Project Summary
Introduction
People are flooded with messages from all kinds of platforms—SMS, email, Instagram, and more—making it hard to keep track, causing missed messages and frustration. This project introduces a unified, AI-powered messaging prototype that simplifies communication and helps you stay on top of everything more easily than current options.
Objective
To design a mobile-first app that streamlines messaging with AI for efficiency and ease of use.
Problem Statement
Users are overwhelmed by the currently fragmented nature of digital communication, leading to inefficiencies, missed messages, and a lack of control. This project addresses these issues by creating a unified messaging solution that consolidates multiple inboxes, integrates AI tools to streamline interactions, and prioritizes situational awareness, ultimately enhancing user efficiency and satisfaction.
Impact Metrics*
20% reduction in time on tasks.
50% fewer interactions per task.
12.5% improvement in usability.
*Metrics are based on task completion comparisons without the prototype. Detailed testing results and processes, can be made available upon request.
A mockup of a chat with an AI that finds a previously played song. The AI's response shows the source and the method it used to find the song, in this case cross referencing location data and Spotify play history to determine the possible song. This transparency is intended to build trust with the user.
Design Process
Building a Foundation
User interviews revealed key pain points and preferences, leading to two personas: Michael Gauthier, a freelance event planner, who needs tools for managing events and staying on top of messages. These interviews also highlighted two key insights:
Users prefer a mobile-first design to match their on-the-go lifestyles.
AI integration must be transparent, allowing users to clearly control when and how AI assists them.
The creation of user personas and the initial information architecture iterations resulted from this. The need for quick access to information led to a shallow and broad information architecture for the application.
Event planner Michael Gauthier, one of the personas created for this project, requires an intuitive interface to manage multiple events efficiently and stay on top of important communications.
The information architecture was designed with a shallow, intuitive structure, ensuring minimal navigation to access key features
User Flows
Prioritizing Speed and Trust
The design of all flows prioritized clear communication to the user about the AI tools' involvement, while minimizing the number of user interactions. This was achieved by providing clear options to undo or alter the actions of the machine, ensuring users always felt they could revert to a more traditional flow if needed.
The image illustrates a flow for replying to SMS messages directly from the inbox. This empowers users to choose the level of engagement they want with each message by providing options that prioritize either quick replies or more in-depth responses.
This image depicts a user flow illustrating how AI tools can be utilized to efficiently respond to multiple inbox messages simultaneously using quick reactions. At all times the user is designed to feel in control and assured by the UI.
Next Steps
Should this project move forward, several areas could be enhanced. For instance, refining the AI's communication style and developing additional flows with diverse reply methods. It's crucial to remember that this project predates the public release of Apple's Apple Intelligence. Several features in this prototype were incorporated into Apple's product and would require further analysis to inform any changes to this prototype. Moreover, the release of Apple Intelligence poses potential challenges, as many users indicated greater trust in native device applications.
The prototype's inbox screen displays a unified view of SMS messages, social media direct messages, and emails.
For additional information or to discuss this project further, feel free to reach out via the contact info on the about page. Your feedback and inquiries are always welcome!
TL;DR
Why it matters: Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often face sensory overload in public spaces. This project proposes inclusive design solutions to enhance accessibility and create a welcoming environment at the fictional Ability Respite Centre.
The details:
Developed for OCAD University’s Design as Research course.
Solutions include sensory zoning, escape spaces, transition zones, and compartmentalized layouts to minimize overstimulation and improve navigation.
Research utilized ethnographic methods and the ASPECTSS Framework to align with the needs of children with ASD and their caregivers.
Focused on cost-effective solutions using off-the-shelf components, ensuring accessibility and sustainability.
The takeaway: The "Navigating Spaces" project provides actionable, inclusive design strategies to reduce sensory overload and improve accessibility in spaces for children with ASD, offering a framework that is both practical and adaptable.
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