Breaking the Mold: Designing Mobile App Prototypes With the Aid of ChatGPT and AI Art | by Sriram Parthasarathy | Mar, 2023

As a product manager, one of the most significant challenges in app development is designing an intuitive prototype that meets the needs of the target audience and gathering user feedback quickly for iteration. In this article, we will discuss how ChatGPT and AI Art can facilitate the process of quickly creating a mobile app prototype to get customer feedback. Specifically, we will use a coffee drink selection app as an example to demonstrate the iterative process of design creation using ChatGPT and AI Art tools such as Midjourney and Dall-e. It is worth noting that ChatGPT 4 recently announced multi-model capabilities that could potentially aid in image design creation in the future.

Creating a prototype to show to customers is a time-consuming process that poses traditional challenges for product managers, especially when resources are limited. It’s not uncommon to see many ideas abandoned due to the lack of support for prototyping

The challenge of effectively communicating design ideas with developers and stakeholders can be a complex and time-consuming process. The ideation sessions, although valuable, can take an enormous amount of time and effort, particularly when working with remote designers to create an optimal design. However, for each design iteration, a product manager’s mind races with ten new ideas to improve upon, which can sometimes leave the designer feeling overwhelmed and frustrated. On top of that, you’re constantly struggling to find the right messaging in the app, continuously seeking feedback, and changing the text in the mockups numerous times. Finding the right balance between aesthetics and functionality is a perpetual struggle that often leads to inconsistency in design elements. The timeline to take an idea from inception to design prototype to show to a customer is typically measured in days or weeks and not hours or minutes which is desired.

We will use a combination of CHatGPT and AI Art to see if it can aid to product manager to quickly prototype ideas.

What is ChatGPT

ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence language model developed by OpenAI that is capable of generating human-like responses to natural language inputs. It has been trained on vast amounts of text data and uses deep learning algorithms to understand and generate language. ChatGPT is able to understand the context of a conversation and generate responses that are contextually relevant and coherent. It has a wide range of potential applications, from chatbots and virtual assistants to content creation and language translation. ChatGPT represents a significant advancement in the field of natural language processing and has the potential to revolutionize the way we interact with technology

AI Art is a form of art that uses algorithms and computer programs to create artwork that is unique and original. Unlike traditional art, which is typically created by hand, AI Art is created through a process of algorithmic manipulation of data, which can be anything from pixels to sound waves.

AI Art can be used for a wide range of applications, including creating visualizations of complex data, developing digital installations or interactive experiences, and generating designs for products or advertising campaigns. It can also be used for artistic expression, allowing artists to explore new techniques and forms of expression that were previously impossible without the use of technology.

With AI Art, you can create endless variations of artwork, each of which is unique and original. You can use AI Art to explore new creative possibilities, experiment with different styles and techniques, and push the boundaries of traditional art forms. You can also use AI Art to engage with audiences in new and innovative ways, creating interactive installations or experiences that respond to user input or other stim

The example app I envisioned building would be called “Cuppa”. It would be designed to offer coffee enthusiasts a seamless and personalized experience for ordering their favorite drinks. Users would be able to browse a wide range of drinks, including classic favorites and trendy new concoctions. The app would feature high-quality images of each drink, along with descriptions of the ingredients, taste profile, and nutritional information.

To make ordering even more convenient, the app would offer customization options such as milk type, sweetener preference, and extra shots of espresso. Users could also save their favorite drinks and quickly reorder them in the future. The app would also integrate with popular payment platforms to make checkout quick and easy.

Cuppa would feature an intuitive user interface, with smooth navigation and easy-to-use search filters. Users would be able to rate and review their favorite drinks, as well as discover new coffee shops and trends through a curated feed. The app would also feature a rewards program to incentivize frequent use and customer loyalty.

Overall, Cuppa would be an all-in-one solution for coffee lovers, providing a convenient and personalized experience for ordering and enjoying their favorite drinks.

Using a combination of ChatGPT and AI Art I would like to come up with some quick concepts.

Things I want to do are

• Come up with a cool name for the app
• Come up with a catchy subtitle
• Come up with concepts for what should I see in the initial selection screen
• Come up with simple menus
• Visually show the drink and the coffee picture
• Create many designs for how it looks.

As a product manager I made up the following drawing in powerpoint to illustrate what I wanted to see. This took me 3 mins to create. Now I want to prompt ChatGPT to come up with ideas for the app name and the sub title and use AI Art for the design.

