Aug 18, 2025
UX Research & Product Design for an AI Startup
Creating Seamless AI Video Generation with Wuji (MIT Project)
Wuji, an AI startup born from the MIT class “Designing and Building AI Products and Services,” set out to reimagine how people create high quality videos.
The mission: build a platform that generates professional video scenes from either a single image upload or a script input.
The challenge centered around accessibility. Non-technical users found prompt generation in existing AI tools confusing and frustrating. Meanwhile, technical users wanted the freedom to customize code for advanced workflows. Wuji aimed to bridge this gap by offering a tool that is both intuitive and flexible.
Process Breakdown
🌿 Scope of Work:
UX Research · Design Thinking Workshop · UI Design · Prototyping
💡 Approach:
Applying the Double Diamond framework, the process unfolded in four key steps:
1️⃣ Identifying User Personas:
Research revealed four core user groups, each with distinct needs:
Social Media Influencer - wants fast, polished content to stay ahead of trends.
Small Business Owner - needs affordable marketing videos without steep learning curves.
Tech-Savvy Developer - seeks flexible APIs and customization options for unique use cases.
Professional Filmmaker - demands quality, control, and export-ready outputs.
2️⃣ Online Design Thinking Workshop:
An interactive workshop gathered diverse voices to uncover user pains and aspirations:
Feelings: excitement about AI, frustration with technical barriers.
Pains: steep learning curve, time wasted on prompt iteration, limited creative flexibility.
Solutions: simple guided settings with previews and a dual-mode interface (simple for beginners, code-editable for experts).
Through ideation and quick testing, the team identified a north star: effortless creativity with scalable customization.
3️⃣ UI Design Mockups:
Wireframes followed by high-fidelity mockups showcased a streamlined experience:
Simple Flow: image or script upload, AI generates an instant preview.
Customization Layer: toggle advanced settings or edit code for fine-tuned control.
Consistency: clean layouts and familiar editing patterns reduce cognitive load.
4️⃣ Functional Prototype:
A working prototype brought the vision to life. Users tested the workflow, exploring both the simplicity of guided generation and the depth of code customization. Iterative testing refined flows, ensuring both non-tech and expert users could achieve their goals.
Results & Takeaways
✨ Outcome:
Wuji’s prototype delivered a flexible, intuitive experience that reduces friction for beginners while empowering advanced creators. The design balanced clarity with depth, aligning with diverse user needs.
🤝 Collaboratione:
By applying the Double Diamond process in a structured workshop environment, backed by AI agents and tools, insights from multiple perspectives shaped a solution that was both user-centered and technically feasible.
Exploring how AI can make creativity accessible? Wuji shows how thoughtful design can unlock the power of advanced technology for everyone, from influencers to filmmakers.
