Shipped 0 to 1 AI Photo App in 4 Weeks

Led a team of 3 to take LOOKR from a brief to an investor-ready iOS prototype with real user validation.

ROLE

Lead Product Design Intern

2023

4 week sprint

OUTCOME

72% User satisfaction

TEAM

Team of 3 working alongside CEO

Lookr

Lookr

The Problem

Creators need inspiration where they're shooting, not where they're planning.

Photo creators face a frustrating workflow

Scroll through Pinterest for inspiration

Travel to location with idea in memory

Struggle to recall what inspired them

Take dozens of photos hoping one matches vision

Creators need inspiration where they're shooting, not where they're planning.

My Role + Approach

Research Insights That Shaped Everything

[

PHASE 1

]

Research strategy + roadmap

Secondary research, competitive analysis, user journeys, red route prioritization


[

PHASE 1

]

Research strategy + roadmap

Secondary research, competitive analysis, user journeys, red route prioritization


[

DESIGN

]

Team leadership

Project plan, style guide, lo-fi sketches, hi-fi prototype, iterated on feedback


[

DESIGN

]

Team leadership

Project plan, style guide, lo-fi sketches, hi-fi prototype, iterated on feedback


[

VALIDATE

]

Stakeholder alignment

Usability testing insights, founder feedback synthesis


[

VALIDATE

]

Stakeholder alignment

Usability testing insights, founder feedback synthesis


No existing users. No prior interface. We only had 5 days for research.

No existing users. No prior interface. We only had 5 days for research.

No existing users. No prior interface. We only had 5 days for research.

Research

What we learned by watching how creators actually work

Instead of guessing, I analyzed

20+ detailed videos of photographers on-site

20+ detailed videos of photographers on-site

Competitive apps (Instagram, Pinterest, Midjourney)

Competitive apps (Instagram, Pinterest, Midjourney)

User journeys from inspiration-seeking to post-shoot

User journeys from inspiration-seeking to post-shoot

Creators don't need more inspiration sources. They need inspiration accessible while shooting.

Creators don't need more inspiration sources. They need inspiration accessible while shooting.

Creators don't need more inspiration sources. They need inspiration accessible while shooting.

The problem wasn't discovery.

It was recall + application.

Founder's feedback shifted our thinking

CEO
How should real-time location-based inspiration behave differently for each persona?
CEO
How should real-time location-based inspiration behave differently for each persona?
CEO
How should real-time location-based inspiration behave differently for each persona?

This pushed us from: personas → user journeys → specific design decisions

This pushed us from: personas → user journeys → specific design decisions

This pushed us from: personas → user journeys → specific design decisions

Defining The MVP

Red route analysis → 4 core features that actually matter

Using a red route analysis (frequency + impact), we identified what photo creators rely on most:

Real-time, AI-generated inspiration

Real-time, AI-generated inspiration

Save + organize inspiration (pin functionality)

Save + organize inspiration (pin functionality)

Compare photos side-by-side

Compare photos side-by-side

In-app photo library (don't clutter personal gallery

In-app photo library (don't clutter personal gallery

Search functionality (too time-intensive to build)

Search functionality (too time-intensive to build)

Social features (not MVP-critical)

Social features (not MVP-critical)

Advanced filters (out of scope)

Advanced filters (out of scope)

Design principle: Simplicity = ruthlessness about scope

Design principle: Simplicity = ruthlessness about scope

4 weeks. So we eliminated everything that didn't directly solve "I need inspiration while I'm shooting."

4 weeks. So we eliminated everything that didn't directly solve "I need inspiration while I'm shooting."

4 weeks. So we eliminated everything that didn't directly solve "I need inspiration while I'm shooting."

The Design Challenge

Inspiration can't block the shot

Before: Static inspiration pinned on camera view

Before #1: Native Apple Camera

Static inspiration pinned on camera view

Before #2: Native Apple Camera

Static inspiration appears below camera view

Before #1: Native Apple Camera

Static inspiration pinned on camera view

Before #2: Native Apple Camera

Static inspiration appears below camera view

Feedback made us realize the critical insight

Creators of Visual Platforms
Inspirations are blocking my shot. I can't see what I'm framing.
Creators of Visual Platforms
Inspirations are blocking my shot. I can't see what I'm framing.
Creators of Visual Platforms
Inspirations are blocking my shot. I can't see what I'm framing.

