Gen AI

Maizey - GenAI Toolkit @ UM

Redesigned a fragmented GenAI system into a cohesive, user-friendly platform. Delivered a polished prototype to the Director of IT Systems and Services at U-M.

Role

UX Desginer

Timeline

Fall 2024 (~3 months)

Skills

Information Architecture, Interaction Design, Prototyping, Storytelling

Tools

Figma, U-M Design Systems

GIF overview of Maizey website prototype.

Figma Prototype

Slidedeck

Context

Leaders in collegiate GenAI.
As the first university to develop in-house GenAI tools, U-M aimed to empower its community with accessible, advanced AI technologies. However, the existing tools: U-M GPT, U-M Maizey, and U-M GPT Toolkit, were unintuitive and underutilized, leaving users frustrated and disengaged.

Maizey homepage website and mobile screens.

Problems

Scattered tools, scattered users.
Poor design keeps the potential of these tools out of reach.

Fragmented user journey — Each tool existed on separate websites with minimal cross-functionality, creating confusion for users navigating between them.

Unintuitive interfaces — Poor design and lack of onboarding left users unsure of how to maximize the tools' potential.

Privacy concerns — Users hesitated to use the tools for sensitive topics due to insufficient privacy safeguards.

Lack of feedback — Users could not easily flag inaccurate AI responses, hindering the tools’ continuous improvement.

Objective

Design a platform that integrates U-M’s GenAI tools into a cohesive, privacy-conscious dashboard while ensuring ease of use, adaptability, and innovation.

Design Requirements

The following criteria ensured my design met the unique needs of U-M community members.

Streamlined user flow — Ensure that the user flow is intuitive and easy to follow, regardless of which feature users access.

Privacy-first design — Build features that address user concerns about data retention and sensitive queries.

U-M style guide — Maintain consistency with U-M’s established style guide, using appropriate typography, color schemes, and iconography.

Accessibility — Design the interface to meet accessibility standards, including compatibility with screen readers, keyboard navigation, and alternative input methods.

Key Features

Dashboard

The heart of Maizey’s toolkit.
The Dashboard brings together all core features into one intuitive, user-friendly interface, making navigation seamless and efficient.

Maizey dashboard laptop and mobile screens.

Ask Maizey — Provides instant, general-purpose AI assistance with clear and concise answers, including citing sources when applicable.

Hubs — Allows users to upload documents to create tailored insights, summarize lengthy documents, and overall save time and redirect effort.

Maizey 101 — Step-by-step guides, video tutorials, and an FAQ section inform users on how to use each tool effectively, reducing onboarding friction.

Privacy

Secure at every step.
The redesign ensures a secure, private user experience with advanced features that prioritize confidentiality and transparency.

GIF demonstrations of Maizey's temporary chat on laptop screen.

Temporary chat — Provides a safe, private space for users to ask sensitive questions, ensuring that no data from these interactions is stored or tracked. All chats are deleted after the session ends.

Behind the scenes — All data generated by the tools is processed and stored securely, with no data shared, analyzed, or used for other purposes without explicit user permission.

User-controlled data — Features like selective data permissions and clear opt-in consent allow individuals to determine what data is used, ensuring they are always in charge of their privacy settings.

Special Touches

The little things make all the difference.
The small design elements that enhance user experience and create a sense of innovation and excitement throughout the platform.

GIF demonstrations of Ask Maizey on laptop screen.

Response feedback — A thumbs-up/thumbs-down feature allows users to provide immediate feedback on AI responses, helping developers understand the accuracy of generated responses.

Storytelling — Following U-M's style guide, the design incorporates modern elements like dark mode and a dynamic gradient motif, making the experience feel engaging and cohesive, sparking excitement about the platform.

Campus integration — The platform is integrated with various U-M services like Canvas, dining hall menus, student organizations, and more. Users can access university-related content, making the experience more personalized and relevant to their campus life.

Retrospective

Summary

Considering the future of U-M.
Working on Maizey was an incredible opportunity to redesign a system that directly impacts the university community. This project challenged me to think critically about integrating existing tools and aligning with institutional goals.

U-M's Campus Plan 2050 detailed mockup (Whitehouse, 2024)

Lessons Learned

Innovative design with impact.
While Maizey is just the beginning, this project was a deep dive into designing for real-world impact. The lessons learned here will continue to inform my UX design work moving forward.

Keeping scalability in mind — Integrating multiple tools required a scalable solution that could grow with user demands and future functionality.

Stakeholder communication — Presenting to ITS leadership taught me how to tailor my narrative to effectively highlight a project’s value and innovation.

Balancing innovation and consistency — Adhering to the U-M Design System while delivering a groundbreaking user experience required creative problem-solving and attention to detail.

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