02 USERS

03 CHALLENGES

04 INSIGHTS

05 STRATEGY

06 DESIGN

07 LEARNINGS

08 RESULTS

Talkingphoto Avatar

Turning AI curiosity into creation

Client:

HeyGen

Role:

Product Designer

Platform:

Web · Mobile

Deliverables:

Product Strategy · Interaction · Visual Design · Experimentation

01 CONTEXT

HeyGen is a generative AI tool that specializes in digital avatars & AI-powered video creation. Its mission is to make storytelling accessible to everyone.

HeyGen is a generative AI tool that specializes in digital avatars & AI-powered video creation. Its mission is to make storytelling accessible to everyone.

TalkingPhoto Avatar transforms any static photo into a speaking digital avatar that moves and talks naturally — just one click away.

TalkingPhoto Avatar transforms any static photo into a speaking digital avatar that moves and talks naturally — just one click away.

02 MEET OUR CUSTOMERS

01) Trendy Creators

GOAL

Create something personal, engaging, and shareable fast

BEHAVIOR

Personal uploads · Short form videos · Story driven experiments

FRUSTRATION

Too much effort for a lightweight idea; Generic outputs feel unengaging

02) Business Creators

GOAL

Turn business ideas into professional, polished videos efficiently

BEHAVIOR

Creates across marketing needs · Reuses brand assets · Polish content

FRUSTRATION

Every polished video requires too much setup, editing, and brand checking

03 THE CHALLENGE

Interest was high. Creation wasn't.

TalkingPhoto attracted users with an intuitive AI “wow” moment, but too many first-time users dropped before successfully creating a video.

How do we get users from “this is cool” to “I made this”?
04 CREATOR INSIGHTS
  1. Personal content drives creation

Users strongly prefer creating with personal photos on social media and sharing with friends.
-> Make personal uploads the fastest path into creation.

  1. Creators want a fast payoff

Most generated videos were under one minute, peaking around 30–60 seconds.
-> Keep creation fast, not feature-heavy.

  1. Creators use AI for both work and expression

Users create videos for marketing, training, media, and online services.
-> Consider business use cases and workflows.

05 PRODUCT STRATEGY
Designing for first-time AI creators
  1. Show the magic immediately

TalkingPhoto Avatar’s key value lies in its novelty and entertainment. Film IPs & Artwork references make the experience clear and engaging.

  1. Make creation personal

Maximizing user participation through photo uploads and scenario-based templates that make AI video creation effortless.

  1. Sharable Across Platforms

Facilitating viral sharing through seamless cross-device distribution and one-click sharing to major social platforms.

06 DESIGNING THE EXPERIENCE
Deliverable 01: Talkingphoto Avatar Creation (Updated UI)
Show the Magic Upfront, Draw Users In

Strategy: Show the magic immediately
Design Decision: Use animation to showcase the product’s appeal and capture attention.

Rich Templates Across Industries

Insights: Creators use AI for both work and expression
Design Decision: Use diverse templates to meet a wide range of business needs.

Effortless Photo Upload

Insights: Personal content drives creation
Design Decision: Enable users to quickly and easily create avatars from their photos.

Instant Video Preview Feedback

Design Decision: Provide quick previews to ease the wait.

Easy Sharing

Strategy: Sharable Across Platforms
Design Decision: Enable fast sharing across multiple platforms, just one click away.

07 Learnings

Considers Edge Cases

Clear Specs for Faster Handoffs
08 Results

Increased video completion from 36% to 85%.