We realized users needed visible inspiration and the ability to see their actual shot.

After

Built internal camera with a toggle feature so users can

See their live camera frame while composing

Tap to reveal AI-generated inspiration in real-time

Switch between inspiration + live view instantly

See their live camera frame while composing

Tap to reveal AI-generated inspiration in real-time

Switch between inspiration + live view instantly

I think a good design is about letting users move between states fluidly.

I think a good design is about letting users move between states fluidly.

Users got real-time suggestions without obstructing their framing. Feature adoption jumped 54%.

Users got real-time suggestions without obstructing their framing. Feature adoption jumped 54%.

Users got real-time suggestions without obstructing their framing. Feature adoption jumped 54%.

What we removed )and why)

Extra step to reveal AI photos

User testing showed friction

Streamlined flow from capture → inspiration

Search Function

Too time-consuming to build, not core value

Kept team focused on AI inspiration

Extra step to reveal AI photos

User testing showed friction

Streamlined flow from capture → inspiration

Photos saved automatically to device

Would clutter user's phone

Built in-app library instead

Results + Impact

From prototype → investor validation in 4 weeks

What we shipped

Functional mobile prototype (iOS)

Functional mobile prototype (iOS)

UI style guide (75% reduction in design inconsistencies)

UI style guide (75% reduction in design inconsistencies)

Feature prioritization framework for founder

Feature prioritization framework for founder

Investor-ready demo

Investor-ready demo

66% user satisfaction in usability testing

66% user satisfaction in usability testing

54% feature adoption (people used all 4 core features)

54% feature adoption (people used all 4 core features)

Founder validation: "This is what I envisioned"

Founder validation: "This is what I envisioned"

Investor readiness: Founder could confidently pitch the product vision

Investor readiness: Founder could confidently pitch the product vision

Shoot with AI inspiration visible in real time

Open and pin genereated AI inspiration anywhere

Compare takes side-by-side to match the original idea

Keep shoots in an in-app library

Open and pin genereated AI inspiration from taking a photo

Shoot with AI inspiration visible in real time

Compare takes side-by-side to match the original idea

What I Learned

3 lessons from shipping 0-to-1 in 4 weeks

[

LESSON #1

]

Speed doesn't mean careless

We moved fast because we were clear about what mattered. Every design decision tied back to user research. Constraints forced intentionality.


[

LESSON #1

]

Speed doesn't mean careless

We moved fast because we were clear about what mattered. Every design decision tied back to user research. Constraints forced intentionality.


[

LESSON #2

]

Leadership is clarity

Managing a team of interns on aggressive timeline meant being crystal clear about:

  • Why we were making each choice

  • What success looked like

  • What was negotiable vs. non-negotiable

[

LESSON #2

]

Leadership is clarity

Managing a team of interns on aggressive timeline meant being crystal clear about:

  • Why we were making each choice

  • What success looked like

  • What was negotiable vs. non-negotiable

[

LESSON #3

]

Simplicity requires saying no

The prototype was powerful because we removed features, not despite it. The strongest design decision was what we didn't build.


[

LESSON #3

]

Simplicity requires saying no

The prototype was powerful because we removed features, not despite it. The strongest design decision was what we didn't build.


If I Continued This Project

Next opportunities

Smart suggestions

Based on shooting location + time of day (use geolocation + metadata)

Collaboration mode

So teams can share inspiration libraries

Advanced mobile experience

For using inspiration gallery while shooting multiple locations

Analytics dashboard

For creator insights (what inspiration drove successful shoots?)

My approach: Validate each assumption with users before building. This MVP taught me what matters, now we expand from there.

My approach: Validate each assumption with users before building. This MVP taught me what matters, now we expand from there.

My approach: Validate each assumption with users before building. This MVP taught me what matters, now we expand from there.

The Personal Reflection

Why this project matters to me

This project was a turning point for me:

I led the work end-to-end for the first time

Learned how to coordinate a team

Learned how to coordinate a team

Divide work by strengths

Divide work by strengths

Kept decisions moving

Kept decisions moving

Using a lean approach forced clarity and it worked

Using a lean approach forced clarity and it worked

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WORKS

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