How I Became a Better App (Thanks to Actually
Listening to You)

Hello.
I’m an app.
Don’t ask which one. Copyright issues!

Well, I wasn’t always a great one.
But I’ve come a long way. And if you’ve got a few minutes, I’d love to tell you how I went from shiny and clueless… to useful and kind.

This is the story of how I changed—because of you.

I Was Born Flashy (and a Little Full of Myself)

My launch was glorious.

There were presentations. Buzzwords. Applause. Celebrations!
Designers showed me off like I was the next big thing. Developers patted themselves on the back.

PMs hit “send” on launch emails. I glowed—literally. I was beautifully animated, every corner perfectly rounded.

Everyone said I was innovative. Scalable. Elegant. The Next Big Thing.
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But what I wasn’t… was tested. Not really.

Sure, I had gone through a few internal demos and some stakeholder walkthroughs. But no one had asked you, the people I was built for, what you needed.
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Still, I thought I was ready. I was so sure I’d be loved.

Then I Met You… and It Was Awkward

My first few days in the wild were humbling.
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You tapped around and got stuck.
You scrolled endlessly, trying to find what you needed.
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You dropped off halfway through flows I thought were “intuitive.

”Some of you left reviews.
“Pretty, but confusing.”
“Not sure what this app does.”
“Needs work.”

That hurt. A lot. I cried.

I thought I was solving problems. But the truth was—I didn’t even understand them.
I had been designed around you, not with you.

And wow, did that show.

I Got Defensive (And Blamed You a Little Bit)

I wish I could say I took the feedback gracefully.
But at first, I didn’t.

Instead, I made excuses.
“Users just don’t get it.”
“They need more time.”
“They’re not using it right.”

I put up walls.
I started thinking you were the problem—not me.

And honestly? That was easier. Easier than facing the fact that I was built with assumptions, not understanding. Easier than admitting that my shiny buttons and clever animations weren’t enough.

But deep down, I started to feel… off. I looked polished, but I wasn’t being helpful. And that’s when something happened.

Someone Sat Me Down and Let You Speak

One day, a researcher pulled up a chair.
They invited a few of you to join a session.

And suddenly, I wasn’t performing.
I was listening.

You talked about your real goals.
Your frustrations.
Your workarounds.
The moments where I let you down.

No one yelled. No one tore me apart. You were just… honest.“

I expected this to work like that.”
“This button makes me nervous.”
“I just wanted to do X, but I had to jump through hoops.”

It was eye-opening.
Painful, yes—but also clarifying.

This wasn’t about criticism. It was about connection.
You weren’t trying to destroy me. You were trying to help me be better.

And that realization? That was the turning point.

I Changed—Bit by Bit

I didn’t transform overnight.
But I started evolving.

One button got moved.
One step got simplified.
One confusing label got rewritten.

Small things—but they mattered.

Behind the scenes, the team around me was listening more closely.
Researchers kept talking to you. Designers kept testing with you. Developers started asking “why,” not just “how.

”We weren’t building for an idealized user anymore.
We were building for you—with your messy, brilliant, unpredictable ways.

I became calmer. Cleaner.
Less clever, more clear.
Less about me. More about you.

And guess what? You started noticing.

Today, I’m Still Growing—But I’m Better

I still get feedback. And yes, I still mess up sometimes.

But now, I know what to do with it.

I welcome it.
I lean into it.
I grow from it.

Because feedback isn’t failure—it’s fuel.
User research isn’t a checkbox—it’s my compass.

The more I listen, the better I serve. The more I observe, the closer I get to solving real problems. The more I collaborate with teams who care about research, the more human I become.

So… Thank You

If you ever took the time to speak up, share your experience, or click that “it’s not working” button—thank you.

And to the researchers out there—the quiet heroes asking the right questions and making sure I don’t forget who I’m here for—thank you, too.

I’m a better app because you all saw something I couldn’t.
You helped me let go of my ego.
And find my purpose.

A big thank you To MyParticipants—you were the ones who brought me closer to the people I was built for.
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You found the voices I needed to hear. You asked the questions I didn’t know to ask. You helped my team see me not as a product, but as a conversation.

Here’s to staying curious, staying humble, and always making room for more listening.

With gratitude,
‍An app that finally learned to hear you