I got some good suggestions for the name from Chat GPT.

• Siply: A play on the words “sip” and “simply,” this name suggests a simple and enjoyable experience of sipping your favorite coffee drinks.
• BeanBar: This name combines the two elements that are essential to any good cup of coffee — the bean and the bar. It’s a catchy and memorable name that is easy to remember.
• CuppaGo: This name plays on the phrase “cup of coffee” and the idea of being on the go. It’s a great name for an app that helps users order and enjoy their coffee drinks on the move.
• MochaMatch: This name combines the words “mocha” and “match,” suggesting a perfect pairing of coffee and customer preferences. It’s a great name for an app that offers personalized coffee drink suggestions.
• BrewView: This name suggests a comprehensive view of the world of coffee brewing. It’s a great name for an app that provides information on different brewing methods, coffee blends, and other related topics.
• The Daily Grind: This name combines the idea of a daily coffee routine and the term “grind,” which can refer to both the process of making coffee and the daily routine of life. It’s a funny and relatable name that can appeal to users who want a lighthearted coffee app.
• Bean Flicker: This name is a play on the term “bean counter” and suggests a person who is passionate about coffee. It’s a funny and memorable name that can appeal to users who want a playful coffee app.
• Grind Me Up: This name is a play on the phrase “grind me down” and suggests an app that can give you the energy and motivation you need to get through the day. It’s a funny and catchy name that can appeal to users who want a coffee app with a bit of humor.

I liked Siply and Grind Me up.. Both are catchy.

Now I am ready to move on to getting the subtitle.

• “Your daily dose of caffeine on the go”: This subtitle suggests that the app is a convenient way to get your caffeine fix no matter where you are.
• “Brewing up the perfect cup, every time”: This subtitle suggests that the app is dedicated to helping users find and order the perfect coffee drink every time.
• “Order, sip, repeat”: This subtitle suggests that the app is designed to make ordering your favorite coffee drinks as easy and effortless as possible.
• “Personalized coffee, just for you”: This subtitle suggests that the app offers personalized coffee drink suggestions based on user preferences.
• “Fuel your day with the perfect cup”: This subtitle suggests that the app is dedicated to helping users start their day off right with the perfect cup of coffee
• “Making mornings bearable since [year]”: This subtitle suggests that the app is dedicated to helping users start their day off on the right foot with a cup of coffee.
• “We take our coffee as seriously as you do”: This subtitle suggests that the app understands the importance of coffee in people’s lives and takes it just as seriously as its users do.
• “Where every cup is a high five in a mug”: This subtitle suggests that the app is a fun and positive way to order coffee, with every cup feeling like a celebration.
• “We’re the friend that keeps you caffeinated”: This subtitle suggests that the app is like a helpful friend who is always there to provide a caffeine boost when you need it.
• “Coffee so good, you’ll want to hug your barista”: This subtitle suggests that the app offers high-quality coffee drinks that are so good, they’ll make you want to show your appreciation to the barista who made them.

I liked many of them. My favorite one is “Coffee so good, you’ll want to hug your barista”.

Now I have the coffee app title and the coffee app subtitle.

Now I am on to designs using AI Art.

Over the past few weeks, I have been exploring the capabilities of AI Art, and have conducted multiple iterations using various prompts. I have discovered that the more precisely I articulate my vision, which is a skill at which product managers typically excel, the more effectively the AI Art produces designs that satisfy my requirements. As the weeks have progressed, I have learnt to develop more sophisticated prompts that communicate effectively with the AI Art, ultimately leading to the creation of a design that I am satisfied with. The keyword is prompt iterations.

To achieve the design I wanted, I continued to refine the prompt I used, iterating and making small tweaks until I reached the desired outcome. This process is iterative, and once you have a design that you are satisfied with, you can make minor adjustments and seek feedback from your customers to further refine the design.

I utilized a specific prompt to start with and continued to refine it through iterations, gradually improving the design until I achieved the desired outcome. This is an iterative process that requires patience and persistence. Once you have achieved a design that meets your needs, you can make minor adjustments and seek feedback from your customers to further enhance the design. The following is a version of the prompt I used with AI Art which I continued to iterate.

