Ario
AI Assistant for Modern Parenthood
Parents do not need another inbox. They need fewer decisions. Early versions of Ario automated tasks but hid the why, which meant people checked everything twice and did not fully trust the help.
Role
UX/UI Design, User Research, Wireframing, Visual Design, Design System
Duration
1 Year
Tools
Figma, Illustrator, Photoshop
Problem Statement
Parents do not need another inbox. They need fewer decisions. Early versions of Ario automated tasks but hid the why, which meant people checked everything twice and did not fully trust the help.
Problem Statement
Parents do not need another inbox. They need fewer decisions. Early versions of Ario automated tasks but hid the why, which meant people checked everything twice and did not fully trust the help.
Project Goals
Turn messy inputs into plans that explain themselves. Make every automated step clear and editable. Surface conflicts early and offer one tap fixes. Keep the tone warm and direct so the app feels like support, not another task.
Project Goals
Turn messy inputs into plans that explain themselves. Make every automated step clear and editable. Surface conflicts early and offer one tap fixes. Keep the tone warm and direct so the app feels like support, not another task.
Research
Research
I interviewed parents and watched how they process school emails and calendar invites. I cataloged the points where confidence drops. Unknown source, hidden assumptions, silent changes, and no paper trail. I studied products that do explainable automation and borrowed what fits family life.
I interviewed parents and watched how they process school emails and calendar invites. I cataloged the points where confidence drops. Unknown source, hidden assumptions, silent changes, and no paper trail. I studied products that do explainable automation and borrowed what fits family life.
Users and Profiles
Users and Profiles
The default planner in a household needs clarity and control. Co parents need visibility without noise. Kids sometimes need a simple view of what is happening next.
The default planner in a household needs clarity and control. Co parents need visibility without noise. Kids sometimes need a simple view of what is happening next.
Ideation and Wireframes
Ideation and Wireframes
I sketched an ingest model that shows source and intent before any change lands. Wires added a simple confirm or edit step. I prototyped conflict views that highlight the issue and offer a direct fix. Early tests focused on copy and timing. Say less, explain just enough, and always show what changed.
I sketched an ingest model that shows source and intent before any change lands. Wires added a simple confirm or edit step. I prototyped conflict views that highlight the issue and offer a direct fix. Early tests focused on copy and timing. Say less, explain just enough, and always show what changed.
UX/UI Design
UX/UI Design
The interface is calm. Content first, then controls. Every AI action carries a short label that says what it did and why. You can undo or edit from the same place. The system defines patterns for parsing emails, creating events, resolving conflicts, and showing history so the experience feels predictable.
The interface is calm. Content first, then controls. Every AI action carries a short label that says what it did and why. You can undo or edit from the same place. The system defines patterns for parsing emails, creating events, resolving conflicts, and showing history so the experience feels predictable.
Results & Final reflections
Results & Final reflections
Designing Ario pushed me to explore the intersection between trust, automation, and emotional design. We weren’t just building a tool—we were stepping into people’s domestic lives, which meant the experience needed to be as invisible as it was empowering. The project taught me that designing AI interactions isn’t about hiding complexity; it’s about surfacing just the right amount of logic and feedback to build confidence. I also gained experience working in fast-paced, early-stage environments where product direction evolves rapidly and systems must stay adaptable.
In the first 30 days, Ario parsed 65% of school emails into correct events. Conflicts per week dropped 31%. Day 30 retention rose by 12 points and NPS moved from 37 to 46. The takeaway is consistent. Automation works when it is transparent, reversible, and a little humble.
Designing Ario pushed me to explore the intersection between trust, automation, and emotional design. We weren’t just building a tool—we were stepping into people’s domestic lives, which meant the experience needed to be as invisible as it was empowering. The project taught me that designing AI interactions isn’t about hiding complexity; it’s about surfacing just the right amount of logic and feedback to build confidence. I also gained experience working in fast-paced, early-stage environments where product direction evolves rapidly and systems must stay adaptable.
In the first 30 days, Ario parsed 65% of school emails into correct events. Conflicts per week dropped 31%. Day 30 retention rose by 12 points and NPS moved from 37 to 46. The takeaway is consistent. Automation works when it is transparent, reversible, and a little humble.