AI & Evolving Command Palette Search

My Role

Product Design — Interaction Design, Prototyping, Technical Documentation

Team

Luke W, Lead SWE (Initial MVP)

Denis M, FE SWE

Ben B, PM

Timeline & Status for Initial MVP

• Q3 2023 Redesign Proposal
• Q4 2024 Approved for 2025 Roadmap
• Q1 2025 RoadmapScheduled Delivery for AI Command Palette Interface

Overview

This project explores how a lightweight internal MVP evolved into a strategic, AI-ready command palette experience embedded within Prism’s core navigation.

What started as an immediate client need evolved into a critical search capability that became foundational for navigating artist-related data across Prism’s platform. Building on this momentum, we reimagined the feature as a scalable, performant search layer for artist events and reporting data. The initial MVP developed by our lead engineer demonstrated strong user adoption and engagement.

Jump to Event was a command palette feature that empowered users to quickly locate event and reporting information. Its success validated the need for an extensible interface — one that could grow into a more intelligent, AI-assisted search experience.

The Power of Bottom-Up Innovation

When organic adoption speaks volumes

The initial MVP's success was evident with the: high time-to-activation, feature stickiness, and repeat sustained engagement signaling product-market fit.

User feedback:

We want this to do more!

This organic growth signaled an opportunity to evolve the feature further.

North star design principles

01. Speed & Efficiency

Fast, keyboard-driven access to event data

02. Scalability

Flexible enough to support AI command interpretation

03. Framework Compatibility

Designed for Angular while incorporating modern UI patterns

Understanding the Landscape

Initial research focused on best-in-class command palette implementations, particularly @pacocoursey's CMDK component.

Designing for Scale

The redesigned component introduced:

• Structured data organization
• Enhanced routing capabilities
• Extensible architecture for AI query handling

From Functional to Polished

• Refined typography and spacing
• Improved information hierarchy
• Clearer interaction states and feedback

Future Roadmap Integration

The prototype and technical documentation serve as foundation for:

• Inclusion in Prism's 2025 roadmap
• A planned AI powered command input system
• Alignment across engineering, product, & design

PROJECT IMPACT & LEARNINGS

Bottom-up Innovation

MVPs can validate strategic opportunities when surfaced early

Data-Driven Evolution

Usage analytics directly shaped roadmap investment

Technical Prototyping

Fast design cycles accelerated both stakeholder buy-in and customer validation

Cross-functional Alignment

Early and ongoing stakeholder involvement and technical documentation were crucial for roadmap inclusion