Role
Role
UI/UX Design, UX Research, Interview
UI/UX Designer · Visual Designer · User Researcher
Timeline
Timeline
Mar 2024 - July 2024
Mar 2024 - July 2024
KitchenVerse
KitchenVerse
Design smarter, imagine freely
— turn your kitchen vision into effortless fun.
Design smarter, imagine freely
— turn your kitchen vision into effortless fun.
about the project
about the project
Reimagining kitchen design with AI
—making the process faster and clearer
Reimagining kitchen design with AI
—making the process faster and clearer
During my time as a kitchen designer in the Bay Area, I—like many peers—was often stuck in endless revisions, using outdated tools and low-quality renders that rarely captured the client’s vision.
As AI advanced rapidly, I began to wonder: What if kitchen design could benefit too?
That question sparked Kitchen Verse—an AI-powered platform for both professionals and homeowners.
It streamlines workflows for designers and gives homeowners clarity, freedom, and real-time visual feedback.
Because kitchen design shouldn’t be slow or confusing—it should be collaborative, intuitive, and even enjoyable.
During my time as a kitchen designer in the Bay Area, I—like many peers—was often stuck in endless revisions, using outdated tools and low-quality renders that rarely captured the client’s vision.
As AI advanced rapidly, I began to wonder: What if kitchen design could benefit too?
That question sparked Kitchen Verse—an AI-powered platform for both professionals and homeowners.
It streamlines workflows for designers and gives homeowners clarity, freedom, and real-time visual feedback.
Because kitchen design shouldn’t be slow or confusing—it should be collaborative, intuitive, and even enjoyable.
Upload Your Floorplan
Upload Your Floorplan
Start with a Recommended
Prompt or Describe Your Idea
Start with a Recommended
Prompt or Describe Your Idea
Or Use a Reference
from Your Inspiration Gallery
Or Use a Reference
from Your Inspiration Gallery
Generate Your Render
Generate Your Render
Save Your Favorite Look
Save Your Favorite Look
0.1
Generate a customized kitchen preview
in seconds with Kitchen Render Lab
0.1
Generate a customized kitchen preview
in seconds with Kitchen Render Lab
0.2
Visualize your future kitchen in real-time
with Virtual Kitchen Tour
0.2
Visualize your future kitchen in real-time
with Virtual Kitchen Tour
Start with Camera View
Start with Camera View
Onboard with Quick Tutorial
Onboard with Quick Tutorial
Place Start and End Markers
to Instantly Capture
Accurate Length
Place Start and End Markers
to Instantly Capture
Accurate Length
0.3
Get precise kitchen measurements
with Quick Measure
0.3
Get precise kitchen measurements
with Quick Measure
Browse Designers by
Service Area
Browse Designers by
Service Area
View Designer‘s Profiles
& Past Design
View Designer‘s Profiles
& Past Design
Schedule a Meeting
Schedule a Meeting
Share Your Preferences
in Advance
Share Your Preferences
in Advance
Easily share saved renderings
andinspiration during
live consultations
Easily share saved renderings
andinspiration during
live consultations
0.4
Meet your kitchen designer
through Kitchen Verse
0.4
Meet your kitchen designer
through Kitchen Verse
0.5
Discover More Kitchen Ideas
with Kitchen Verse
0.5
Discover More Kitchen Ideas
with Kitchen Verse
Start with Camera View
Start with Camera View
Start with a Recommended
Prompt or Describe Your Idea
Choose a Recommended
Prompt or Describe Your Idea
Waiting for Generation
Waiting for Generation
View Rendered Kitchen
in Actual Space
View Rendered Kitchen
in Actual Space
Save Your Favorite Look
Save Your Favorite Look
Want to explore more possibilities?
Not satisfied with the render?
Want to explore more possibilities?
Not satisfied with the render?
Use the brush tool to
adjust specific areas.
Use the brush tool to
adjust specific areas.
Enter a new prompt to
change the whole design.
Enter a new prompt to
change the whole design.
Usability Test
Usability Test
0.1
Iterations
0.1
Iterations
Iteration 1:
Swatches to Scenes —
Improving Material Interpretation
Iteration 1:
Swatches to Scenes —
Improving Material Interpretation
Feedback:
Over 60% of users found small material swatches difficult to interpret—struggling to choose without seeing how each would look in a full kitchen setting.
Feedback:
Over 60% of users found small material swatches difficult to interpret—struggling to choose without seeing how each would look in a full kitchen setting.
Design Change:
Full-scene preview tiles replaced isolated texture icons.
Design Change:
Full-scene preview tiles replaced isolated texture icons.
first version
first version
final version
final version
Result:
This update significantly improved visual clarity and decision confidence.
