Launch | NTT DATA
Lead UX Designer
The Strategic Problem
As NTT DATA looked to deepen its investment in AI, I was tasked to help with designing Next AI - a platform that would demonstrate how AI could enhance user experience at large conferences hosted by NTT Data. The goal was to create a forward-thinking, human-centered tool that both showcased our AI capabilities and tangibly improved the attendee journey. We were given a series of loosely defined feature requirements by business stakeholders that needed to be synthesized into a cohesive experience. The challenge: build from zero, align on what AI could realistically deliver, and ship a functional design vision within eight weeks.
Our Approach
We kicked off the project with a series of feature and journey exploration meetings to define the attendee experience across three key phases: before, during, and after the conference. I partnered with another designer and we put together a mapping of user emotions, touch-points, and opportunities for AI integration across each phase.
From there, we worked in agile design sprints, each one-week sprint included user flows, whiteboarding, wireframes (not many due to time constraints), and high-fidelity prototypes. As part of our process, I:
Developed user flows and AI capability maps to match real-time interactions with attendee intent.
Facilitated whiteboarding sessions to align design direction with our dev team’s technical constraints around AI
Defined how features like Curiosity Compass, Networking Intelligence, and Session Synthesizer could be expressed in the UI while ensuring the tool remained user-driven, not overly prescriptive.
Helped define the Next AI framework, including feature prioritization, visual design patterns, and sprint planning for the broader delivery team.
Our approach prioritized pragmatic innovation: every feature had to serve a user need and be feasible within a tight timeline. I helped ensure our design sprints consistently delivered a usable, testable experience.
Results
We delivered a fully designed experience prototype and accompanying documentation, built to support multiple feature modules across the attendee journey. Key outcomes included:
A future-forward design that established a visual and interaction model for how NTT DATA might productize AI in conference experiences.
A working prototype highlighting 10 core features that reflected stakeholder needs while showcasing Launch’s technical and design capabilities.
Internal alignment on a scalable AI design framework that could extend to future business cases beyond conferences.
Strategic Takeaway
This project wasn't just about designing a new tool - it was about defining how AI fits into real-world UX. By grounding AI features in attendee emotions and needs, we created a solution that felt human, helpful, and practical. The success of this project helped influence how our internal teams now approach AI-driven design: not as a gimmick, but as a utility that elevates experience.
Tools Used
Figma, FigJam