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DUAI — Designing the AI Design Process

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DUAI — Designing the AI Design Process

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DUAI — Designing the AI Design Process

AI image generation has reshaped the role of the designer. In a world where nearly every result can look stunning on the surface, the true challenge lies not in making but in choosing—identifying meaningful directions, knowing when a variation is worth pursuing, and building an intuition for what works and why.

The abundance created by AI models has made process thinking more critical than ever. Good designers today must not only guide the model—they must understand and reflect on the path taken to reach an outcome.

This is where DUAI came in.

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Role:

Product Designer, Solo Founder

Industry:

AI image generation

Duration:

2022 - 2025

Overview

DUAI was born from the desire to navigate generative AI more like a designer and less like a gambler. What if we could track every step, prompt, and decision we made along the way—like branches in a decision tree? Not only to reach better results, but to understand how we got there.

I introduced the concept of a generative decision tree, mapping each prompt, variation, and retry as a visual path. This concept evolved into a system that let users see their creative flow, compare outcomes, and highlight key moments—like turning points, deviations, and dead ends.


Challenges

AI design brought new challenges. The best designers weren’t the ones who made beautiful things (AI could do that). They were the ones who could choose wisely, detect nuance, and guide the AI with clarity and strategy.

  • Process invisibility — No native way to see or reflect on how a final image was reached.

  • Presentation difficulty — Freelancers and educators lacked tools to explain creative choices.

  • Prompt iteration chaos — Prompt history was flat, making it hard to track cause and effect.

Three needs shaped DUAI:

  • Tracking – Log prompt iterations and keep a visual record of choices.

  • Teaching – Present the process to clients, students, or peers.

  • Observing – Study what worked, what didn’t, and why.

We weren’t just generating pretty images. We were iterating. Learning. Building intuition in a world where everything looks good—but not everything is good.

My Approach

Rather than try to simplify or linearize the creative flow, I leaned into its complexity. I saw value in making the invisible visible—building tools that let designers see their own thinking laid out as a navigable map. My goal was to design a system that required minimal input but gave maximum insight: a visual decision tree that formed organically from user behavior. It needed to be fast, intuitive, and frictionless—something that felt like a natural extension of the generation process, not a burden.

I chose to operate within Discord (where most AI generation happened), and focused my interface design on two core objects: The generation Card and the Flow tree. With these, users could return to any point in their creative journey, analyze it, and continue with clarity.

The problem - Navigational Chaos


Before DUAI, trying to make sense of your image generation process using Discord alone was a frustrating experience. Every action—whether prompting, rerolling, upscaling, or remixing—was just another message in a long linear feed. Context was lost quickly. Finding a specific image meant endless scrolling. Comparing prompts meant manually copying and pasting text. And if you ever wanted to explain your thinking to someone else—or to yourself a week later—you had no map, no structure, no memory of what led where.

It wasn’t just inefficient—it was disorienting. Discord was never built for creative process tracking. That chaos is what DUAI aimed to transform.

The problem - Navigational Chaos


Before DUAI, trying to make sense of your image generation process using Discord alone was a frustrating experience. Every action—whether prompting, rerolling, upscaling, or remixing—was just another message in a long linear feed. Context was lost quickly. Finding a specific image meant endless scrolling. Comparing prompts meant manually copying and pasting text. And if you ever wanted to explain your thinking to someone else—or to yourself a week later—you had no map, no structure, no memory of what led where.

It wasn’t just inefficient—it was disorienting. Discord was never built for creative process tracking. That chaos is what DUAI aimed to transform.

The problem - Navigational Chaos


Before DUAI, trying to make sense of your image generation process using Discord alone was a frustrating experience. Every action—whether prompting, rerolling, upscaling, or remixing—was just another message in a long linear feed. Context was lost quickly. Finding a specific image meant endless scrolling. Comparing prompts meant manually copying and pasting text. And if you ever wanted to explain your thinking to someone else—or to yourself a week later—you had no map, no structure, no memory of what led where.

