Ornamental

[ API Design and Development for Enhanced Human-AI Interaction ]

[ API Design and Development
for Enhanced Human-AI Interaction ]

Overview

The Challenge

Manufacturing and construction industries generate massive waste, yet sustainable design tools remain complex and inaccessible. How might we empower creators to design sustainably without technical barriers?

The solution

An AI-powered platform that transforms simple sketches into sustainable 3D designs, making eco-friendly creation accessible to everyone.

See solution

role and context

AI Product Designer
Master's Project in Human Interaction and Artificial Intelligence
Duration: 6 months (2024)

My Contributions

Led end-to-end product design
Conducted user research and testing
Designed AI interaction patterns
Developed interface prototypes
Created sustainable design framework
Collaborated with technical teams

Led end-to-end product design
Conducted user research and testing
Designed AI interaction patterns
Developed interface prototypes
Created sustainable design framework
Collaborated with technical teams

Problem Discovery

The manufacturing problem

*Video AI Generated with Midjourney and Runway.

user persona

Architect

Core Needs

Explore innovative ideas and gain inspiration for creative projects free from constraints. Enhance skills by mastering new design techniques and tools.

Motivations

Driven by professional growth through advanced methodologies and workflow optimization to prioritize creativity. Collaboration serves as a vital avenue for gaining fresh perspectives and enhancing output.

EMILY

Architect

ALEX

Designer

Core Needs

Explore innovative ideas and gain inspiration for creative projects free from constraints. Enhance skills by mastering new design techniques and tools.

Core Needs

Create innovative architectural forms that balance aesthetics and functionality, inspired by nature. Simplify complex computations to ensure structural feasibility and design accuracy.

Motivations

Driven by a passion for sustainable design and streamlined workflows that allow more focus on creativity. Motivated to establish a distinct reputation within the architectural industry.

Core Needs

Create innovative architectural forms that balance aesthetics and functionality, inspired by nature. Simplify complex computations to ensure structural feasibility and design accuracy.

Pain points

Complex Tools

1 Existing 3D design software requires extensive training

2 Material selection is overwhelming

3 Technical barriers prevent creative exploration

1 Existing 3D design software requires extensive training

2 Material selection is overwhelming

3 Technical barriers prevent creative exploration

Disconnected Resources

Researchers and designers work in silos
Sustainable materials knowledge is fragmented
Limited collaboration in sustainable innovation

Limited Accessibility

Sustainable design tools are expensive
Learning curve is steep
No clear path from idea to sustainable product

Research Methods

BENCHMARKING

autodraw.com

|

canva.com/draw/

Drawing

‘Autodraw’ functionality that suggests forms or object drawings based on the doodles users input

Drawing tools available for users to select from, offering more than just basic pencil functionality.

Ability to zoom in/out.

In a nut shell, these features greatly improve a drawing tool by allowing more precision and detail in artwork.

meshy.ai

|

vizcom.ai

3D Design

Ability to upload images.

Tools to customize the output

Buttons for selecting different input methods.

Uploading images allows for precise model references or textures, while customization tools let users tailor outputs to meet specific needs. Different input methods provide flexibility in how users interact with the tool.

d5render.com

|

visoid.com

Architectural Rendering

Ability to set a location.

Tools to adjust or define the scene/style.

Ability to adjust the lightning for the render.

Organize file by layers.

These allows users to get accurate visualization, through fine-tuning scenes, adjusting lighting to create mood or highlight details, and organizing files by layers for better management and editing flexibility.

Interviews and market analysis

Interview Process

The interviews consisted of in-depth conversations with 12 designers and 8 researchers.

With designers, each session lasted 20-35 minutes, focusing on their current design workflows, challenges with sustainable material selection, and their experience with existing design tools. Questions explored their daily pain points, their views on AI assistance in design, and their approach to sustainable design practices.

For researchers, the 20-35 minute sessions centered on how they currently share their findings with industry professionals and their challenges in implementing research into practical applications. A striking finding was that 100% of researchers identified a significant gap between research findings and practical implementation.

Designers

Researchers

information architecture

…for INSPIRATION

…for PROFESSIONALS

Key Insights

#1

Users need an intuitive bridge between creativity and sustainability. They spend 30% of their time just researching materials.

#2

AI can simplify complex design decisions. Current workflow requires 8+ different tools for one design process.

#3

Community collaboration drives sustainable innovation. Platforms lack features for knowledge sharing .

#4

Simple input methods increase accessibility. Complex technical requirements serve as a barrier to entry for new users

#3

Community collaboration drives sustainable innovation. Platforms lack features for knowledge sharing .

#4

Simple input methods increase accessibility. Complex technical requirements serve as a barrier to entry for new users

main flow

business canva

Design Process

visual identity

Logo

Colors

Typeface

Elements

Landing Page

INSPIRATION

Prototype

The Solution

Key Features DevelopmenT

Sketch-to-3D Interface

1 Simple drawing tools
2 Real-time AI transformation
3 Interactive 3D preview

Material Explorer

1 Sustainable options database
2 Visual material preview
3 Environmental impact metrics

Community Hub

1 Material and designs sharing platform
2 Collaboration tools
3 Knowledge exchange

Product demo

LLM Integration

Path
Analysis

1 System receives coordinates (from doodle or GPX)
2 LLM helps interpret the intended object type based on coordinates, shape and user specifications (if any).

Material-Aware Structure Generation

LLM accesses material database to understand:

Material properties (strength, flexibility, density)
Manufacturing constraints
Cost considerations

LLM accesses material database to understand:

Material properties (strength, flexibility, density)
Manufacturing constraints
Cost considerations

LLM accesses material database to understand:

Material properties (strength, flexibility, density)
Manufacturing constraints
Cost considerations

Structural Optimization

1 Cellular automata creates base structure
2 LLM influences the rules for thickness and support placement based on material.
3 Knowledge exchange

Multi-agent Optimization

Agents are guided by LLM-defined parameters for:

Min/Max material thickness for chosen material
Optimal distribution of load-bearing elements
Required reinforcement points

Structural Optimization

1 Cellular automata creates base structure
2 LLM influences the rules for thickness and support placement based on material.
3 Knowledge exchange

Multi-agent Optimization

Agents are guided by LLM-defined parameters for:

Min/Max material thickness for chosen material
Optimal distribution of load-bearing elements
Required reinforcement points

Agents are guided by LLM-defined parameters for:

Min/Max material thickness for chosen material
Optimal distribution of load-bearing elements
Required reinforcement points

technology stack

Thank you!

next steps

1 Expand material database

2 Enhance AI capabilities

3 Scale community features

4 Implement user feedback

reflection

This project demonstrated how thoughtful UX design can make complex technologies accessible and impactful. By focusing on user needs and leveraging AI appropriately, we created a platform that empowers sustainable innovation while building a collaborative community.