Drlambda AI

We helped product managers turn docs into slides more efficiently with layout presets and dedicated resources.

COMPANY
Drlambda
DURATION
18 Weeks
STATUS
Handed off to engineer
MY ROLE
Product designer
TEAM
3 Designers
1 Product manager
1 Researcher
2 Engineer
The Challenge
Solution Overview
Background
Pain Point
Reframe The Problem
Solution 1
Solution 2
Solution 3
Reflection

The Challenge

How can we increase product managers' adoption of Drlambda AI while meeting their needs in the slide creation workflow?

Solution Overview

We designed 3 features to broden the product manager's user base and help them to save their editing clicks in the slides designing process.
1
New Dashboard With Choice of Relevant Template
The occupation-based templates encourage new users to start a project.
2
Apply Different Layout With The Layout Preset
Users can choose a desired layout with only a few clicks without aligning anything manually.
3
Find Images You Need In The Stock + AI Gen Image Library
With our image stock library + AI Gen images, users don't have to search for images on other websites and bounce between different web tabs.

Impact

x2

Product manager user base

90%

Save on editing clicks

70%

Save on editing time
The impact result was estimated by the team.

Background

What is Drlambda
Drlambda is an AI Slides Creation tool that converts documents to slides.
Why do we want to adopt more product managers?
Our business goal is to broaden Dr. Lambda's user base through exploring non-academy (professor, student, researcher) use case, we considered the product manager a breakthrough point to grow the non-academy users.
Academy/non-academy user ratio
Can product manager represent all of the non-academy users?
Although it's not possible for PMs to represent all other non-academy users, through our research and survey for multiple potential occupations, the result showed that product managers are 
1. Frequent users of slides
2. Have a modest visual standard
3. Likely to pay for subscription
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Finding Pain Points

Meet Lucy, a product manager in the Bay Area.
Our team interviewed 10 product managers with 20-30 questions to uncover their needs. This is our product manager representative, Lucy.
29 year-old female
Living in the Bay Area
Product manger
Working in FAANG
Power Point
Main slides software
Goal
To design a visually and contextually convincing PowerPoint presentation deck that garners leadership support.
Situation
Lucy is working on a “product kick-off meeting slide,” and she already has all the content in the document and is ready to transition to the slides.
Lucy represents our usability testing participants and provides feedback.
Lucy's Pain Point In Workflow
The best Drlambda can help PMs in our product scope is to make their 0-0.5 workflow (preparation and design) more efficient.
We categorized pain points and prioritized them in High Priority Medium Priority
For the Crafting Storyline, Drlambda already has the "Generate Outline" feature. PMs reuse many of their previous diagrams, so the Inserting Diagrams will not be our high priority.
3 Key Pain Points
After evaluation of our product scope and business goal, for Lucy, the key pain points are
1 - Lucy needs more template
"Companies’ template is not good enough, as it’s generic and not tailored for specific tasks."
2 - It's time-consuming for Lucy to format the layout
"I often spend plenty of time aligning diverse text groups and images. For me this is the most time-consuming part."
3 - Lack of build-in image asset for Lucy to use
"Searching images online and inserting them in the slides to support the content takes too many steps."

Reframe The Problem

How might we optimize Drlambda AI to help product managers for a more efficient editing workflow by streamlining the formatting process while providing image assets and required templates?

Ideation, Solution & Evaluation

Ideation Process
We had our potential solution here and will test them in the wireframe.
1 - Lucy needs more template
Relevant Topic of Template For Product Managers. Explore new dashboard with the template. Suggesting relevant template could attract PMs.
Adjust Theme. This allows users to adjust the entire slides’ font and color.
2 - It's time-consuming for Lucy to format the layout
Layout Preset. Allow users to adjust page layout by choosing various "Layout Preset"
3 - Lack of build-in image asset for Lucy to use
Build-in Image Library. Image Asset library in the workspace (Better be free) along with our AI generative image. Users saves time on searching image on other website.