It wasn’t just inefficient—it was disorienting. Discord was never built for creative process tracking. That chaos is what DUAI aimed to transform.

Designing the Card

Each generation moment was represented by a Card—a modular component capturing a prompt, image, action taken (e.g. upscaling, variation), and optional metadata.

The cards were designed not just to record a moment but to serve as functional checkpoints in and out of the Discord and web interface. They became tools for reaching the optimal image, not just viewing history.

Key elements of the Card:

  • Image thumbnail (expandable on click)

  • Action icon (e.g., U2, V1, remix, reroll)

  • Prompt text (diff-highlighted where relevant, with removed and added words marked inline)

  • "P" indicator for prompt change detection between consecutive steps

  • Copy prompt button for reuse

  • Flow line connector showing direction

  • Flow label for cards representing the start of a new generation path

  • Pin function (triggered from Discord) to mark key points—when a message was pinned in Discord, the card in the platform visually reflected it

This atomic format made the process scannable, explorable, and explainable. Designers could compare prompts and outputs with clarity and precision, while seamlessly moving between Discord and the platform.


Designing the Card

Each generation moment was represented by a Card—a modular component capturing a prompt, image, action taken (e.g. upscaling, variation), and optional metadata.

The cards were designed not just to record a moment but to serve as functional checkpoints in and out of the Discord and web interface. They became tools for reaching the optimal image, not just viewing history.

Key elements of the Card:

  • Image thumbnail (expandable on click)

  • Action icon (e.g., U2, V1, remix, reroll)

  • Prompt text (diff-highlighted where relevant, with removed and added words marked inline)

  • "P" indicator for prompt change detection between consecutive steps

  • Copy prompt button for reuse

  • Flow line connector showing direction

  • Flow label for cards representing the start of a new generation path

  • Pin function (triggered from Discord) to mark key points—when a message was pinned in Discord, the card in the platform visually reflected it

This atomic format made the process scannable, explorable, and explainable. Designers could compare prompts and outputs with clarity and precision, while seamlessly moving between Discord and the platform.


Designing the Card

Each generation moment was represented by a Card—a modular component capturing a prompt, image, action taken (e.g. upscaling, variation), and optional metadata.

The cards were designed not just to record a moment but to serve as functional checkpoints in and out of the Discord and web interface. They became tools for reaching the optimal image, not just viewing history.

Key elements of the Card:

  • Image thumbnail (expandable on click)

  • Action icon (e.g., U2, V1, remix, reroll)

  • Prompt text (diff-highlighted where relevant, with removed and added words marked inline)

  • "P" indicator for prompt change detection between consecutive steps

  • Copy prompt button for reuse

  • Flow line connector showing direction

  • Flow label for cards representing the start of a new generation path

  • Pin function (triggered from Discord) to mark key points—when a message was pinned in Discord, the card in the platform visually reflected it

This atomic format made the process scannable, explorable, and explainable. Designers could compare prompts and outputs with clarity and precision, while seamlessly moving between Discord and the platform.


Main Features



Pin Specific Images for Easy Reference

Stay organized and focused by highlighting critical points in your process. With DUAI, you can effortlessly mark your favorite images or notable path deviations. Now, your most important creations will never get lost in the shuffle.






Track Prompt Changes Over Time

Understand the evolution of your creative process with DUAI. Track changes to your prompts over time and see how your ideas and outcomes have transformed. DUAI keeps a record so you can focus on creating.






Differentiate Your Creative Paths

DUAI allows you to illuminate specific flow paths in your larger generation process. From start to end, you can follow and analyze your distinct creative journeys, all in one visually intuitive interface.


Main Features



Pin Specific Images for Easy Reference

Stay organized and focused by highlighting critical points in your process. With DUAI, you can effortlessly mark your favorite images or notable path deviations. Now, your most important creations will never get lost in the shuffle.






