Project Overview
Comprehensive user research and prototype development for a mobile application designed to support parents and children through the potty training journey with Pull-Ups products.
Technologies Used
My Role
- UX Research
- Prototype Development
- User Testing
The Challenge
Pull-Ups set out to create a mobile app to support parents during potty training while promoting their brand. The ask seemed simple: find a real problem parents face and design a digital solution that helps. We began the project with open minds and a research-first approach—but halfway through, we found out that while we were presenting our concepts and research analysis, the brand had already spent $100K on a completely unvalidated, pre-drawn app concept created outside the UX team. Our challenge shifted from designing a good product to trying to prove—through actual research—that their idea wasn't going to work. And we did exactly that.
The Solution
We interviewed over 50 parents of children currently potty training, recently finished, or just starting the journey. Through rigorous synthesis, we identified two core truths: The only people interested in downloading a potty training app are first-time parents—everyone else either already figured it out or didn't have time. The most common pain point wasn't about tracking progress, but about accidents—especially during screen time, when kids are too distracted to notice when they need to go. From this, we created an Opportunity Solution Tree, mapping our interview insights to pain points, then to solution concepts. The standout idea was a built-in video player that pauses at intervals with potty reminders—transforming screen time into a training tool. We prototyped this and brought it back to parents who immediately saw the value: it was passive, supportive, and didn't require constant effort from the parent.
The Results
Despite overwhelmingly positive feedback on our concept, the Pull-Ups team chose to move forward with their original $100K sketch: a potty tracking app complete with a Candyland-style progress board and virtual stickers. We user-tested it anyway—just to be sure—and results were clear: parents had zero interest in manually logging every accident or success. 'I don't have time for this' was the most common reaction. We delivered the findings. They ignored them. We were removed from the project. A year later, the app launched. A year after that, it was pulled from stores due to low engagement. This project didn't end with a live product we were proud of—but it remains one of the clearest case studies in the cost of ignoring user research in favor of gut instincts and expensive illustrations.
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