PRODUCT DESIGN
Assisting 8LAB AI deliver their product 8PASS which is a platform for tastemakers to show and find their taste.
Building a taste exploration tool that serves as a springboard to reality.
The Vision
When I began at 8LAB, we had a singular product vision which was to provide a taste exploration tool that felt different than Pinterest. The goal was not to create a taste engine that lived digitally, it was to allow people to live more meaningful lives.
Main Use Cases:
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Allow users to find things to do based on their taste and mood.
- Allow users to share and showcase their taste.
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Reward users for checking in and using the platform.
Core Philosophy
One of the challenges in designing such a platform is to ensure that scalability is self sufficient. I aimed to create a simplified core loop based on network effects: one that would enable members to carry the torch of scale.
The concept of “Find, Do, Share” allows such a platform to grow. The Expression Engine is a result of “doing” and is the act of following the core philosophy.
One of the challenges in designing such a platform is to ensure that scalability is self sufficient. I aimed to create a simplified core loop based on network effects: one that would enable members to carry the torch of scale.
The concept of “Find, Do, Share” allows such a platform to grow. The Expression Engine is a result of “doing” and is the act of following the core philosophy.
Discovery Features
To address discovery and sharing, I proposed a “deck” feature that lets users explore curated collections of others’ taste. Instead of a TikTok-style feed, the goal was purposeful, efficient discovery that supports quick action.
Decks can be explored via Map, Board, or Playlist views.
A key design decision was choosing search versus filters as the primary discovery mechanism. User testing showed search felt more intuitive and required less cognitive effort, especially when users had a loose or mood-based idea of what they wanted. This aligned with the product vision.
I designed a hybrid discovery modal where search is the primary entry point and filters are progressively revealed for refinement. This balances fast exploration with flexibility and control.
I designed a hybrid discovery modal where search is the primary entry point and filters are progressively revealed for refinement. This balances fast exploration with flexibility and control.
Exploring Possibilities
Designing AI-driven products requires experimentation, especially when learning from user behavior. I explored a swipe-based interaction inspired by familiar mobile patterns, letting users quickly express taste while discovering things to do.
The gesture made exploration effortless and generated real-time feedback to improve recommendations.
Check-In Features
The concept of the 8 PASS is that it serves as someone’s creative passport, further showcasing taste through action (Do). Staying true to the core philosophy, I devised several iterations of a check-in feature.
A few technical constraints of a passive check in feature lay in signal disruption and location accuracy. Initial discussions with engineering allowed me to propose a better solution. It was to opt in to a NFC driven solution that relies on existing hardware.
The check-in flow was designed to be as fast and socially invisible as possible. By leveraging phone-to-phone proximity, users can check in with a single tap, removing the friction of QR codes or manual entry. Rewards are automatically collected in the background, allowing the interaction to feel like a natural part of the physical experience rather than a digital task.
Outcomes