Focus

Discovery • Mapping • Collaboration

Turning an ambiguous product directive into a clear, user-centered strategy

The directive was ambitious: increase AI adoption from 0% to 50%. The challenge wasn’t finding places to add AI. It was identifying where AI could solve a meaningful user problem and create real value.

I led the discovery process to turn ambiguity into an actionable, user-centered direction by facilitating a cross-functional discovery workshop which included mapping the user journey, defining key user archetypes, and rapidly testing concepts with users. The strongest ideas turned into prioritized technical discovery epics.

TLDR

Problem: We had a strategic product direction, but not enough clarity about the users, problems, experience, or technical requirements to confidently build against it.

Approach: UX processes and cross-functional alignment grounded our work in real user needs.

Outcome: A shared product direction backed by user feedback, translated into actionable technical discovery epics.

My Role

  • Led UX strategy and discovery

  • Facilitated cross-functional alignment

  • Directed research and competitive analysis

  • Mentored intern through execution

  • Drove concept development and prioritization

  • Partnered with product and engineering to define next steps

Problem

We had a directive, but not a clear problem to solve

The team had been given a high-level product directive, but several fundamental questions remained unanswered:

  • Who were we designing for?

  • What problems in the user journey could be addressed with AI?

  • What was technically feasible?

Without answering these questions, the team risked moving into execution before ensuring we were solving a real problem.

Discovery & Alignment

  1. Created a shared understanding of the opportunity through journey mapping & user archetypes

  2. Considered competitive analysis, executed by our UX intern

  3. Facilitated a cross-functional workshop to align Product, Design, Data Science, and Engineering to turn: Users → needs → opportunities → concepts

Outcome: We turned a broad directive into a defined set of opportunities to explore.

Concept Validation

We used AI to rapidly turn promising opportunities into testable concepts.

Our UX intern owned usability testing under my research direction, helping us identify which concepts resonated, which assumptions failed, and where further exploration was needed. We turned: Concepts → user feedback → prioritized concepts

From Concepts to Execution

Translating evidence into actionable work

We prioritized concepts using user feedback, product value, and technical considerations. I supported our XD intern as he worked on a final design recommendation.

I then partnered with Product and Engineering to translate the strongest opportunities into:

  • Product epics - what user outcomes and capabilities to enable

  • Technical discovery epics - what engineering needed to validate before implementation

Impact

  • Created alignment across Product, Design, and Engineering

  • Replaced assumptions with user evidence

  • Narrowed a broad directive into prioritized opportunities

  • Identified technical unknowns before implementation

  • Communicated clear product and technical next steps to leadership

Key Takeaway

The biggest outcome wasn't a design - it was ensuring we were solving the right problem. I turned an ambiguous directive into a user-validated direction the team could confidently act on.