This picture is about a coffee drink selection mobile app. The title of the app should be Brewbuddy. The subtitle should say Start your day with a smile and a cup of joe! Mobile app should display a menu with 4 drinks. The drinks include Espresso, Mocha, Latte Macchiato & Ice Coffee. Include a nice thumbnail picture of the drink to the left of the title. Add a checkout button at the bottom of the screen.

This was one of my early tries and it was interesting but far away from what I wanted. It looked pretty but did not include everything I wanted. So I continued to iterate on the prompt.

This is an iteration that is moving in the direction of what I want to achieve. I am pleased with the results and have generated several designs that I can experiment with. I can selectively retain the parts of the prompt that worked well and make modifications or adjustments to other areas to add more interest and variety.

This particular design generated by AI has a more traditional look, which is good, but I was hoping for something more modern. Despite this, I still think the design is appealing and I will continue to experiment with it. I can further refine the prompt by retaining the parts that were effective and adjusting other elements to make it more interesting and diverse.

This particular design caught my attention due to its clear and appealing nature. I am inclined to select this design and refine it further. I can also create a shortlist of the designs that I have generated using ChatGPT and AI Art, and present them to my customers to gather their feedback and input.

One has to be willing to devote additional time to refining the design and achieving their desired outcome. Although it requires more interactions, the process itself is enjoyable. At first, it may seem daunting, but once you become accustomed to providing prompts, you will be amazed at how much control you have over ChatGPT and AI Art to accomplish what you want. As a product manager, you are constantly considering what needs to be built and crafting detailed stories that communicate the precise requirements of the product. This ability is a critical skill that will prove invaluable in creating effective prompts to guide AI and obtain the desired results.

Ideally what I was looking for is a more guided design process. I had an exact thought in mind. Here is what I wanted to design.

That is a barebone thought and I wanted to work with someone to come up with a good prototype to show it to potential customers to get a reaction.

Imagine I provide instructions like

• Come up with a cool name for the coffee app.
• Come up with a catchy title for the app.
• Coffee drink name: The name of the coffee drink should be displayed prominently on the selection page.
• Picture of the coffee drink: A high-quality picture of the coffee drink should be displayed alongside the name.
• Include a checkout button in the page.
• Include a nice logo
• Have a clean modern mobile design

Imagine ChatGPT 4 / AI Art is able to take this instruction set and come up with some cool design ideas like the one below. That will be awesome.

AI is rapidly advancing in this direction. If a user can effectively communicate their requirements, AI has the potential to accurately and efficiently fulfill those needs. As technology continues to progress, product managers can create specifications and user stories that are easily consumed by ChatGPT and AI Art, resulting in the development of initial concepts that accelerate the validation and idea generation process.

Product managers have a great advantage here. They can certainly write better prompts to interact with ChatGPT. Product managers are skilled at defining the requirements and specifications of a product, and they can apply this same expertise to crafting prompts that generate effective and desirable results from ChatGPT. By providing clear, detailed prompts that articulate what they are looking for, product managers can obtain better outcomes from ChatGPT, resulting in more accurate and relevant responses that meet their needs. Additionally, as product managers gain experience in working with ChatGPT and become more familiar with the capabilities and limitations of the technology, they can develop more sophisticated prompts that result in even better outcomes.

The process of prompting with AI Art helps product managers to better refine and communicate their thoughts and ideas. Obtaining early feedback from customers enables product managers to gain an early and clear understanding of the final design to be developed. At this stage, product managers are better equipped to communicate with stakeholders, designers, and developers, leading to more efficient ideation and prototyping. It is important to note that the use of ChatGPT and AI Art serves to aid product managers in improving their productivity and shortening the timeline from ideation to design prototype to customer feedback. Ultimately, this approach benefits not only the product manager, but also the designers and developers involved in the process.

In conclusion, the use of ChatGPT and AI art in app design can open up exciting new possibilities for creating unique and innovative app prototypes. By harnessing the power of generative AI and artistic creativity, product managers can develop sophisticated prompts that guide the creation of highly customized designs that meet the specific needs of their target audience. This approach not only accelerates the prototyping process but also results in designs that break free from the mold of traditional app design, providing a fresh and unique user experience.

With their skills in communication and requirement definition, product managers can write better prompts to interact with ChatGPT and AI Art, leading to more accurate and relevant outcomes. While the technology is still evolving, the future of app design looks bright, and the possibilities for creating truly groundbreaking app prototypes with the aid of ChatGPT and AI art are limitless.