A.I. Meets Retail
​Less Friction, More Sales

PROJECT OVERVIEW

In the fast-moving world of retail—especially pop-ups and small-format markets—brands need tools that are flexible, fast, and frictionless. I designed a tablet-based retail experience tailored for these environments, combining clean UX with powerful AI to help small teams sell smarter.

• AI-driven table scan for instant product setup
• Streamlined checkout with email capture and follow-u
• ​Real-time sales insights and restock recommendations

MARKET & STRATEGY

​Pop-up stores and small markets are a $50B+ retail segment, offering low-overhead, high-agility ways for brands to connect directly with customers. But most sellers still rely on outdated tools that slow them down. We designed an AI-powered tablet experience built for speed, simplicity, and sales.
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• 70% lower overhead than traditional retail
• No-code setup: scan, sell, and follow up in minutes
• Live AI insights for smarter inventory and promotions

KEY FEATURES

Staff Mode AI product Scan to update inventor and product details

Retail Tablet eCommerce for Selecting Products for Try on Our By In Store

Customer mode AI product scan to learn about sizing and AR/VR virtual try on

Retail Tablet Experience to Allow Self Checkout for Customers

STAFF MODE

OVERVIEW
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Pop-up retail runs on hustle—and the staff powering these moments deserve tools that work as fast as they do. Enter Staff Mode: a secure, AI-powered workflow designed to streamline setup, inventory, and selling. AI powers real-time product recognition, instant page creation, and automated inventory updates—all from a single camera scan.
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• Designed for speed: minimize setup and maximize selling time
• Staff-informed: built from direct interviews with frontline retail workers
• AI-powered tools that reduce manual entry and inventory management

GENERATIVE RESEARCH

Before designing Staff Mode, we hosted product panels with retail associates, pop-up staffers, and small business owners. We conducted on-site interviews during live market events to observe real workflows and pain points. Insights from these sessions led directly to features like one-tap inventory confirmation and simplified product editing.

• Manual setup eats up valuable selling time
• Inventory gets lost or duplicated
• Staff want smart tools—without needing training

PROTOTYPE & UI

• Staff accesses Staff Mode by switching from Customer Mode on the tablet interface.
• A secure PIN is required, ensuring only authorized personnel can view and manage operational tools.
• Staff Dashboard unlocks essential tools: AI-Powered Product Scan, Inventory Management, Checkout, and Real-Time Sales Insights.
• Using computer vision AI, staff simply point the tablet at a new product—no barcode or manual entry needed. 
• AI-driven inventory management syncs scanned products in real time, tracking stock levels, flagging low inventory, and even predicting restock needs.

A secure PIN is required, ensuring only authorized personnel can view and manage operational tools.

Staff Dashboard unlocks essential tools: AI-Powered Product Scan, Inventory Management, Checkout, and Real-Time Sales Insights.

Staff Dashboard unlocks essential tools: AI-Powered Product Scan, Inventory Management, Checkout, and Real-Time Sales Insights.

Using computer vision AI, staff simply point the tablet at a new product—no barcode or manual entry needed. The AI automatically identifies the item, extracts relevant visual and textual data (e.g., logo, shape, label, size), and generates a draft product page with suggested tags and categories.

The AI automatically identifies the item, extracts relevant visual and textual data (e.g., logo, shape, label, size), and generates a draft product page with suggested tags and categories

AI-driven inventory management syncs scanned products in real time, tracking stock levels, flagging low inventory, and even predicting restock needs based on historical sales and seasonal trends.

​AI-powered Sales & Insights Report analyzes real-time and historical sales data to surface trends, top-performing products, and customer behavior patterns—giving staff actionable recommendations to optimize pricing, promotions, and inventory decisions.

CUSTOMER MODE

SUMMARY 

In fast-paced retail spaces like pop-ups and markets, shoppers want quick answers, seamless interactions, and personalized moments. Customer Mode transforms a tablet into a guided shopping assistant.Behind the scenes, computer vision and generative AI make it possible for customers to visualize products, get personalized info, and shop independently—all from one screen.
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• AI-powered product scan reveals instant AR/VR visualizations
• Tap to explore details, request try-ons, or ask for help
• ​Self-checkout designed for speed, clarity, and ease

GENERATIVE RESEARCH

To shape Customer Mode, we surveyed users across in-person pop-ups and digital retail pilots. Our goal was to understand what shoppers need when staff are busy—or when they simply prefer to browse solo.These insights led us to design a lightweight, intuitive UI that makes discovery delightful—and shopping stress-free.

• Shoppers want to try before they ask—AR helps build confidence
• Many prefer learning through self-service rather than interrupting staff
• Checkout needs to feel trustworthy, fast, and frictionless

PROTOTYPE & UI

IMPACT & LEARNINGS

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AI Technologies Learned
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• Computer Vision: Scans physical products to identify and auto-generate product pages
  
  
• Generative AI: Creates product names, descriptions, and follow-up email content
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• AR/VR Integration: Visualizes scanned items in 3D to support customer decision-making

Key Learnings on AI + UX Design
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• Clarity matters: AI features must feel explainable and trustworthy to gain user adoption
  
  
• Speed is value: AI is most impactful when it shortens or eliminates manual steps
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• Context shapes use: Staff and customers have different AI needs—tailored UI is essential

Want to learn more about AI and UX?
Check out my  "On the Record" ​podcast episode