AI-ASSISTED DESIGN PROCESS
Homeroom: designing with AI as my thinking partner
Homeroom: designing with AI as my thinking partner
Keeping a family calendar on track gets complicated fast when two parents are working and the kids are at different schools. In this case study, I share how I used Claude to help shape the idea, Figma Make to get initial versions on the screen, and my own design judgment to decide what was worth keeping.
Keeping a family calendar on track gets complicated fast when two parents are working and the kids are at different schools. In this case study, I share how I used Claude to help shape the idea, Figma Make to get initial versions on the screen, and my own design judgment to decide what was worth keeping.
THE IDEA
A simple idea to something tangible
A simple idea to something tangible
I wanted one place to see what everyone in the family has going on this week or month, and quick access to the details I’m always scrambling for, like the kids’ pediatrician, utility accounts, and the handyman. I also wanted an easy way for my husband and me to keep track of who’s responsible for what, hand off tasks, and switch things around when life gets busy or plans change.
I wanted one place to see what everyone in the family has going on this week or month, and quick access to the details I’m always scrambling for, like the kids’ pediatrician, utility accounts, and the handyman. I also wanted an easy way for my husband and me to keep track of who’s responsible for what, hand off tasks, and switch things around when life gets busy or plans change.
Two schools
2 calendars, 2 newsletters, 2 sets of “wear PJs to school” days.
Hidden deadlines
The field trip is Friday, but the permission slip is due Tuesday.
Scattered info
Insurance numbers, gas and electric accounts, school office numbers.
Shared load
Two parents splitting the work, with no clear place to hand something off.
My role
Product designer/busy mom
Tools
Claude, Figma Make, Figma Design
Focus
AI assisted design process over final product
the process
How I design with AI
How I design with AI
It starts with an idea. Then Claude helps me turn it into a clear brief, and Figma Make quickly gives me something to react to. From there, I decide what works, make changes, and repeat until the experience feels right.
It starts with an idea. Then Claude helps me turn it into a clear brief, and Figma Make quickly gives me something to react to. From there, I decide what works, make changes, and repeat until the experience feels right.
The AI does the heavy lifting and I decide what "better" means…Every lap, the design gets a little sharper.
The AI does the heavy lifting and I decide what "better" means…Every lap, the design gets a little sharper.
1
Something bugs me
It always starts with a small annoyance. What’s the real problem, and how would fixing it make life easier?
2
Talk it out with Claude
Claude
It always starts with a small annoyance. What’s the real problem, and how would fixing it make life easier?
3
Let the machine sketch
I paste the brief into Figma Make. Seconds later I’ve got a first draft — not perfect, just a real starting point.
4
Grab the red pen
Now I’m the critic. I keep what works, cross out what doesn’t, and make a few fixes myself, on purpose (save the tokens!).
5
Get a second opinion
Claude
I screenshot the new version and ask Claude to poke holes in it. Then we write a better prompt together.
6
Small, careful tweaks
I lock in what’s working and ask for one change at a time. Fewer surprises, better results.
Claude as my thinking partner
I didn’t start with screens. I started with a clearer brief.
I didn’t start with screens. I started with a clearer brief.
My first message to Claude described the mess in plain English and asked for a prompt I could hand to Figma Make, including use cases I hadn’t thought of.
My first message to Claude described the mess in plain English and asked for a prompt I could hand to Figma Make, including use cases I hadn’t thought of.
My initial ask to Claude
My initial ask to Claude
“Hey Claude - Help me create a life management tool that’s easy to use.
In my family, there are two kids in two different schools, so there are many events to track. I want to see all my to-dos very easily, a reminder list (calls I need to make by X date), all appointments for my entire family (piano lessons, doctor’s appointments, wear pajamas to school day, etc.).
I also need help organizing important info such as electric and gas account numbers, medical insurance numbers, handyman's number, everyone’s doctor’s numbers and addresses.
Help me create a prompt that I can use to generate a design in another AI tool (Figma Make).
Include any use cases or scenarios that I may not have mentioned here but would be nice to have.”
“Hey Claude - Help me create a life management tool that’s easy to use.
In my family, there are two kids in two different schools, so there are many events to track. I want to see all my to-dos very easily, a reminder list (calls I need to make by X date), all appointments for my entire family (piano lessons, doctor’s appointments, wear pajamas to school day, etc.).
I also need help organizing important info such as electric and gas account numbers, medical insurance numbers, handyman's number, everyone’s doctor’s numbers and addresses.
Help me create a prompt that I can use to generate a design in another AI tool (Figma Make).
Include any use cases or scenarios that I may not have mentioned here but would be nice to have.”
the prompt
the prompt
Review and adjust
Design take 1: where did it go wrong?
Design take 1: where did it go wrong?
Claude and Figma Make gave me a solid first draft that I could react to instead of a blank page. But it still needed
a lot of work. It helped me identify what was important to keep and what aspects of the design could be revised or
removed altogether. As I was evaluating the design, it became clear to me that the real value was in the conversation
it started: each revision helped me get closer to what my family actually needs.
