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INTRODUCTION

User-Centric AI: Building Trust Through Transparent Design

Designing a Consent Flow & Control System Dashboard for an AI Personal Assistant

Role: Research, Strategy, UX/ UI
Duration: 3 months
Sector: AI, Privacy & Data Ethics, HCI, Consumer Technology, Responsible Innovation

PROBLEM STATEMENT

Food ain't cheap- use it before you lose it.

As AI assistants become more proactive, users start to worry:

How does it know this?
Where is this data stored?
Can I stop it from doing that again?

People want powerful automation- but only when it feels safe and transparent.

OBJECTIVES

Keep It Fresh,
Keep It Green

Designing a transparent and user-friendly consent flow:

Explain what information the AI knows and how it uses data
Let users control what it remembers
Build user trust without sacrificing the convenience of AI

APPROACH

Blending it down.

I structured the project into three key phases.

Discovery- User Research, Interviews, Competitive Analysis, Heuristic Analysis, Market Trends, Consumer Behaviors
Ideation- Strategy Development, Persona Development, Brainstorming Findings
Design- User Flows, Wireframes, Collaborative Iteration, High Fidelity Screens

DISCOVERY

No half-baked ideas.

I conducted thorough research to ensure the project was grounded in real user needs and market insights.

This began with user research, where I gathered valuable feedback directly from the target audience to identify pain points and opportunities, followed by a competitor analysis to evaluate what others in the market were doing and pinpoint areas for improvement.

I then conducted a heuristic analysis to identify usability issues in existing designs and researched market trends to gain a deeper understanding of the industry.

To better anticipate user needs, I analyzed consumer behaviors, and also engaged in stakeholder interviews to align the design strategy with business objectives. This well-rounded approach laid the foundation for a design strategy that is both user-centered and aligned with market demands.

DISCOVERY

Interviews

I spoke with 10 users across tech and non-tech backgrounds.

Key Insight: "I'm ok with AI doing things for me- but only if I know how."

COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS

Competitive Analysis

Google Assistant and Siri are vague about memory

Alexa has some memory contolls, but buried deep in settings.

ChatGPT remembers things but users are unclear about what it knows unless prompted.

USER PERSONAS

User Personas

Anna: Tech-savvy, paranoid about data and invasion of privacy

Betsy: Wants automation, but dislikes complex settings

Tom: Wants control toggles for everything

USER PERSONAS

Anna: Tech-savvy, paranoid about data and invasion of privacy

Betsy: Wants automation, but dislikes complex settings

KEY QUESTIONS

Key Questions

How can we surface memory in a way that's not overwhelming?
How do we offer control without friction?
What does "informed consent" look like in a chat-based AI?

DESIGN

Sustainable design,
effortless impact.

a) Memory Center

A central dashboard: "Here's what I remember about you based on our previous interactions", weekly memory recap sent via notifications: "Here's what I learned this week"

Grouped memories by category: Routines, Preferences, Tasks

Ont-tap options: "Forget this", "Don't track this anymore"


b) Live Consent Layer

Whenever the assistant uses remembered information, a "learned from you" badge appears.

Tapping it shows: what was remembered, when, and how it influenced the response

Option: "Don't use this again" or "Edit memory"


c) Transparency during onboarding

Let users set a trust level at the start:

Minimal memory: No personalization
Smart memory: AI remembers common actions
Full memory: AI adapts deeply to user's behavior

Design Principles

DESIGN PRINCIPLES

Progressive Disclosure

Enabling social features like sharing recipes or tracking food waste goals fosters a sense of belonging and community. Users can feel that their sustainable choices contribute to a collective good.

Why It Matters: Community-driven features help reinforce the idea that small actions can have a larger impact, strengthening the relationship between users and the app. It’s about creating a movement for positive change.

Empowering Users Through Transparency

Providing users with clear information about product origins, sustainability, and the impact of their actions within the app fosters trust and encourages eco-friendly choices.

Why It Matters: Transparency around the app’s features, how data is used, and the impact of reducing waste helps build a stronger bond with users, empowering them to make informed, responsible decisions that align with their values.

Conversational Transparency

The app is easy to use for a diverse range of users, including those with different abilities and needs, so that sustainability and waste reduction are accessible to everyone.

Why It Matters: An inclusive design broadens the app’s appeal and fosters a sense of shared responsibility for reducing food waste, making the eco-friendly mission accessible and inclusive to all users.

Building Long Term Relationships with Users/ Accessibility

Voice based controls/ sign language

Why It Matters: Fostering a lasting connection encourages users to integrate the app into their daily lives, resulting in a more enduring relationship built on shared goals of sustainability and reducing food waste.

