Could search actually be fun and opinionated?
Could search actually be fun and opinionated?
Could search actually be fun and opinionated?
Shipped a character-driven AI search experience that doubled user-initiated conversations.
Shipped a character-driven AI search experience that doubled user-initiated conversations.
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(≧≦)
જ⁀➴♡
જ⁀➴♡
Overview
Overview
Hachi AI is an early-stage startup exploring how conversational AI can transform search, aiming to create a playful experience where AI offers distinctive, opinionated perspectives rather than generic answers.
Hachi AI is an early-stage startup exploring how conversational AI can transform search, aiming to create a playful experience where AI offers distinctive, opinionated perspectives rather than generic answers.
As the ideation lead on a 4-person design team, I owned the onboarding flow and conversation starter system, translating insights from competitor analysis, 50+ surveys, and 15+ user interviews into the character-driven UI that shipped to production. I led weekly ideation sessions and drove rapid iteration cycles from low-fidelity concepts to production-ready flows.
Role
Role
Product Designer - Lead Ideation
Worked with:
Founders, Design Manager, Researcher, 4 Designers
Product Designer - Lead Ideation
Worked with:
Founders, Design Manager, Researcher, 4 Designers
Timeline
Timeline
Oct 2024 - Jan 2025
Oct 2024 - Jan 2025
Tasks
Tasks
UX Design
Prototyping
User Research
UX Audit
Presenting
UX Design
Prototyping
User Research
UX Audit
Presenting
Tools
Tools
Figma
FigJam
Slack
Google Docs
Figma
FigJam
Slack
Google Docs
Boring.
Boring.
Boring.
Get Analysis Paralysis.
Get Analysis Paralysis.
Get Analysis Paralysis.
General Recs.
General Recs.
General Recs.
Z☡zᶻ
Z☡zᶻ
Z☡zᶻ
Research
10+ Comp. Analyses
40+ Surveys
15+ User Interviews
UX Audit
Research
10+ Comp. Analyses
40+ Surveys
15+ User Interviews
UX Audit
200 +
Data Points
200 +
Data Points
Key Opportunities (from secondary research)
✸ Most competitors only provide generic 1:1 AI chats → opportunity to stand out with more engaging, opinionated interactions.
✸ Allowing users to save and share conversations could boost engagement and retention.
Key Opportunities (from secondary research)
✸ Most competitors only provide generic 1:1 AI chats → opportunity to stand out with more engaging, opinionated interactions.
✸ Allowing users to save and share conversations could boost engagement and retention.
User Insights (from primary research)
✸ Users enjoy fun, meaningful conversations with different AI personalities — like chatting with friends.
✸ They want personalized results and value the ability to give feedback and refine recommendations over time.
User Insights (from primary research)
✸ Users enjoy fun, meaningful conversations with different AI personalities — like chatting with friends.
✸ They want personalized results and value the ability to give feedback and refine recommendations over time.
OLD UI/UX
OLD UI/UX
HMW make Hachi’s convos feel natural and engaging while delivering personalized recs users love sharing?
HMW make Hachi’s convos feel natural and engaging while delivering personalized recs users love sharing?
Design Process
Design Process
Redefining the chat flow
Redefining the chat flow
My Role as Ideation Lead
Led rapid prototyping
From low-fidelity to production-ready flows
Created early character-driven mockups
Inspire discussion
Led weekly ideation sessions
Iterated weekly based on founder feedback
Introducing character-driven AI search
personalized. responsive. fun.
Introducing character-driven AI search
personalized. responsive. fun.
Prototypes
Prototypes
Opinionated Characters
Opinionated Characters
Open-Ended + Suggested Prompts
Open-Ended + Suggested Prompts
Multiple Perspectives
✸ Users can add multiple characters in a conversation
✸ Quickly switch between characters and ability to swap between answers
Multiple Perspectives
✸ Users can add multiple characters in a conversation
✸ Quickly switch between characters and ability to swap between answers
Social Sharing
✸ Allows users to share fun answers
✸ Encourage user engagement
Social Sharing
✸ Allows users to share fun answers
✸ Encourage user engagement
Chat History & Reactions
✸ Add more personality to characters
✸ Helps improve the machine learning model for each character furthering personalization
Chat History & Reactions
✸ Add more personality to characters
✸ Helps improve the machine learning model for each character furthering personalization
Implement.
Implement.
Test.
Test.
Get instant Value.
Get instant Value.
Founders
Founders
Test & Result
Test & Result
2× user-initiated conversations.
2× user-initiated conversations.
More fun, intuitive, and personalized.
More fun, intuitive, and personalized.
Better than last version.
Better than last version.
Reflection
Reflection
Rapid 0 → 1 Iteration
Adapting quickly in a startup environment
Conversational AI Design
Making chat + feedback loops intuitive
Multi-Character UX
Balancing distinct AI personas while keeping product cohesion
Balancing distinct AI personas while keeping product cohesion
© 2026 Amy Hsieh
Built with ♥ and music
© 2026 Amy Hsieh
Built with ♥ and music