Doodle Avatar
Doodle Avatar
Turn Your Images into Animated Characters
Turn Your Images into Animated Characters
Overview
Doodle is a Humi feature that turns uploaded images into animated avatars. From the start, I designed the creation flow to be simple and intuitive by removing unnecessary steps so users could generate avatars with ease.
This approach quickly gained traction: Nearly 80% of creators chose Doodle as their primary avatar style in Japan, showing how a distinct 2D look could resonate in new markets.
Timeline
Dec 2024- June 2025
Role
UX designer(Contribution:100%)
Responsibilities
UX Design & User Interviews
Company
XRSPACE
Overview
Doodle is a Humi feature that turns uploaded images into animated avatars. From the start, I designed the creation flow to be simple and intuitive by removing unnecessary steps so users could generate avatars with ease.
This approach quickly gained traction: Nearly 80% of creators chose Doodle as their primary avatar style in Japan, showing how a distinct 2D look could resonate in new markets.
Timeline
Dec 2024- June 2025
Role
UX designer(Contribution:100%)
Responsibilities
UX Design & User Interviews
Company
XRSPACE
Background
Background
Humi is a social platform centred around avatars that enables users to create and share content in a variety of ways. In the early stages of Humi’s development, the team explored what content formats could accelerate adoption and support expansion into new markets.
Humi is a social platform centred around avatars that enables users to create and share content in a variety of ways. In the early stages of Humi’s development, the team explored what content formats could accelerate adoption and support expansion into new markets.
Around this time, one of our consultants in the US introduced us to Meta’s research into animated drawings. We recognised the potential not only as a technical possibility, but also as a unique visual style. We believed it could complement Humi’s core 3D experience and open up new creative possibilities for users.
Around this time, one of our consultants in the US introduced us to Meta’s research into animated drawings. We recognised the potential not only as a technical possibility, but also as a unique visual style. We believed it could complement Humi’s core 3D experience and open up new creative possibilities for users.
Doodle Avatar
Turn Your Images into Animated Characters
Overview
Doodle is a Humi feature that turns uploaded images into animated avatars. From the start, I designed the creation flow to be simple and intuitive by removing unnecessary steps so users could generate avatars with ease.
This approach quickly gained traction: Nearly 80% of creators chose Doodle as their primary avatar style in Japan, showing how a distinct 2D look could resonate in new markets.
Timeline
Dec 2024- June 2025
Role
UX designer(Contribution:100%)
Responsibilities
UX Design & User Interviews
Company
XRSPACE
Background
Humi is a social platform centred around avatars that enables users to create and share content in a variety of ways. In the early stages of Humi’s development, the team explored what content formats could accelerate adoption and support expansion into new markets.
Around this time, one of our consultants in the US introduced us to Meta’s research into animated drawings. We recognised the potential not only as a technical possibility, but also as a unique visual style. We believed it could complement Humi’s core 3D experience and open up new creative possibilities for users.
Situation
Situation
After looking more closely into Meta’s Animated Drawings, the team realized that while the concept was technically promising, the actual process felt fragmented and overwhelming for the average user. Having experienced it first-hand, I identified an opportunity to streamline the workflow — reducing unnecessary steps to make creation faster and more straightforward.
After looking more closely into Meta’s Animated Drawings, the team realized that while the concept was technically promising, the actual process felt fragmented and overwhelming for the average user. Having experienced it first-hand, I identified an opportunity to streamline the workflow — reducing unnecessary steps to make creation faster and more straightforward.
(Animated Drawings - Meta)
(Animated Drawings - Meta)
Developing Doodle Avatar was a key decision to enrich Humi‘s avatar diversity and reach new user segments with a distinctive animated style.
Developing Doodle Avatar was a key decision to enrich Humi‘s avatar diversity and reach new user segments with a distinctive animated style.
Developing Doodle Avatar was a key decision to enrich Humi‘s avatar diversity and reach new user segments with a distinctive animated style.
Goals
Goals
Goals for users and the product were set respectively to solve user problems while simultaneously meeting business needs
Goals for users and the product were set respectively to solve user problems while simultaneously meeting business needs
User Goal
User Goal
Quickly see how the image turns into an avatar.
Quickly see how the image turns into an avatar.
Business Goal
Business Goal
Increase functionality utilization and content richness
Increase functionality utilization and content richness
Design Solution
Design Solution
Simplify the Flow
Simplify the Flow
Simplify the Flow
While breaking down Meta’s Animated Drawings process, I mapped each step in detail to understand how it worked.
While breaking down Meta’s Animated Drawings process, I mapped each step in detail to understand how it worked.
Observation: Existing Automation
Observation: Existing Automation
Observation: Existing Automation
Much of the process was already automated, detecting the character, adding a mask and skeleton. Yet users still had to confirm each step. I wondered what if uploading an image could instantly generate an animated character?
Much of the process was already automated, detecting the character, adding a mask and skeleton. Yet users still had to confirm each step. I wondered what if uploading an image could instantly generate an animated character?
Much of the process was already automated, detecting the character, adding a mask and skeleton. Yet users still had to confirm each step. I wondered what if uploading an image could instantly generate an animated character?
Inspired by Meta’s Animated Drawings, I analyzed the process and identified opportunities to simplify it for general users. My proposal was that once a user uploads an image, the next step should immediately generate an avatar while still providing space for adjustments if needed.
Inspired by Meta’s Animated Drawings, I analyzed the process and identified opportunities to simplify it for general users. My proposal was that once a user uploads an image, the next step should immediately generate an avatar while still providing space for adjustments if needed.
Simply reducing steps could harm the experience if the technology wasn’t reliable. To support this simplification, I collaborated with engineers to verify that the background removal was accurate.
Simply reducing steps could harm the experience if the technology wasn’t reliable. To support this simplification, I collaborated with engineers to verify that the background removal was accurate.
And characters of any style would move naturally once rigged with a skeleton. We tested both humanoid and non-humanoid characters to ensure animations still looked natural.
And characters of any style would move naturally once rigged with a skeleton. We tested both humanoid and non-humanoid characters to ensure animations still looked natural.
Clear Instructions
Clear Instructions
Clear Instructions
To ensure users could easily prepare their images, I provided clear upload guidelines with visual examples. The combination of concise text and diagrams reduced ambiguity, helping users quickly understand the requirements.
To ensure users could easily prepare their images, I provided clear upload guidelines with visual examples. The combination of concise text and diagrams reduced ambiguity, helping users quickly understand the requirements.
To support different learning needs, I included tutorial videos accessible at any time during the process.
To support different learning needs, I included tutorial videos accessible at any time during the process.
Result
Result
Doodle supported Humi's market expansion. It became the preferred avatar style in Japan.
Doodle supported Humi's market expansion. It became the preferred avatar style in Japan.
Around 80% of users in Japan adopted avatar generation in their daily content creation. The simplified flow lowered the barrier to entry, making it easy for users to try and keep using. Many described the process as "very simple".