Key Solution Elements for Users

Inventory Management

Allows users to easily add, track, and organize their groceries through photos, scanning receipts/ barcodes, manual input, or voice commands. Categorize items based on type, expiry date, and frequency of use.

Benefit: Simplifies tracking what’s in the fridge, helping users avoid buying duplicates and manage their stock more efficiently.

Tracking and Notifications

Set expiration reminders for items in the fridge, with push notifications sent when items are nearing their expiry. Include countdowns or alerts when specific items are close to spoiling.

Benefit: Reduces food waste by reminding users to consume products before they expire, helping them make the most of their groceries.

Personalized Suggestions

Suggest recipes based on the ingredients users have on hand, factoring in their preferences, dietary restrictions, and previous recipe choices. Include options for utilizing items nearing expiration.

Benefit: Helps users make the most of their groceries, reduces waste, and provides a personalized cooking experience.

Integrations with Appliances

Integrate the app with smart refrigerators or other IoT devices to automatically track inventory and expiration dates in real-time. For instance, syncing the fridge’s internal inventory with the app.

Benefit: Enhances convenience and accuracy, allowing the app to automatically update users on fridge contents without manual input.

Cross-Device Synching

Enable the app to sync across multiple devices, so users can access their grocery list, recipes, and expiration reminders from their phone, tablet, or smart fridge.

Benefit: Provides convenience for users who want to manage their groceries on the go, at home, or in-store, ensuring they stay connected to the app at all times.

Smart Shopping

Generate smart shopping lists based on inventory data, recipe preferences, and upcoming expiration dates. Suggest items to buy based on gaps in the fridge or pantry, and sync directly to grocery stores if ordering online.

Benefit: Saves users time and effort when shopping, making grocery trips more efficient and aligned with current needs.

Key Solution Elements for Stakeholders

Data- Driven Insights and Analytics

Detailed analytics on user behavior, including which products are most commonly tracked, the effectiveness of expiration reminders, and user engagement with recipe suggestions.

Benefit: Allowed stakeholders to make informed decisions, optimize app features, and improve user retention by understanding user needs and app performance.

Scalable Monetization Opportunities

Multiple revenue streams, including in-app purchases for premium features, subscription models for additional services (e.g., personalized meal planning), and partnerships with grocery brands for discounts and promotions.

Benefit: Increased the financial sustainability of the app, creating opportunities for profitability and long-term growth.

User Retention and Engagement Strategies

Implement strategies like gamification (reward systems for reducing waste or trying new recipes) and personalized content to keep users engaged and returning to the app.

Benefit: Enhanced user retention, creating a loyal customer base and reducing churn, which is critical for the app’s long-term success and stakeholder satisfaction.

Partnerships with Grocery Brands and Retailers

Strategic partnerships with grocery chains and brands to offer exclusive promotions, discounts, or branded content within the app.

Benefit: Generated additional revenue through affiliate marketing and strengthened the app’s value proposition by offering more perks to users, thus making the app more attractive to both consumers and stakeholders.

Cross Platform Integration

Integrated the app with smart fridges, grocery delivery services, and other IoT devices to enhance user convenience and create seamless experiences.

Benefit: Increased the app’s value to users by offering seamless interactions across devices, which attracts tech-savvy customers and open up new channels for growth, making the app more valuable for stakeholders.

Competitive Market Advantage

Integrated unique features such as personalized sustainability tips, real-time inventory tracking, and integration with smart fridges.

Benefit: Helped the app stand out in a competitive market, positioning it as a leader in the smart grocery and food waste management space, appealing to stakeholders looking for innovative solutions in the market.

FEEDBACK

Feedback

12 users tested the flow and provided feedback:

92% understood what the assistant knew and how
78% used the Memory Center within the first 24 hours
Perceived trust score (pre vs post.): +42%

"I actually feel like I'm in control."
"This is the first AI tool that doesn't feel creepy."

REFLECTION

Reflection

Transparency builds trust, but only if it's designed as part of the experience, not hidden away in settings or fine prints.

Users don't need every detail- they simply need clear, contextual moments of control that make them feel like they still have rights to their privacy.

What I'd do differently:

Add more edge-case testing (e.g. what if two users share one assistant?)

SKILLS

Skills

This project shows that I can

-Anticipate ethical implications of AI
-Build trust-based UX around automation
-Create clear UX systems for consent and privacy
-Design for both users and skeptics

RESULTS

Zero waste, smarter choices.

The app saw a 30% increase in user engagement within the first month, and users reported a 25% reduction in food waste thanks to reminders and recipe suggestions. The design’s usability was well-received, with 98% of users rating their experience as easy to navigate. However, looking back, I could’ve further optimized the onboarding process (e.i. include a guide tour) to ensure a smoother onboarding and reduce the drop-off rate in the early stages. A more streamlined introduction to the app could have significantly boosted retention rates.