A media recognition app concept
validated through rapid market testing
A media recognition app
concept validated through
rapid market testing
market validation
A media
recognition app
concept tested
through rapid
Academic Project
12 weeks
Feb 2025
Role: Product Designer
Impact
Impact
Results from early Pretotyping Tests
Results from early Pretotyping Tests
These quick experiments measured initial desirability and potential product fit. 67% of testers said they’d use Sauce again, showing strong curiosity despite minimal UI.
These quick experiments measured initial desirability and potential product fit. 67% of testers said they’d use Sauce again, showing strong curiosity despite minimal UI.
Tests Conducted
3
Assumptions Validated
2
Validation Success Rate
67%
Context
Context
People constantly stumble upon viral clips and scenes but struggle to identify them
People constantly stumble upon viral clips and scenes but struggle to identify them
From TikTok edits to movie trailers glimpsed in passing, people often want to know “Where is that from?” Existing search tools rarely work well for short form video or mixed audio visual input. This leads to frustration, broken discovery journeys, and missed chances for engagement.
From TikTok edits to movie trailers glimpsed in passing, people often want to know “Where is that from?” Existing search tools rarely work well for short form video or mixed audio visual input. This leads to frustration, broken discovery journeys, and missed chances for engagement.
The challenge is that short clips spread faster than context. Users need a way to instantly recognize and connect content without interrupting their browsing flow.
The challenge is that short clips spread faster than context. Users need a way to instantly recognize and connect content without interrupting their browsing flow.
Sauce is my solution. It is an AI powered mobile app that identifies movies, TV shows, and viral clips using both audio and visual recognition. Beyond just naming the content, Sauce directs users to cast details, streaming platforms, and related recommendations, turning fleeting curiosity into discovery. Through lean validation experiments with landing pages, prototypes, and user tests, I explored whether there is real demand for such a product.
Sauce is my solution. It is an AI powered mobile app that identifies movies, TV shows, and viral clips using both audio and visual recognition. Beyond just naming the content, Sauce directs users to cast details, streaming platforms, and related recommendations, turning fleeting curiosity into discovery. Through lean validation experiments with landing pages, prototypes, and user tests, I explored whether there is real demand for such a product.
Challenge
Challenge
How might we validate if people will actually use an AI media recognition app?
How might we validate if people will actually use an AI media recognition app?
The challenge was to validate whether users truly need an AI layer for media rediscovery or if existing search habits already suffice. Proving that gap was essential to justify building Sauce as a real product rather than a novelty.
The challenge was to validate whether users truly need an AI layer for media rediscovery or if existing search habits already suffice. Proving that gap was essential to justify building Sauce as a real product rather than a novelty.
Risky Assumptions
Risky Assumptions
I identified and tested the top three assumptions that could make or break Sauce
I identified and tested the top three assumptions that could make or break Sauce
Out of 14 initial assumptions, I identified 3 that carried the most risk: that people want to identify content they stumble upon, that they would be willing to share short clips from other apps, and that they want to know where to watch once it is identified. Using lean validation methods like Fake Front Door, Mechanical Turk, and The Pinocchio, I set out to test these assumptions before investing further in the product.
Scientifically, I confirmed that delaying caffeine allows adenosine levels to rise to a point where coffee can have a stronger effect.
This research shaped early design decisions, such as including progress tracking, recipe suggestions, and an onboarding moment that reframed the delay as a challenge instead of a punishment.
These assumptions guided all subsequent experiments and became the backbone of Sauce’s market and business validation.
These assumptions guided all subsequent experiments and became the backbone of Sauce’s market and business validation.
Pretotyping Experiments
Pretotyping Experiments
I designed three lean experiments to validate Sauce without building the product
I designed three lean experiments to validate Sauce without building the product
Fake Front Door Test - Made a landing page, caught some people's interest!
Fake Front Door Test - Made a landing page, caught some people's interest!
I built a simple Framer landing page with a waitlist. Out of 32 unique visitors, 6 signed up, giving an 18.75% conversion rate. This validated that people are genuinely interested in identifying clips.
I built a simple Framer landing page with a waitlist. Out of 32 unique visitors, 6 signed up, giving an 18.75% conversion rate. This validated that people are genuinely interested in identifying clips.
Mechanical Turk Test - Got ghosted by a few participants :(
Mechanical Turk Test - Got ghosted by a few participants :(
I recruited 5 participants and asked them to send TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube links through WhatsApp. 2 out of 5 shared clips, meeting my success criteria. This validated that users see value in sending content to Sauce.
