🎯 Highlights
Designed an AI-powered onboarding experience that builds trust from the first screen
Created a modular assistant UI for identity, travel, social, and commerce content
Defined assistant tone, pacing, and behavior across all touchpoints
Built and tested high-fidelity prototypes in Figma and Framer
Delivered experiences optimized for mobile-first D2C interaction and emotional clarity
🧩 The Design Challenge
How do you introduce an AI assistant that uses personal photos — without scaring users off?
We needed to:
Earn trust before requesting permissions
Clearly communicate how AI is used — and why
Deliver emotional value upfront
Make onboarding feel like a conversation, not a setup
💡 Design Approach
🌱 Conversational Onboarding
Aura opens with a calm, assistant-led greeting. Instead of launching into permissions or functionality, it begins with soft prompts and warm, open-ended messaging — framing the AI as a personal memory companion.
Aura sets the tone from the first interaction — light, warm, and emotionally safe.
“From the first screen, Aura establishes a calm, trust-building tone... This chat-first approach eases users into interaction and invites curiosity.”
👁️ Priming With Preview
Before asking for access, Aura simulates what it can do by analyzing fictional images. It infers lifestyle preferences and personality traits to build anticipation and earn credibility.
Aura models its value with example data — building user trust before requesting access.
“Rather than jumping into permissions, Aura primes users with a preview of what’s possible...”
🔓 Smart Setup Flow
Only after the user sees potential value does Aura request permission. Every access point — photos, sign-in, notifications — is wrapped in context, giving users clear control without friction.
Trust → Access → Personalization. Aura’s flow feels guided, not gated.
“Aura transitions smoothly from photo insight previews to permission and account setup. It’s a trust-first progression — showing value before asking for anything.”
🌟 From Permissions to Personality
Once permissions are granted, Aura shares back a personalized identity sketch — a human-centered summary of patterns learned from the user's photos.
Aura reflects back what it sees, turning AI into emotional insight.
“After permissions and context checks, Aura shares back a meaningful reflection...”
✨ Personalized Recaps & Smart Prompts
From insight to action: Aura transforms your photo moments into meaningful prompts — whether it’s building a recap, planning a foodie weekend, or finding concert tickets with friends.
From memory to momentum — Aura’s prompts turn moments into meaningful CTAs.
“Aura transforms photo moments into meaningful prompts — whether it’s building a recap, planning a foodie weekend, or finding concert tickets with friends.”
🧪 Testing & Impact
We tested tone, flow, and output clarity through staged Framer prototypes with internal and external participants. Results showed:
Increased permission opt-in after simulated preview
High recall and emotional connection to the identity summary
Clear preference for assistant voice that was friendly, not overly chatty
Early commerce prompt interest — especially around food, pets, and events
👩💼 My Role
Sole Product Designer on an AI prototyping team
Owned end-to-end UX: onboarding, assistant pacing, personality, outputs
Collaborated daily with product, engineering, and the Chief of Staff
Built Figma and Framer prototypes for user testing
Defined visual tone and modular assistant UI for scaling future content types
🧠 Why It Matters
Aura wasn’t just about AI — it was about earning emotional trust, revealing value gently, and making personalization feel safe, thoughtful, and delightful.
It shows how AI can:
Be emotionally intelligent
Turn passive data into action
Support user agency through just-in-time interactions
Make even complex tech feel human
🔗 Want to See More?
I also created wireflows, assistant pacing maps, etc
📁 [View Behind-the-Scenes Process →]