CodI
Home Depot’s AI helper
UI
AI
Motion
I led the UX design of CODI, a Conversational UI at Home Depot tailored for DIYers. CODI uses generative AI to help users identify home issues, find products, and follow personalized tutorials.
Client
Home Depot
My role
Design Lead
Contribution
User research / Product design / Motion design / Team management / Film production / Team Mentor
Timeline
7 weeks (Aug. - Oct. 2023)
Problem
Home Depot is the largest DIY wholesaler and DIY resource provider in the U.S. However, for young people without much experience, it can be overwhelming.
Home Depot’s digital tools fail to connect products, DIY library, and services, weakening their appeal to younger audiences.
Research
Through on-site visits to Home Depot stores, interviews with employees, business stakeholders interviews and current users, and reviews of existing products, we identified their core issues.
Painpoints
Uncertain about diagnosis and solution
When something goes wrong at home, users often struggle to identify the exact problem.
Challenging to locate products and find associates
Users often get lost in the massive aisles and struggle to find an associate, then have to wait once they do.
Unclear DIY project planning and product specifications
Overbuying materials due to uncertainty about the right product.
Desire for continuous assistance during DIY projects
Want clear guidance without second-guessing every step.
Solution
CODI is a conversational AI designed to assist you in identifying your problems, facilitating purchases at home or in-store with just the right amount you need, and offering tutorials tailored to your home.
APP
TABLET
Design Challenge #1
How might we integrate AI into the existing App while reducing the learning curve for users?
Renew Design system
Hello! Happy to help. First, can you scan the wall to capture your room measurements?
Helvetica Neue
Bold & Regular
Remake icons and add roundness
New Icons
Color palette
Primary Orange
#
FF771D
Gradient orange
#
-
Accent
#
76B438
Warning
#
FF3B30
Black
#
1F1F1F
White
#
F9F9F9
Grey 1
#
C1C1C1
Grey 3
#
747474
Grey 4
#
1F1F1F
Design the new AI helper
Motion Design
Idle
Wake up
Listening
Proccessing
Speaking
Successful
Error
Notification
Adapt to different devices
1
Okay, I’ll do that.
6
2
3
7
4
5
1
Conversation bubbles
2
Tool box with QR scan, 3D scan and cameras
3
Codi
4
Keyboard
5
Collapsible navigation panel
6
History of conversation and projects
7
Speech to text conversion
Design Challenge 2
How might we help users quickly identify problems and provide solutions?
Use photo recognition and AR scanning based on the context to help users quickly identify issues
Provide customized solutions and offer users a variety of options to choose from.
Automatically activate in-store mode, offering features to call an associate and AR navigation.
Design Challenge 3
How can we help users better plan their DIY projects to complete them efficiently?
Create customized tutorials and use animations to help users understand the steps better.
Provide detailed steps and the time needed for each step after purchasing the materials.
Design Challenge 4
How can we provide ongoing support to users throughout their project until completion?
Users can pause ongoing projects at any time
Incomplete projects will be saved by the system, allowing users to continue their projects
Education
Carnegie Mellon University
MDes Design for Interactions 2025
Tongji University
B.E. Industrial Design 2021
Experience
AgWise
Founding Product Designer 2024
ARK Design, Volkswagen Group
UX Designer II 2021-2023
IDEO
UX Design Freelancer 2021
Product Design Intern 2020-2021
AQKA
Research Intern 2020
Award
Red Dot Design Award
Concept Design Award 2020, 2025
Core 77 Design Awards
Student Winner | App & Platforms Award
Dyson Design Award
Globe Top 20
A’ Design Award
Silver Award
Indigo Design Award
Gold Winner
NY Product Design Awards
Silver Winner | Interactive Design
Muse Creative Award
Silver Winner
@Albert Zhang 2025