I recruited 5 participants and asked them to send TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube links through WhatsApp. 2 out of 5 shared clips, meeting my success criteria. This validated that users see value in sending content to Sauce.
Pinocchio Test - Reinvented the Reel
Pinocchio Test - Reinvented the Reel
I created a Figma prototype with a “Where to Watch” button, tracked through Google Scripts. Only 2 out of 5 users clicked, failing my goal of 3. This disproved the assumption that streaming info was the main driver, users primarily wanted the name.
I created a Figma prototype with a “Where to Watch” button, tracked through Google Scripts. Only 2 out of 5 users clicked, failing my goal of 3. This disproved the assumption that streaming info was the main driver, users primarily wanted the name.
Insights
Insights
What I Learned from Testing Sauce
What I Learned from Testing Sauce
Three lean experiments revealed how people actually behave, not what I assumed. I discovered what sparked curiosity, what felt natural, and what did not, insights that helped me define Sauce’s real value before building anything.
Three lean experiments revealed how people actually behave, not what I assumed. I discovered what sparked curiosity, what felt natural, and what did not, insights that helped me define Sauce’s real value before building anything.
Curiosity is the hook
The landing page showed that people are genuinely interested in a product like Sauce. Excitement exists before a product even exists.
Sharing behavior feels natural
Users were comfortable sending clips from TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. This validated that Sauce could fit into existing habits without heavy onboarding.
Identification matters more than streaming
The prototype showed that users cared more about identifying content than clicking “Where to Watch,” proving that curiosity mattered more than convenience.
Validation uncovered direction
By testing assumptions before building, I learned where to focus: prioritize instant recognition as the core value, and treat streaming links as a nice-to-have.
Next Steps
Next Steps
The findings helped me plan what to test next
The findings helped me plan what to test next
If the project were to continue, these steps would help validate Sauce at a larger scale and uncover its business potential. Findings suggested that deeper validation should focus on long-term engagement and brand positioning.
If the project were to continue, these steps would help validate Sauce at a larger scale and uncover its business potential. Findings suggested that deeper validation should focus on long-term engagement and brand positioning.
01
Increase Reach
Promote the landing page through Reddit and social media to attract more visitors and verify if conversion rates stay consistent with a larger audience.
02
Scale Clip Sharing
Expand the user pool to 20–30 participants and automate message flow to see if people continue sharing clips over time.
03
Refine “Where to Watch”
Run A/B tests with new CTAs like “Stream now on Netflix” to measure if clearer wording drives
more clicks.
04
Explore Partnerships
Test potential collaborations or affiliate links with streaming platforms to evaluate Sauce’s long-term business viability.
Reflection
Reflection
Curiosity alone isn’t enough.
Curiosity alone isn’t enough.
Curiosity started the idea, but evidence defined whether it deserved to become a product.
Curiosity started the idea, but evidence defined whether it deserved to become a product.
Working on Sauce taught me the value of validating ideas before investing in development. By turning assumptions into small, measurable experiments, I learned how to test market demand quickly and objectively. The process also showed me that failed assumptions are just as valuable as successful ones, because they clarify where real user interest lies. Most importantly, I realized that curiosity is a powerful motivator and understanding it early can guide smarter product decisions.
Working on Sauce taught me the value of validating ideas before investing in development. By turning assumptions into small, measurable experiments, I learned how to test market demand quickly and objectively. The process also showed me that failed assumptions are just as valuable as successful ones, because they clarify where real user interest lies. Most importantly, I realized that curiosity is a powerful motivator and understanding it early can guide smarter product decisions.
I learned that validating assumptions early can determine whether a product succeeds
or fails.
I learned that validating assumptions early can determine whether a product succeeds or fails.
I learned that validating assumptions early can determine whether a product succeeds
or fails.
2025 Adarsh Mokashi. All Rights Reserved.
Designed with
UX textbooks,
gaming breaks, and a sprinkle of
chaos.
2025 Adarsh Mokashi. All Rights Reserved.
Designed with
UX textbooks,
gaming breaks, and a sprinkle of
chaos.
2025 Adarsh Mokashi. All Rights Reserved.
Designed with
UX textbooks,
gaming breaks, and a sprinkle of
chaos.
2025 Adarsh Mokashi. All Rights Reserved.
Designed with
UX textbooks,
gaming breaks, and a sprinkle of
chaos.