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UX Case Study · LEVEL MAN
Identifying a community gap in LEVEL MAN — a case study in early-stage UX research for a platform built for Black men who are cultured, curious, and growth-focused.
Context
By 2026, community building has shifted toward owned environments — where brands can protect user experience and foster deeper trust.
Website
Primary content hub for thought pieces and editorial
Social Platforms
Instagram and Facebook support visibility and reach
Newsletter
Direct communication with the audience
These channels support reach — but they fragment how users engage with content and with each other.
My Role
Principal UX Researcher
Independent contributor on an early-stage qualitative initiative.
Goal: identify experience gaps and define areas for further exploration.
Research Constraints
This work is grounded in two honest inputs:
Observational analysis of the current product experience
One early signal from a stakeholder who also engages as a user

This signal is directional — not yet fully validated. Further research is required.
Early Signal
The Gap in How Content Is Experienced
An internal stakeholder — who also engages with LEVEL MAN as a user — surfaced a meaningful pattern.
Thought pieces create strong intellectual engagement. But meaningful discussion and reflection happen off-platform — in fragmented, disconnected environments.
Key Insight
The product creates intellectual engagement — but doesn't yet support deeper processing, discussion, or connection within a dedicated space.
User Pain Point
Users engage with content that resonates. But they lack a space that feels safe, relevant, and designed for them to explore those ideas further.
"I connect with the content, but I have to leave the platform to process it — and those spaces don't feel built for conversations like this."
The experience ends at consumption. The reflection and dialogue that follow happen elsewhere — and the platform loses that value entirely.
Friction Identified
Five distinct friction points emerged from observational analysis and the early stakeholder signal.
1
Fragmented Engagement
Content lives on the website. Conversation happens across social platforms or private channels.
2
Lack of Safety in Public Spaces
Open platforms introduce trolling and negativity — limiting willingness to engage on sensitive topics.
3
No Continuity of Dialogue
Discussions are temporary and disconnected from the original content that sparked them.
4
One-Directional Experience
The website supports consumption — not interaction, contribution, or community.
5
No Shared Community Identity
There is no dedicated space where users feel a sense of belonging or collective experience.
Opportunity
Beyond consumption.
There is a clear opportunity to evolve LEVEL MAN — from a content platform into a space that also supports connection, reflection, and shared experience.
Today
Users think through content alone, then disengage.
Tomorrow
Users think, process, relate, and engage — within a space built for them.
Concept Direction
A private, moderated community space — designed to extend the value of thought pieces into deeper, ongoing conversation.
Core Idea
  • Discussion environment tied directly to content themes
  • Space for users to share experiences, perspectives, and advice
Key Principles
Safety & Trust
Cultural Relevance
Depth Over Volume
Intentional Participation
Experience Concept
Redesigning the user journey — from a linear read-and-exit pattern to a continuous loop of reflection and connection.
The future experience creates continuity — turning each piece of content into an ongoing conversation anchored in a protected, values-aligned space.
Community Design Considerations
  • Gated access — membership or values-based entry
  • Clear community guidelines and active moderation
  • Topic-based discussions tied directly to content
  • Emphasis on respectful, experience-driven dialogue
Business Consideration
The Risk of Standing Still
Without an owned space for deeper engagement, LEVEL MAN risks remaining a content destination — rather than evolving into a community-driven brand with stronger retention and loyalty.
Content Destination
Users arrive, consume, and leave. Low retention. Low loyalty.
Community-Driven Brand
Users arrive, connect, return, and advocate. Higher lifetime value.
Next Steps
What I Would Validate Next
To move from insight to confident decision-making, the next phase would focus on five research priorities.
01
User Interviews
5–7 participants from the core target audience
02
Concept Testing
Validate the private community experience with real users
03
Safety & Moderation Expectations
Understand what makes users feel protected enough to engage
04
Access & Willingness to Pay
Explore membership models and entry point preferences
05
Preferred Discussion Formats
Identify formats — async threads, live sessions, topic boards — that resonate
Outcome & My Approach
This project demonstrates how to move with clarity when data is limited — and how early signals can still drive structured, responsible insight.
What This Project Demonstrates
  • Identifying experience gaps with limited data
  • Translating early signals into structured insight
  • Framing opportunity without overreaching conclusions
  • Defining clear next steps for validation
My Work Focuses On
UX Research
Interviews, usability studies, and insight synthesis
Experience Strategy
Translating insight into clear product direction
Product Decision Support
Guiding next steps with evidence and confidence
Closing Thought
Strong content creates awareness.
Shared experience creates connection.
There is an opportunity to support both.
LEVEL MAN already earns attention. The next step is building the infrastructure for that attention to become belonging.