Independent product · Human-centered AI workflow design · 2026

Workflow X-Ray

See the work clearly before deciding where AI belongs.

Product designAI interaction designWorkflow systemsAI-assisted implementation

Workflow X-Ray Mapping workspace with a workflow ledger on the left and an AI Guide asking one focused follow-up on the right — The AI Guide narrows a broad workflow narrative into one verifiable step at a time.

Role: Product strategy, interaction design, visual system and AI-assisted frontend implementation
Product: Single-user interactive prototype with browser-persisted workflows
Output: Editable workflow map, ranked recommendations and an eight-page analysis report

The problem

Automating an incomplete workflow only accelerates the wrong work.

Teams are under pressure to apply AI, but their workflows are often informal, cross-functional and only partially documented. One stakeholder may describe the official process instead of the real one. Hidden exceptions, unstable handoffs and duplicated work must become visible before a responsible recommendation is possible.

How it works

Four earned states. One accountable record.

Each stage earns the next. Analysis remains locked until the map contains verified work and the timing needed for honest estimates.

01
Dashboard
Define the trigger, outcome, workflow areas and business goal.
02
Mapping
Turn an interview into editable steps with owners and timing.
03
Verify
Confirm the real sequence and correct anything AI inferred.
04
Analyze
Rank opportunities by defensible active-work time saved.

The hard interaction

Keep the whole sequence in context. Ask about one step.

A long narrative can contain the full sequence and still leave crucial facts unresolved. The Guide retains that context, returns attention to the earliest unfinished step and writes each answer into an editable record instead of treating conversation as truth.

Ad hoc content production dashboard showing the trigger, outcome, business goal and 100 percent workflow readiness — Define the boundariesThe dashboard makes the investigation's starting point and finish line explicit.

Ad hoc content production mapping table showing verified workflow steps, workflow areas, owners and status — Build the recordThe same workflow becomes an editable sequence with owners and confirmation states.

Design evolution

From command center to working case file.

The first direction established a strong technical tone, but dense chrome competed with the workflow evidence. The selected direction kept the same information architecture while giving labels, comparison states and long records more room to breathe.

Earlier dark Workflow X-Ray interface with dense panels and high-contrast chrome — Earlier directionA convincing command center, but the interface competed with the evidence.

Selected light Workflow X-Ray direction with an editorial analytical layout — Selected directionA lighter case-file canvas built for comparison, legibility and diagnostic states.

Proof, not promise

Verification first. Recommendations second.

The complete content-production workflow provides one continuous example from verified sequence to ranked findings and a shareable report.

AI interprets

Unstructured answers, likely steps, focused follow-ups and assistance patterns.

The product enforces

Editable records, completeness rules, verification gates and transparent calculations.

A person decides

What is factual, what needs correction and what must remain human-led.

Ad hoc content production Verify view showing twelve confirmed steps across six workflow areas — VerifyTwelve steps remain visible across six workflow areas so a person can correct the sequence before analysis.

Ad hoc content production Analyze view showing ten recommendations and five days two hours of possible time saved — AnalyzeTen workflow-specific recommendations expose the problem, proposed assistance and calculation behind each estimate.

Exported Workflow X-Ray analysis report cover for ad hoc content production with verification, recommendation and time-savings metrics — ReportThe same verified record exports as an eight-page brief with the current state, map and prioritized opportunities.

What the prototype proves

A working contract for responsible workflow analysis.

The prototype connects to qualified OpenRouter and DeepSeek model paths, persists editable workflows, gates analysis, calculates estimates from user-entered active time and exports a print-ready report.

Actual adoption and realized savings remain future pilot measures. The current evidence is the working product, retained decisions and repeatable unit and browser coverage.