This week, our focus was on improving the experience through continued validation and iteration. After multiple rounds of testing with participants, we returned to the prototype with a clearer understanding of where users felt comfortable, where they hesitated, and what helped the experience become more natural and engaging over time. Instead of making random additions, every change we implemented this week came directly from real user behavior and feedback. Creating a Softer

This week, our focus shifted from testing the concept to refining the product itself. After running a few rounds of validation on the digital prototype, we returned to the app with one main goal: to improve clarity, flow, and the overall user experience based on what we observed in real interactions. Improving the Experience Through Small but Critical Changes We focused on targeted improvements that directly address the friction points we identified in the iteration. First, w

This week, we took a major step forward in our process: moving from a conceptual idea into a working digital prototype. After weeks of research, analog testing, and refinement, we built our first interactive version of the game using Lovable. The goal was not to perfect the design, but to understand whether the core experience actually works when people interact with it in real life. Testing the Prototype With Real Users We tested the prototype with both friends and family, u

During the semester break, our focus shifted from exploration to precision . After weeks of research, interviews, and validation, this phase was about taking everything we had learned and turning it into a clear, cohesive solution : from concept to concrete experience. Revisiting the Core Problem We began by grounding ourselves again in the problem we set out to solve. In social and family settings especially around shared moments like dinners. Political conversations often l

This week was dedicated to validating our solution in the real world .Rather than refining interface details or content, our goal was to test the core idea:Does a playful, structured experience actually help reduce emotional tension around sensitive political topics? To do this, we built an analog version of the game and tested it in real social settings, followed by a class presentation summarizing our findings. Testing the Idea Outside the Lab Our initial plan was to test

This week was about putting our direction to the test.After refining our focus on emotionally charged conversations within close relationships, we were asked to prepare a pitch and present our project to experts in the field. The goal was not only to share an idea, but to examine whether our assumptions, framing, and proposed solution truly make sense outside the lab. From a Broad Theme to a Focused Challenge In our pitch, we began by walking through the journey that led us h

This week marked an important shift in our project.After reflecting on our previous work and reviewing additional academic literature, we realized that while avoidance of difficult conversations exists in public and academic spaces, the most intense emotional tension often emerges within close relationships : with family members, partners, and people we deeply care about. This insight led us to rethink both the context of our project and the How Might We question guiding ou

This week marked our transition from defining the problem to beginning the ideation phase . With our final How Might We question set How might we help students develop emotional tools and conversational skills so they won’t avoid difficult conversations? We explored how this challenge could be addressed through creativity, research, and a deeper understanding of our users’ daily reality. Brainstorming: Opening the Space for Possibilities We began the week with an open brain

How Might We… Help Students Develop Emotional Tools for Difficult Conversations? This week, we reached an important milestone in our process.After several rounds of interviews, insights, and refinement, we officially defined our How Might We question: How might we help students develop emotional tools and conversational skills, so they won’t avoid difficult or charged conversations? With this question guiding us, we continued exploring our users, their challenges, and the la

This week was all about sharpening our understanding of the problem and starting to frame it as a design challenge. After interviewing more students, reviewing psychological theories, and gathering quantitative research, we began shaping a clearer picture of our users, their emotional barriers, and the real conditions in which avoidance of dialogue appears. The more conversations we had with students, the more we realized how consistent the patterns are. Students across diffe

This week we shifted our focus from experts to our end users: students . After hearing about the factors behind the fear of dialogue, we wanted to understand how this plays out in students’ everyday lives: online, in class, and in conversations with friends. Through several interviews across different universities, majors, and backgrounds, we began to see a clear picture. What We Learned Online conversations feel unsafe and unproductive. Students described the online space

After two weeks of brainstorming and defining our initial directions, this stage was all about listening and learning . We conducted a series of expert interviews with journalists, educators, and community leaders to gain deeper perspectives on our chosen topics the avoidance of dialogue, lack of trust in media, and technological anxiety. What We Heard Across all interviews, one powerful theme emerged: Israeli society has lost its safe space for open conversation. Social med

Our journey at MILAB officially began! In the first week, each of us worked independently on three personal project ideas connected to the theme of “cohesion.” It was an opportunity to explore how technology, design, and psychology can come together to strengthen human connections and bridge gaps in communication, values, and understanding. By the second week, we were assigned to our permanent teams for the year and that’s when the real collaboration started. Together, we b