Claude and Figma Make gave me a solid first draft that I could react to instead of a blank page. But it still needed a lot of work. It helped me identify what was important to keep and what aspects of the design could be revised or removed altogether. As I was evaluating the design, it became clear to me that the real value was in the conversation
it started: each revision helped me get closer to what my family actually needs.
Focused on the wrong thing
The design centered on who does drop-offs and pickups, and flagged pickup conflicts at the very top. My family already has that settled. The screen needed to put the real responsibilities center stage.
Too many colors throughout, unclear intent
Member colors, category colors, and status colors are all competing. Several assets are hard to read without stopping to decode them.
Emergency info in the wrong place
This card could live inside today’s to-dos instead of standing alone. A quick “Call” action would make it useful.
Hierarchy is off throughout
This section belongs below today’s to-dos and could be merged with other upcoming tasks and events.
Repetitive and copy heavy throughout
“Today” and “Tasks due today” say the same thing twice. Labels and descriptions can be much shorter and the information consolidated into one section.
No easy way to make the call
There’s no simple way to call from this screen. I'd add a clear CTA here so I can handle it without leaving the app.
Focused on the wrong thing (top section)
The design centered on who does drop-offs and pickups, and flagged pickup conflicts at the very top. My family already has that settled. The screen needed to put the real responsibilities center stage.
Too many colors throughout, unclear intent
Member colors, category colors, and status colors are all competing. Several assets are hard to read without stopping to decode them.
Emergency info in the wrong place
This card could live inside today’s to-dos instead of standing alone. A quick “Call” action would make it useful.
Hierarchy is off throughout
This section belongs below today’s to-dos and could be merged with other upcoming tasks and events.
Repetitive and copy heavy throughout
“Today” and “Tasks due today” say the same thing twice. Labels and descriptions can be much shorter and the information consolidated into one section.
No easy way to make the call
There’s no simple way to call from this screen. I'd add a clear CTA here so I can handle it without leaving the app.
Design evolution
From the first draft to a purposeful family command center
From the first draft to a purposeful family command center
The concept evolved from a dense, conflict-heavy dashboard into a calmer home for the day’s priorities, calendars, tasks, and family information.
The concept evolved from a dense, conflict-heavy dashboard into a calmer home for the day’s priorities, calendars, tasks, and family information.
1st iteration
2nd iteration
3rd iteration
with manual tweaks
conversation ai
Replacing Search and Add with Homer
Replacing Search and Add with Homer
Search and manual entry still work, but they can feel clunky and old-school. I wanted Homeroom to feel more like
a helpful conversation. That’s where Homer comes in: it can ask a quick follow-up, understand what you need, and
help you get things done without all the extra steps.
Search and manual entry still work, but they can feel clunky and old-school.
I wanted Homeroom to feel more like
a helpful conversation. That’s where Homer comes in: it can ask a quick follow-up, understand what you need, and help you get things done without all the extra steps.
One input, always within thumb reach
One input, always within thumb reach
Add an event, hand off a task, or find something, with quick actions on what’s coming up.
Add an event, hand off a task, or find something, with quick actions on what’s coming up.
Questions that understand the household
Time, place, schedule conflicts, and who’s taking the kids are resolved through a useful conversation.
Task handoff, made human
“Haircut for Danny” lands in Tasks with Mike’s avatar, and Mike gets the handoff.
Questions that understand the household
Time, place, schedule conflicts, and who’s taking the kids are resolved through a useful conversation.
Task handoff, made human
“Haircut for Danny” lands in Tasks with Mike’s avatar, and Mike gets the handoff.
Lessons learned
It's been a great experience using Claude as a thought partner and Figma Make to turn my concept into something tangible. I knew it would take a few iterations to get right, but they helped me explore, test, and refine an idea I've been thinking about for some time. They really jump started the process while allowing me to stay in the driver's seat and tailor every detail to my vision. Some practical tips I learned during this process:
It's been a great experience using Claude as a thought partner and Figma Make to turn my concept into something tangible. I knew it would take a few iterations to get right, but they helped me explore, test, and refine an idea I've been thinking about for some time. They really jump started the process while allowing me to stay in the driver's seat and tailor every detail to my vision. Some practical tips I learned during this process:
Name versions as I go
Every generation gets a name, so I can compare iterations and roll back to what worked.
Every generation gets a name, so I can compare iterations and roll back to what worked.
Budget tokens and credits
Be thoughtful about when to pull in Claude or Figma Make and when to make small tweaks myself. Save tokens for bigger changes.
Be thoughtful about when to pull in Claude or Figma Make and when to make small tweaks myself. Save tokens for bigger changes.
Keep what works
When something is working, leave it alone. Make the edits myself or ask the tool to focus only on the part that needs to change.
When something is working, leave it alone. Make the edits myself or ask the tool to focus only on the part that needs to change.
AI assisted design process