Solution 1
Relevant Topic of Template For Product Managers

Solving pain point 1 - Lucy needs more template
We assumed a new dashboard with relevant occupation templates could encourage product managers to start projects with Drlambda.
This new work flow is good for both business side and user side.
Wireframe Quick View & Usability Testing
Original Dashboard V.S. New
Prototyping 1st Ver.
In this version, we created the new workflow and fix some UI and actionability problems.
Dashboard With Template
Revising/Simplify The User Flow
We are getting more feedback during the testing and we wanted to bring it up in the prototype. Participants wanted to have the following features
But adding those features didn't add values.
Prototyping 2nd Ver. (Final)
In this version, we revamping the redundant user flow and make it easy to use.
Here we have the final prototype.
Template To Summary Input
Summary Input process

Solution 2Layout Preset

Solving pain point 2 - It's time-consuming for Lucy to format the layout
Product managers need consistent and standardized layouts, so they spend plenty of time formatting pages. Per our assumption, layout presets can save editing time.
Wireframe Quick View & Usability Testing
Original Layout Change V.S. New
Prototyping 1st Ver.
Highlight updates:
1. More descriptive tool bar for higher discoverability
2. Easier switch among different layout
More Descriptive Tool Bar & Instant Layout Change
Summary
1. The “Layout change” feature is popular but not feasible enough.
2. Users needed to batch edit pages. They often need 2-3 clicks for 1 page. More pages take more effort.
Prototyping 2nd Ver. (Final)
The new version of “Layout” needs to have
1. Easier access
2. Able to batch edit
3. Higher discoverability
We were finding a way to highlight the Layout in the toolbar. Can we "pin" the layout change feature on the screen so users can access it anytime without clicking the toolbar?
Option 1: Layout Bar With The Switch Button
We created a "Layout Bar" and a switch button.
In our understanding, users write scripts after they finish the slides. In the early stage, users focus on the content. A switch button may satisfy users' needs at different stages.
The feedback and discussion about redesigning switch button prototypes weren't optimal.
Therefore, option 1 wasn't successful.
Option 2: Layout bar on the top
Instead of put the "Layout Bar" at the bottom, we thought it's better to put it on the top so we don't need a switch button and conflict with "Script."
This how the final version looks.

Solution 3
‍Image Asset

Solving pain point 3 - Lack of build-in image asset for Lucy to use
Product managers need a more efficient way to insert images, as they currently take many steps to search online. An image library with recommended stock photos and AI-generated images might do the job.
Wireframe Quick View & Usability Testing
Adding Image From Our Library
Our idea was to allow users to add images from our library with auto-layout. It gives users a similar experience of layout preset. The original product can only upload images.
This feature is widely acceptable and we will dig in deeper in the prototype.
Prototyping 1st Ver.
To provide rich selection of image, we explore and found this combination
Unsplash has millions of free licensed photos, while AI generative image in Drlambda supplements Unsplash if users don't find a favorite one.
Demo For Unsplash image insert
Demo For AI Gen Image
Drlambda has AI generative image if users need a picture that's not in Unsplash.
Prototyping 2nd Ver. (Final)
Action Item:
1. Adapt copy/paste and drag/drop
2. Try to create a way to suggest content in the AI Gen image.
Adapt Copy/Paste & Drag/Drop
Users now can drag/drop and choose to replace or add a new image.
The layout will change when users choose to add a new image.
Suggested AI Gen Image Keywords
Instead of showing the image directly for the AI Gen image, we decided to put suggested keywords to help users fill in the prompt quickly.

Here is the comparison for the old/new AI Gen image interface.
This is the final screen for the AI Gen image.

Reflection

Designing AI Product
What I think regards design scope for AI product.
User Education For AI
In our research and interview, many users, especially those who work for big companies, mentioned that they have strict policies for AI products and data security.
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I think it's essential for Drlambda or other AI products to educate users on what generative AI can bring and how the website uses the data. Users should know the risks and advantages of generative AI to expect the result.
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In my experience, I always want to test AI product's constraints, corner cases, and boundaries. This way, I can correctly utilize the product, avoiding asking AI to do what it cannot.
Testing & Result
In this project, we interviewed many product managers. In our mind, they know the product best and how to describe the problem and needs. But sometimes, they make mistakes on fake needs, and we must verify their needs are designable.
Future Plan
1. Observe the change in user base and distribution
2. Continue to get feedback on solutions 2 & 3. See if there's a change in data on these features.