Aug – Dec 2025
Design Strategist
Ahmya Rivera
Asia Chang
Jones Mayes
Figma
Google Whisk
Google Flow
Gemini
While working with Google Labs, my team explored how Whisk, Google’s generative AI image tool, could earn the trust of Gen Z and Gen Alpha creatives. Through 11 user interviews and secondary research, we found that people weren’t scared of AI itself. They were stuck at the blank prompt box. I helped design batterbook, an AI prompt-assistance feature that turns vague ideas into clear, expressive prompts while keeping the user in creative control.
Creative work falls apart when you lose your place. In Studio, things slide in beside you, not on top of you. Here are some examples below of how we implemented this for the product:
We started with 5 early concepts, sketched them on paper and mapped them against our research insights. We evaluated each one for impact, how easy it was to communicate, and how well it answered our “How Might We” statements. Two ideas overlapped, so we merged them and moved forward with 3 seed concepts.
Just like a chef needs a recipe before they whisk, a creator needs a clear prompt. batter is a conversational AI companion that asks small follow-up questions, like “would you like to refine ‘going to’ as running, walking, flying?” Instead of rewriting the user’s words, it turns abstract ideas into precise, prompt-ready language that keeps their creative voice.
Users told us the empty text box made them freeze before they even started. Scrapbook swaps that box for an open canvas where users drag in inspiration images, text and keywords, then arrange them spatially to show how their ideas connect. It makes experimenting feel playful and low-pressure, which is something current tools like Whisk don’t offer.
We saw that Gen Z’s hesitation around AI was as much about perception as usability. We proposed a UGC-driven social campaign showing real people using Whisk in everyday life, like a small business owner designing a farmer’s market banner or a creator planning Halloween makeup. Each piece ends with a “Try it yourself!” call to action, and we would track it with sentiment, acquisition and churn KPIs.
Want to learn more?
The products and designs I worked on are private, but Iām happy to chat more about my process over a call. Reach out to me at ssud@usc.edu!