Austin Skhosana's Portfolio

Using AI Mediation

to Strengthen

Social Relationships

Using AI Mediation to Strengthen

Social Relationships

MediatorAI

Ambition

How might we leverage AI to enhance communication and foster open dialogue between individuals through a neutral mediator?

Solution

UI/UX Design

Role

Self-Led Project

In an increasingly polarized world, effective communication often feels out of reach. MediatorAI aims to bridge this gap by offering an AI-driven platform that facilitates conversations between individuals, ensuring that both parties feel understood and respected. Designing an AI mediator requires careful consideration of how technology can enhance dialogue, not hinder it. “How can we create an environment where every voice is valued?” was the guiding question as I approached this project.

The Challenges

The Solution

To address the challenges identified in MediatorAI, my solution centered on creating an empathetic user interface that facilitated open dialogue. By prioritizing user comfort and accessibility, I designed an engaging platform that encouraged users to share their thoughts and feelings freely. This approach not only promoted real-time communication but also ensured that users felt secure in expressing vulnerability, enhancing the overall mediation experience.

A cheerful login/sign-up screen with a baby blue background, fluffy clouds, and happy Memoji faces, creating an inviting atmosphere for users to join or access their accounts.

Empty State Home Page

This screen welcomes new users with a prompt to start a new chat, featuring clear copy and the largest button to guide them towards their first interaction.

Chat History

This screen shows all previous chats, featuring a subtle stagger animation upon entry that enhances the user experience by dynamically displaying the chat list.

Add Participant

This screen enables users to add a participant to a new chat by selecting from their contacts, offering a straightforward and user-friendly interface for a seamless conversation setup.

Confirmation Modal

This modal asks users to confirm if they want to start a chat with the added participant, providing a clear and concise design for informed decision-making.

Chat Interface

This chat screen features a soothing baby blue and white gradient background. User chat bubbles are white, while the AI’s responses are represented in a baby pink and baby blue gradient, creating a visually appealing and engaging conversation space.

Notification Center

This notification screen alerts users to incoming conversation requests from others seeking to engage in a mediated discussion. The interface is designed to highlight these requests clearly, encouraging users to participate.

The Process

The MediatorAI UI and UX Design process began with a competitive analysis to understand mediation tools. I then created user personas to capture diverse needs in conflict resolution. This informed the information architecture, leading to wireframing and UI design, ultimately resulting in a user-centric platform that promotes effective, empathetic communication.

Persona Designs

To better understand the needs and behaviors of potential users, I developed a set of hypothetical personas based on secondary research and industry trends. These personas represent key audience segments for the product and helped guide design decisions throughout the project.

Empathy Maps

In the empathy mapping phase, I deepened my understanding of Spectra’s users by visually representing their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. I gathered insights from user research on what users said, did, thought, and felt during their creative process. This highlighted key motivations, pain points, and desires, allowing me to empathize with their experiences. The empathy maps ensured design decisions were based on a true understanding of user needs, guiding feature development that resonates with the target audience.

Competitive Analysis

Competitive Analysis The competitive analysis of mediation tools revealed valuable insights into existing solutions. By examining features, user experiences, and market positioning, we identified gaps and opportunities for improvement. This analysis informed our approach, enabling us to create a unique platform that addresses user needs more effectively than competitors, promoting a more empathetic and user-centric mediation experience.

Ideation

In the ideation phase, I focused on establishing a robust information architecture for MediatorAI. By categorizing features and defining user flows, I created a coherent structure that streamlined navigation. The information architecture set the stage for wireframing and UI design, aligning the user journey with their needs and expectations.

Reflections

User-Centric Design: Emphasizing user personas and empathy mapping shaped a platform that addresses user needs and concerns in conflict situations, highlighting the importance of understanding user motivations and pain points.

Potential Impact: MediatorAI can create meaningful change in conflict resolution, fostering healthier communication and empowering users to engage in constructive conversations.

Market Positioning: The competitive analysis reveals a unique niche for MediatorAI in the mediation tools market, allowing it to differentiate itself from general mental health or chat applications.