This project challenged me to design not just for usability, but for emotional nuance. Balancing user autonomy with smart, timely assistance made us rethink what “human-centered” means in an AI context. We had to make Fin helpful, but not overbearing — informative, but not robotic.

A major takeaway was realizing how small details — a nudge, a timeline marker, a pause — can completely shift a user’s experience. Designing behavioral triggers and adaptive responses taught me how to anticipate user hesitation and build trust through clarity.

Collaboration was key. Feedback from users, sponsors, and peers shaped every iteration. What started as a chatbot became a companion — one that could guide, adapt, and stay out of the way when needed.