Style Highlights: Mood Board

Mood Board

Quick Start to the TripSage prototype

I usually like to kick things off with hand sketches, as they help me sort through core features and layout ideas early on. But with a tight timeline, I jumped straight to mid-fidelity. After sharing my dark mode colors and Itinerary Builder user flow details with Claude AI, it came back with just what I needed.

Spoiler: When you give AI good input, it can really deliver.

Itinerary Builder flow screens, mid-fidelity

What’s next for the TripSage prototype

Now that Claude AI has helped me get a strong head start, I’m ready to refine my design into a clickable prototype I can test with Gen Z users. But before jumping into testing, I’d like to:

  • Design a TripSage home screen with finalized icons and fonts that clearly showcase the app’s MVP features.
  • Compare my layout to other AI-powered home screens, like MindTrip and Bearable, to see what’s working well and what I might want to adapt.
  • Set up an async usability test for my participant group (I’ve already got three users lined up!).

Key takeaways from using AI to speed up my UX process.

AI has become a surprisingly helpful design and writing partner, especially when I come prepared with clear prompts. Some tools, like UX Pilot, didn’t quite click for me. But Claude felt intuitive and responsive, and ChatGPT was indispensable for writing, outlining, and thinking through design challenges.

Thanks to these tools, I was able to go from concept to mid-fidelity prototype in under a week, something that wouldn’t have been possible on my own. While I’m confident navigating around AI’s limitations (like having to build Jordan’s user flow diagram manually), I’ve found it’s incredibly useful when you need speed and structure.

I’ll keep testing and refining how I use AI in my process, but I already recommend it to other designers, especially when you're short on time and need a creative boost.

And a big shoutout to my own Gen Z kid for helping me fine-tune the aesthetics and keep things generationally inclusive!"