TECHNICAL COMPLEXITY -> SEAMLESS EXPERIENCE
Lumina: Accelerate material discovery with AI
Time
2024/08 - 2025/02
ROLE
Solo Product Designer
DISCIPLINES
UX + Visual
Tools
Figma, V0
I led the design of the homepage and generative workflows for an AI materials startup, shaping the product’s core user experience and visual system from early ideation through launch. Much of the work involved designing without clear precedents—translating complex scientific processes into interfaces that could genuinely support decision-making at scale. I’m grateful for the opportunity to work closely with AI scientists, materials researchers, product managers, and engineers to help bring these ideas into real industrial use.
TECHNICAL COMPLEXITY -> SEAMLESS EXPERIENCE
Lumina: Accelerate material discovery with AI
Time
2024/08 - 2025/02
ROLE
Solo Product Designer
DISCIPLINES
UX + Visual
Tools
Figma, V0
I led the design of the homepage and generative workflows for an AI materials startup, shaping the product’s core user experience and visual system from early ideation through launch. Much of the work involved designing without clear precedents—translating complex scientific processes into interfaces that could genuinely support decision-making at scale. I’m grateful for the opportunity to work closely with AI scientists, materials researchers, product managers, and engineers to help bring these ideas into real industrial use.
TECHNICAL COMPLEXITY -> SEAMLESS EXPERIENCE
Lumina: Accelerate material discovery with AI
Time
2024/08 - 2025/02
ROLE
Solo Product Designer
DISCIPLINES
UX + Visual
Tools
Figma, V0
I led the design of the homepage and generative workflows for an AI materials startup, shaping the product’s core user experience and visual system from early ideation through launch. Much of the work involved designing without clear precedents—translating complex scientific processes into interfaces that could genuinely support decision-making at scale. I’m grateful for the opportunity to work closely with AI scientists, materials researchers, product managers, and engineers to help bring these ideas into real industrial use.
MISSION
Goal and challenges of the company
MISSION
Goal and challenges of the company
MISSION
Goal and challenges of the company
Our product aims to discover new materials in a more intelligent way - faster, more accurate, and scalable.
However, adoption of the initial product remained low (below 15%) due to cumbersome and confusing user experience. This significantly limited the product's grwoth.
My role was to apply design principles to address these challenges.
RESEARCH
User insights that uncover why they are reluctant to engage with it
I first worked with the product manager, AI engineers, and material scientists to map out the workflow. Then, I talked to over 10 participants—factory technicians (the “astronauts”) and R&D managers (the “scientists”)—to understand their pain points. Through interviews, contextual inquiries, and surveys, I uncovered why the current process felt inefficient and confusing.
RESEARCH
User insights that uncover why they are reluctant to engage with it
I first worked with the product manager, AI engineers, and material scientists to map out the workflow. Then, I talked to over 10 participants—factory technicians (the “astronauts”) and R&D managers (the “scientists”)—to understand their pain points. Through interviews, contextual inquiries, and surveys, I uncovered why the current process felt inefficient and confusing.
RESEARCH
User insights that uncover why they are reluctant to engage with it
I first worked with the product manager, AI engineers, and material scientists to map out the workflow. Then, I talked to over 10 participants—factory technicians (the “astronauts”) and R&D managers (the “scientists”)—to understand their pain points. Through interviews, contextual inquiries, and surveys, I uncovered why the current process felt inefficient and confusing.
Therefore, our design goal is to transform the product from a one-time download into a tool that naturally fits into and enhances users’ daily workflow.
Therefore, our design goal is to transform the product from a one-time download into a tool that naturally fits into and enhances users’ daily workflow.
Therefore, our design goal is to transform the product from a one-time download into a tool that naturally fits into and enhances users’ daily workflow.
RESEARCH
What inspiration we can take from parallel products?
After gaining a clear understanding of the context and core problems, I examined direct competitors and adjacent products to learn how they approached similar challenges and identify ideas we could adapt.
RESEARCH
What inspiration we can take from parallel products?
After gaining a clear understanding of the context and core problems, I examined direct competitors and adjacent products to learn how they approached similar challenges and identify ideas we could adapt.
Prototype
To make sure the product FEELS intelligent: prototype, test, refine, and loop
Prototype
To make sure the product FEELS intelligent: prototype, test, refine, and loop
The entire workflow is complex, so I create an information architecture map to gain clarity and ensure alignment with engineers and managers. This also helps me identify how the agent can better support users in common scenarios. For this project, I spearheaded the design of the homepage, project, and training sections.
Sketches were created to explore ideas and then presented to key stakeholders.
Deliverable
Turning the Homepage to a Decision Cockpit
Deliverable
Turning the Homepage to a Decision Cockpit
Deliverable
Turning the Black Box into a Controllable Experience
Deliverable
Turning the Black Box into a Controllable Experience
Step I.
Create with Efficiency
Step II.
Adjust Effortlessly
Step III.
Review at one glance
Step I.
Create with Efficiency
Step II.
Adjust Effortlessly
Step III.
Review at one glance