational interest. Together, this secondary research, two rounds of user interviews, and the survey provided a clear picture of key user pain points and helped solidify the direction of our product, concluding the research phase of development.

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

Building on insights from our research and user interviews, we explored several potential directions for our product. One early concept was an educational scavenger hunt that encouraged users to visit landmarks and learn about the history and culture of those places, reflecting survey participants’ interest in older buildings and neighborhoods. However, this idea presented significant limitations: it required time and financial investment for travel and primarily targeted younger users, excluding older generations for whom the content or format might be less relevant. Additionally, while younger users are generally more comfortable with technology, accessibility challenges could further alienate older users. These constraints raised a central design question: how can we create a digital product that is inclusive of multiple generations while accounting for differences in accessibility, preferences, and habits? Guided by our research, we shifted toward a solution that prioritizes inclusivity and meaningful interaction. This led to the development of Heirloom, a mobile app designed to support real-time, face-to-face connections between generations rather than replace them. By encouraging in-person interaction, Heirloom balances differing workflows and dynamics across age groups. A key insight from our second round of interviews revealed that shared interests and hobbies significantly strengthen parent-child relationships. This finding became the foundation of Heirloom. Through gamified challenges, users are invited to engage with and learn about the popular culture of another generation. The app is personalized, allowing users to create profiles for loved ones so that challenges can be tailored to specific generations and cultural backgrounds. Importantly, these interactions are reciprocal. After completing a challenge, users can write and share reflections with their loved ones, prompting deeper conversations beyond the screen. This feature encourages more intimate face-to-face interactions, greater cultural understanding, and stronger intergenerational bonds. Based on survey results showing strong interest in music from other generations, Heirloom also includes an in-app music feature to streamline participation in music-based challenges. Finally, Heirloom directly addresses pain points identified in earlier interviews, particularly language barriers. To reduce this friction, users can assign language preferences to loved ones’ profiles, enabling automatic translation of challenge reflections and recaps before sharing. Together, these design choices ensure Heirloom remains accessible, inclusive, and effective in fostering meaningful connections across generations.

If applicable, describe how you utilized AI in your design process in detail. Please explain where AI fit into your workflow, which tools you used, and the specific purpose AI served at that stage. Include a concrete example of how AI influenced a design decision. (Max 500 words)**

We utilized AI (credit: ChatGPT) to help generate user profile pictures based on our real-life photos. For example, Raina’s photo was used to create the profile picture for our user persona Ryan, a gender-bent version of herself. We also used AI during the writing process to check for grammatical errors and suggest clearer wording within the given word limit. In addition, we used Figma’s smart animation features.