AI21 Labs streaming experience — product design case study

↳ about

how a language model should feel while it is still thinking
client: ai21 labs
role: product designer

↳ the problem

A language model answers in a stream. Most interfaces hide that behind a spinner and then dump the text. The waiting feels broken, and the answer feels like it came from nowhere.

↳ the design

I designed a streaming experience where the output arrives as it is generated, with rhythm, pacing and states that make the wait legible. The interface shows work in progress instead of pretending nothing is happening.

↳ what i did

interaction and motion design for streamed output
loading, partial and error states
prototype and presentation deck for the product team

↳ see it

↳ elsewhere