My Role
UX Design
User Research
Interaction Design
Prototyping
Usability Testing
Project
Class Project
INFO-I 541 Introduction to Human Computer Interaction
Timeline
5 months
Aug 2025 - Dec 2025
Team
Viola Kuo
Dharanetha Prabhu
Context
Overview
For our third project in Introduction to Human-Computer Interaction at Indiana University, we were tasked with designing an AI-powered system that empowers workers in a specific domain. Our team chose to focus on part-time Instagram influencers, who juggle content creation with full-time jobs. While AI tools offer efficiency, many influencers worry about authenticity, engagement, and algorithm changes.
Rather than forcing influencers to chase the algorithm, we set out to design AI-powered tools that work for them, helping them stay consistent, creative, and engaged without feeling overwhelmed.
Team and Role
I led the team through research, ideation, and design, ensuring our solutions addressed real user needs while fitting seamlessly into Instagram’s existing experience. My responsibilities included conducting user research, synthesizing insights, and defining key pain points that shaped our design decisions. I also designed wireframes and prototypes, ensuring that each feature was intuitive and effective. Additionally, I researched Instagram’s brand and design guidelines to maintain consistency and make our features feel native to the platform.
Research
The Challenge
Instagram’s evolving algorithm forces influencers to constantly adapt, often at the cost of losing creative control. For part-time influencers balancing content creation with full-time jobs, keeping up feels overwhelming.
Empowerment means staying authentic, engaged, and consistent, without feeling dictated by the platform. They need tools that simplify their workflow so they can focus on creating, not chasing the algorithm.
Problem Statement
Pain Points
Through interviews with three part-time Instagram influencers, we uncovered three core challenges:
01.
Feedback Overload
High volumes of comments and DMs make it difficult to extract meaningful audience insights.
02.
Time Constraints
Posting consistently is challenging alongside other responsibilities.
03.
AI Concerns
Influencers worry about AI-generated content violating platform policies or feeling inauthentic.
Key Insighta
Through interviews with three part-time Instagram influencers, we uncovered three core challenges:
01.
Authenticity matters
Influencers worry about AI content quality and are less likely to engage with AI-generated posts unless transparency is provided.
02.
Feedback drives strategy
Influencers value audience input but struggle to manage and interpret it efficiently.
03.
AI Concerns
Posting regularly is crucial, but planning content in advance is a challenge.
How Might We…
How might we help part-time influencers stay consistent, engage effectively, and trust AI tools without feeling overwhelmed?
With this guiding question in mind, we designed three AI-powered tools that seamlessly integrate with Instagram to address these pain points.
Design
01.
Feedback Summary
The Feedback Summary feature categorizes and highlights common themes, allowing influencers to quickly see what content resonates most without manually reading every response. This helps them make informed content decisions while maintaining control over their engagement strategy.
02.
Clear Progress Visualization
The Smart Scheduling tool breaks content creation into small, actionable steps, sends reminders, and syncs with personal calendars. Rather than feeling pressured to post, influencers can structure their workflow in a way that fits their schedule, helping them stay consistent without burnout.
03.
Goal Setting with Positive Reinforcements
The AI Content Verification tool checks content for policy violations, originality, and engagement risks before posting. This ensures that influencers can use AI as a support system rather than a creative replacement, maintaining their personal style while leveraging AI’s efficiency.
Testing and Refinements
We conducted usability tests with two influencers from our research group to evaluate the effectiveness of our features. Users found the tools intuitive and helpful for streamlining their workflow. However, one key issue emerged
The AI Content Verification tool’s icon was unclear, leading to confusion about its function.
Refinement: Icon Redesign
We replaced the generic checkmark with a more recognizable AI icon, improving clarity and ensuring users immediately understood the tool’s purpose.
Refinement: Icon Redesign
We replaced the generic checkmark with a more recognizable AI icon, improving clarity and ensuring users immediately understood the tool’s purpose.
Impact
Our AI-powered features addressed the three main challenges part-time influencers face:
Effortless Audience Engagement
Shifting the focus from strict goals to small wins helped reinforce consistency.
Consistent Posting Without Overwhelm
Smart Scheduling makes content planning more structured and manageable.
Increased Trust in AI
The AI Content Verification tool ensures influencers can confidently use AI without risking compliance issues.
Potential KPIs
Engagement Rates - Faster response times and personalized content based on feedback.
Posting Consistency - Improved adherence to content schedules.
User Confidence in AI - Greater adoption of AI tools without concerns over compliance or authenticity.
Takeaway
This project reinforced the importance of seamless AI integration, tools should enhance workflows, not complicate them. Leading the team helped me refine my ability to turn user research into actionable design decisions, ensuring that every feature directly addressed influencers' pain points. Designing within Instagram’s ecosystem challenged me to create solutions that felt intuitive and familiar, while iterating based on user feedback showed me how small design refinements, like an icon change, can significantly improve clarity. If taken further, I’d explore personalized AI-generated insights that adapt to each influencer’s unique posting style, ensuring AI enhances creativity rather than replacing it.