Track Prompt Changes Over Time

Understand the evolution of your creative process with DUAI. Track changes to your prompts over time and see how your ideas and outcomes have transformed. DUAI keeps a record so you can focus on creating.






Differentiate Your Creative Paths

DUAI allows you to illuminate specific flow paths in your larger generation process. From start to end, you can follow and analyze your distinct creative journeys, all in one visually intuitive interface.


Main Features



Pin Specific Images for Easy Reference

Stay organized and focused by highlighting critical points in your process. With DUAI, you can effortlessly mark your favorite images or notable path deviations. Now, your most important creations will never get lost in the shuffle.






Track Prompt Changes Over Time

Understand the evolution of your creative process with DUAI. Track changes to your prompts over time and see how your ideas and outcomes have transformed. DUAI keeps a record so you can focus on creating.






Differentiate Your Creative Paths

DUAI allows you to illuminate specific flow paths in your larger generation process. From start to end, you can follow and analyze your distinct creative journeys, all in one visually intuitive interface.


Building the Flow Platform

The web interface was designed to show multiple flows in one place, providing visual navigation over complex generation sessions.

Key features:

  • Flow Highlighting – Hover or select any card to trace its full path.

  • Path Focusing – Isolate a branch from the tree to follow a specific prompt evolution.

  • Start-Point Separation – Distinguish different original prompts clearly to avoid process confusion.

  • Sharing – Each flow session could be shared via link, turning it into a teaching or presentation tool.

The platform offered both a macro and micro perspective—an overview of strategy and a breakdown of craft.

Building the Flow Platform

The web interface was designed to show multiple flows in one place, providing visual navigation over complex generation sessions.

Key features:

  • Flow Highlighting – Hover or select any card to trace its full path.

  • Path Focusing – Isolate a branch from the tree to follow a specific prompt evolution.

  • Start-Point Separation – Distinguish different original prompts clearly to avoid process confusion.

  • Sharing – Each flow session could be shared via link, turning it into a teaching or presentation tool.

The platform offered both a macro and micro perspective—an overview of strategy and a breakdown of craft.

Building the Flow Platform

The web interface was designed to show multiple flows in one place, providing visual navigation over complex generation sessions.

Key features:

  • Flow Highlighting – Hover or select any card to trace its full path.

  • Path Focusing – Isolate a branch from the tree to follow a specific prompt evolution.

  • Start-Point Separation – Distinguish different original prompts clearly to avoid process confusion.

  • Sharing – Each flow session could be shared via link, turning it into a teaching or presentation tool.

The platform offered both a macro and micro perspective—an overview of strategy and a breakdown of craft.

The Solo Build

From funding to feature planning, I built DUAI alone.

As a designer with a strong technological background, I had to wear many hats. I didn’t just design interfaces—I became a project manager, responsible for defining requirements, aligning features to real user needs, and translating vision into executable development tasks.

  • I designed the interface and experience.

  • I scoped features based on technical feasibility, timeline, and budget.

  • I managed development priorities, balancing value vs. effort.

  • I defined features like pinning, branching logic, and visual diffing.

  • I coordinated across technologies—moving between Discord bots, Node.js environments, web deployment pipelines, and server configurations.

I also drafted specs, documented flows, tested user interactions, and handled hosting and infrastructure decisions. It pushed me far beyond traditional UX design into full-stack product leadership.

This wasn’t just a design challenge—it was a product-building exercise with UX, technical, and storytelling layers.

The Solo Build

From funding to feature planning, I built DUAI alone.

As a designer with a strong technological background, I had to wear many hats. I didn’t just design interfaces—I became a project manager, responsible for defining requirements, aligning features to real user needs, and translating vision into executable development tasks.

  • I designed the interface and experience.

  • I scoped features based on technical feasibility, timeline, and budget.

  • I managed development priorities, balancing value vs. effort.

