Cactus is a task and information management app designed to reduce cognitive overload through conversational AI and smart automation. The project is inspired by cognitive science studies and built upon extensive user experience research. The design and prototype was done in Figma. The final deliverable includes a high-fidelity prototype and an iOS app.
Create and Manage Conversational Videos
The Creator flow is central to Skylow’s experience, enabling anyone to become a creator by turning ideas into conversational videos through a compact and guided process. From the 'Create' window, users can upload an existing video or provide a PDF or text file for Skylow to automatically generate an interactive session. Each step — uploading materials, reviewing details, customizing thumbnails, and creating an avatar — is streamlined. Once created, videos appear in the Library, where users can manage, edit, or delete them.
Create New Conversational Video
This prototype demonstrates the flow for creating a new conversational video using an existing video and an avatar.
Creators can open the 'Create' window from the top navigation bar. The process includes 1) uploading a video 2) review and edit details (title, description, thumbnail, and avatar.)
Create New Avatar
This prototype demonstrates the flow for creating a new avatar within the 'Create' window.
The process includes three steps: 1) uploading a consent video 2) uploading a short training video 3) completing the persona information.
Manage through Library
This prototype demonstrates how creators can manage their conversational videos within the 'Library', where creators can view all uploaded sessions and statistics, edit details, or delete selected items.
Built around the Concept of Interaction
The logo features an abstract figure with a headphone, symbolizing communication between humans and technology. It reflects the platform’s belief that conversation is the most natural and organic form of interaction.
Too Much Information, Too Much Fatigue
Today, people are saving more information than ever. Devices offer way more storage than before, and cloud services make it easy to save everything. But the more saved, the more need to manage. Despite having tons of productivity tools around us, from calendars to to-do lists to voice memos, many people still report feeling overwhelmed. This is because many of those tools still require decision-making on things like labeling, structuring, and prioritizing, which actually drains energy and leads to cognitive fatigue.
Conversational AI & Voice interaction
Allows storing and retrieving anytime anywhere through conversations
Auto categorization & prioritization
Reduces the need for manual input and labeling or prioritizing tasks
Minimal visual design & interfaces
Prevents overwhelm and makes the experience quiet and focused
Talk
Upon entering the app, users arrive at the Talk screen, the central space for interaction, where they can create new tasks or information, review existing ones, or make quick edits simply by talking to Cactus.
For first-time users, a short onboarding moment introduces how Cactus works.
View
Swipe to the right, users can toggle to the View screen, where they can also create, review, edit, and organize their tasks or information but manually.
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The Talking Cactus
Cactus imagines a future that extends beyond the app into a living form. The Talking Cactus is a real cactus that speaks, listens, and grows with user.
Unlike devices such as Alexa or HomePod, each Talking Cactus is unique and truly alive that needs care and attention. The type of cactus user receive is a surprise, revealed only when it arrives.
Every Talking Cactus comes with a custom ID card and care instructions.
Task-first mindset: Residents want to get things done quickly
Through user interviews with apartment residents, I discovered that most residents open service platforms with a specific task already in mind. They’re not exploring. They just want to get something done quickly. This behavior reveals a need for fast, low-friction entry points that allows them act immediately without thinking and unnecessary clicks.
However, many existing platforms bury simple high-frequency tasks like submitting repair requests or reserving amenities behind multiple layers, increasing time-on-task and user frustration.
How might we help residents get things done faster and easier in one space?
Living in a residential community, residents often need to submit maintenance request, track packages, or reserve amenities. Inspired by existing platforms like BuildingLink, I designed Hub, a resident services platform that allows residents to find information and take action fast and easily through a simple flow, modern interface and consistent system.
Make high-frequency tasks accessible within one or two steps and offer flexible paths that accommodate different user habits
Use clear hierarchy, intuitive iconography, and concise language aligned with modern user expectations and mental models
Ensure consistency across all modules through shared patterns, balanced spacing, and a unified visual rhythm
Search or Browse
Hub allows users to access services in the way that feels most natural to them either by searching or by browsing. This approach reduces cognitive friction and supports different user behaviors.
a. Access through Search
Allows search-first users quickly type what they need and take direct action without navigating through multiple layers.
b. Access through Shortcuts or Collapsible Sidebar
High-frequency actions are grouped into shortcut cards on home dashboard for browse-first users to get quick, visual access.
Visual Blocks replacing Dropdowns
Current repair forms often rely on long dropdowns that increase cognitive effort while scrolling and searching. Hub replaces them with icon-based blocks, allowing residents to easily recognize and select.
Exploring Motion as a Narrative Device
Inspired by Shiffman’s Nature of Code, Wanted simulates physics (gravity, collision, randomness) through computations, composing a playful experience that lets motion tell its own story.
Can Code Create Something Organic?
The project began with this question.
A Canvas where Computations Give Rise to Organic Creation
Bloom examines how algorithms can move beyond control and precision toward behaviors that feel grown rather than designed. It treats code as a living system — one capable of mutation, inheritance, and emergence — suggesting that the digital, too, can act as nature does: imperfect, adaptive, and alive.
Shapes
Each flower comes from a genetic algorithm that encodes color, shape, and structure capable of inheritance, variation, and mutation.
Textures
The visual combines a textured, paper-like digital canvas with glass interface elements to create analog warmth on a digital screen and a sense of depth.
Snapshot
A built-in snapshot feature captures the canvas, mimicking the feel of preserving moments using an analog instant camera.
