“How a Simple Idea Turned Into a Tool That Redefines User Research” My VIVA Tool Iteration

It started with a question “What if we could see through the user’s eyes?”

As a UX designer, I’ve spent countless hours deciphering user behavior. Heatmaps, analytics, usability tests — they all help, but none of them truly answered the question: Where does the user actually look?

This question stayed with me like an itch I couldn’t scratch. Every interface, every design decision — I wondered what the user’s eyes were telling me that data couldn’t.

Start of Viva

Viva wasn’t just an idea; it was born from frustration. As someone with no coding background, I knew building a tool that tracks user gaze would be a challenge. But I also knew this: design thrives on empathy, and there’s no greater empathy than seeing the world through your user’s eyes.

The goal was clear:

1. No coding hassles. Upload a design or link — let the tool do the magic.
2. Visual storytelling. Create a heatmap-style video that shows exactly where the user’s attention goes.
3. Cross-functional value. Make it useful not just for UX designers but also for marketers and graphic designers.

Building the MVP (Without a Team of Developers!)

With limited resources, I focused on crafting a minimum viable product (MVP). Viva’s MVP combines two powerful ideas:

• Eye tracking: A calibration process records user gaze as they interact with a site or image.
• Engagement visualization: The recorded gaze paths are processed into a video overlay, highlighting focus areas as colorful “bubbles.”

Even if you’re testing a non-coded prototype (say, a Figma design), Viva lets you upload the design, track gaze interactions, and get insights — all without writing a single line of code.

Heading: “How a Simple Idea Turned Into a Tool That Redefines User Research”

It started with a question: “What if we could see through the user’s eyes?”

As a UX designer, I’ve spent countless hours deciphering user behavior. Heatmaps, analytics, usability tests — they all help, but none of them truly answered the question: Where does the user actually look?

This question stayed with me like an itch I couldn’t scratch. Every interface, every design decision — I wondered what the user’s eyes were telling me that data couldn’t.

The Birth of Viva

Viva wasn’t just an idea; it was born from frustration. As someone with no coding background, I knew building a tool that tracks user gaze would be a challenge. But I also knew this: design thrives on empathy, and there’s no greater empathy than seeing the world through your user’s eyes.

The goal was clear:

1. No coding hassles. Upload a design or link — let the tool do the magic.
2. Visual storytelling. Create a heatmap-style video that shows exactly where the user’s attention goes.
3. Cross-functional value. Make it useful not just for UX designers but also for marketers and graphic designers.

Building the MVP (Without a Team of Developers!)

With limited resources, I focused on crafting a minimum viable product (MVP). Viva’s MVP combines two powerful ideas:

• Eye tracking: A calibration process records user gaze as they interact with a site or image.
• Engagement visualization: The recorded gaze paths are processed into a video overlay, highlighting focus areas as colorful “bubbles.”

Even if you’re testing a non-coded prototype (say, a Figma design), Viva lets you upload the design, track gaze interactions, and get insights — all without writing a single line of code.

The Story in Action

Here’s how it works:

• Upload your design or share a link.
• Viva opens it up on the platform and asks the user to undergo a quick eye calibration process.
• A recording session begins, allowing users to interact with the design.
• Viva tracks the gaze path and processes it into a downloadable overlay video, showing exactly where users focused their attention.

Imagine a marketer testing an ad layout or a UI designer analyzing a new app screen — Viva gives them the power to literally watch user engagement unfold.

Where Viva Stands Today

I’ll be honest — Viva is still in its early stages. But even now, it’s delivering real insights that feel like magic. The tool can record eye movements, analyze them using OpenCV, and provide actionable outputs.

Future plans?

• Integrating an optical cursor, so users can control their interactions using gaze alone.
• Enhancing visual heatmaps for better storytelling.

Why Viva Matters

Design isn’t about what we create; it’s about how users experience it. Viva isn’t just a tool — it’s a bridge between intention and perception, helping designers understand their users like never before.

If you’ve ever wondered where your users are looking and why — Viva is here to show you.

Curious to try Viva? I’d love for you to experience the magic firsthand. Whether you’re a UX designer, marketer, or simply someone curious about user behavior, Viva is built for you.

Let’s redefine how we understand design together. 💡

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1uWb5yaMipgD8UdgcqcZMFYqWgIJG8tO5tIQi3DdrGKc/edit#responses