  • I defined features like pinning, branching logic, and visual diffing.

  • I coordinated across technologies—moving between Discord bots, Node.js environments, web deployment pipelines, and server configurations.

I also drafted specs, documented flows, tested user interactions, and handled hosting and infrastructure decisions. It pushed me far beyond traditional UX design into full-stack product leadership.

This wasn’t just a design challenge—it was a product-building exercise with UX, technical, and storytelling layers.

The Solo Build

From funding to feature planning, I built DUAI alone.

As a designer with a strong technological background, I had to wear many hats. I didn’t just design interfaces—I became a project manager, responsible for defining requirements, aligning features to real user needs, and translating vision into executable development tasks.

  • I designed the interface and experience.

  • I scoped features based on technical feasibility, timeline, and budget.

  • I managed development priorities, balancing value vs. effort.

  • I defined features like pinning, branching logic, and visual diffing.

  • I coordinated across technologies—moving between Discord bots, Node.js environments, web deployment pipelines, and server configurations.

I also drafted specs, documented flows, tested user interactions, and handled hosting and infrastructure decisions. It pushed me far beyond traditional UX design into full-stack product leadership.

This wasn’t just a design challenge—it was a product-building exercise with UX, technical, and storytelling layers.

Sunsetting with Progress

Ironically, the same progress that sparked DUAI also made it less essential. As models improved, they began to understand users better. Single prompts started yielding results that took ten tries before. Tools emerged that let you edit specific parts of an image with surgical accuracy.

The process shortened. The tree got shallower. And the need to map every step became less urgent.

So DUAI, as it was, reached its natural conclusion. But the thinking behind it remains central to how I approach design today: show your steps. Learn from your paths. Teach with clarity.

Although DUAI was sunset due to advances in AI prompt stability and editing precision, the principles remain relevant: making the creative process teachable, explorable, and ownable.

These ideas continue to influence how I design products that blend automation, creativity, and transparency.

Sunsetting with Progress

Ironically, the same progress that sparked DUAI also made it less essential. As models improved, they began to understand users better. Single prompts started yielding results that took ten tries before. Tools emerged that let you edit specific parts of an image with surgical accuracy.

The process shortened. The tree got shallower. And the need to map every step became less urgent.

So DUAI, as it was, reached its natural conclusion. But the thinking behind it remains central to how I approach design today: show your steps. Learn from your paths. Teach with clarity.

Although DUAI was sunset due to advances in AI prompt stability and editing precision, the principles remain relevant: making the creative process teachable, explorable, and ownable.

These ideas continue to influence how I design products that blend automation, creativity, and transparency.

Sunsetting with Progress

Ironically, the same progress that sparked DUAI also made it less essential. As models improved, they began to understand users better. Single prompts started yielding results that took ten tries before. Tools emerged that let you edit specific parts of an image with surgical accuracy.

The process shortened. The tree got shallower. And the need to map every step became less urgent.

So DUAI, as it was, reached its natural conclusion. But the thinking behind it remains central to how I approach design today: show your steps. Learn from your paths. Teach with clarity.

Although DUAI was sunset due to advances in AI prompt stability and editing precision, the principles remain relevant: making the creative process teachable, explorable, and ownable.

These ideas continue to influence how I design products that blend automation, creativity, and transparency.

Conclusion

DUAI wasn’t just a tool. It was a mindset shift—and a turning point in how I view my role as a designer.

It taught me how to:

  • Treat process as a product.

  • Give form to decision-making.

  • Build useful tools when the tools don’t exist yet.

  • Step into the role of a builder, not just a thinker.

  • Lead a project through uncertainty with vision and adaptability.

By navigating technical stacks, writing specs, managing scope, and refining every design decision under real-world constraints, I became not only more fluent in the languages of development and infrastructure—but more confident in pushing ideas from concept to execution.

It’s still one of my proudest explorations.