AI Interaction Design · Exploration · 2026
Nova: Exploring AI in Creative Workflows.
Nova is an experimental concept exploring how AI can assist users inside creative workflows without disrupting the creative process itself.
What I Was Exploring
Most AI tools wait to be asked. Nova explores a different model: an assistant that reads behavioral signals, inactivity, hesitation, repetition, and responds contextually before the user has to interrupt their flow to ask for help.
The core question: where should AI step in, and where should it stay out of the way?
Key Ideas
Nova explores three interaction models:
- Inactivity detection. When a user stops, Nova offers a gentle prompt rather than silence.
- Hesitation signals. Repeated undos or prolonged pauses surface subtle suggestions, not corrections.
- Pattern recognition. Repetitive actions trigger lightweight automation options the user can accept or ignore.
What I Learned
Through Nova I explored the tension between automation and creative control. AI assistance in creative tools only works when the user feels like they're still driving. The moment the tool feels like it's making decisions for them, trust breaks down. Nova's design is built around that boundary.