Result:
This update significantly improved visual clarity and decision confidence.
Iteration 2:
Smarter Region Selection for More Accurate Edits
Iteration 2:
Smarter Region Selection for More Accurate Edits
Feedback:
Over 40% of users worried that freehand circles might affect unintended cabinets—due to imprecise control on small screens.
Feedback:
Over 40% of users worried that freehand circles might affect unintended cabinets—due to imprecise control on small screens.
Design Change:
Replaced circle selection with smart brush + auto-boundary detection, ensuring only intended areas are targeted.
Design Change:
Replaced circle selection with smart brush + auto-boundary detection, ensuring only intended areas are targeted.
first version
first version
final version
final version
Result:
The update improved accuracy and reduced selection time, making the process faster and more user-friendly.
Result:
The update improved accuracy and reduced selection time, making the process faster and more user-friendly.
Key Takeaways
Key Takeaways
Designing inclusively sometimes requires designing specifically.
t the beginning, I thought one version would be enough, for both homeowners and designers. But as I got deeper into research and interview, that clearly wasn’t the case.
Homeowners wanted ease and freedom to explore. Designers cared about rendering accuracy, and using real materials.
So I separated the two experiences and set up two version:
Homeowners get curated prompts and a lightweight, approachable interface and popular color board. Designers get a Pro version—brand swatches, upload their own color board and the control they need. And it worked! designers specifically praised how much time it saved and how accurate the visuals felt.
This shift reminded me: designing for “everyone” often means designing differently for each user.
Designing inclusively sometimes requires designing specifically.
t the beginning, I thought one version would be enough, for both homeowners and designers. But as I got deeper into research and interview, that clearly wasn’t the case.
Homeowners wanted ease and freedom to explore. Designers cared about rendering accuracy, and using real materials.
So I separated the two experiences and set up two version:
Homeowners get curated prompts and a lightweight, approachable interface and popular color board. Designers get a Pro version—brand swatches, upload their own color board and the control they need. And it worked! designers specifically praised how much time it saved and how accurate the visuals felt.
This shift reminded me: designing for “everyone” often means designing differently for each user.
100% of designers reported improved efficiency during initial client consultations.
100% preferred its visual output over legacy tools.
100% of designers reported improved efficiency during initial client consultations.
100% preferred its visual output over legacy tools.
80% increase in design speed with partial edit functionality.
95% of homeowners reported greater autonomy in exploring design options.
90% adoption rate among first-time, non-professional users.
80% increase in design speed with partial edit functionality.
95% of homeowners reported greater autonomy in exploring design options.
90% adoption rate among first-time, non-professional users.
0.2
Measured Impact
0.2
Measured Impact
Explore curated inspiration
boards categorized by
kitchen styles
Explore curated inspiration
boards categorized by
kitchen styles
iscover trending looks and popular ideas —updated regularly to reflect current design buzz.
iscover trending looks and popular ideas —updated regularly to reflect current design buzz.
Current Challenges
Current Challenges
Interior tools bring spaces to life.
Interior tools bring spaces to life.
*rendering image from SketchUp + V-Ray
*rendering image from SketchUp + V-Ray
But in kitchen design,
it’s a different story...
But in kitchen design,
it’s a different story...
The Need for
Smarter Kitchen Tools
The Need for
Smarter Kitchen Tools
0.1
Homeowner Insights
0.1
Homeowner Insights
homeowners' NEED:
homeowners' NEED:
a way to see my favorite designs in my actual space.
a way to see my favorite designs in my actual space.
a tool to explore on my own — no professional
knowledge required.
a tool to explore on my own — no professional
knowledge required.
a platform to find designers and connect quickly.
a platform to find designers and connect quickly.
a fast way to test ideas and choose with confidence.
a fast way to test ideas and choose with confidence.
0.2
Designer Insights
0.2
Designer Insights
Designers' NEED:
Designers' NEED:
a tool to generate realistic renderings that truly reflect the design.
a tool to generate realistic renderings that truly reflect the design.
a way to generate renderings that match real colors and materials.
a way to generate renderings that match real colors and materials.
a tool to quickly edit specific cabinets in the rendering.
a tool to quickly edit specific cabinets in the rendering.
a platform can supports quick iterations and creative exploration.
a platform can supports quick iterations and creative exploration.
*All data presented is based on survey and interview responses, as well as insights from Houzz's Reports.
*All data presented is based on survey and interview responses, as well as insights from Houzz's Reports.
Built for Homeowners
Powered for Professionals
Built for Homeowners
Powered for Professionals
Essentials Version
Essentials Version
Explore ultimate kitchen ideas with AI-powered prompts
Generate kitchen designs using AI prompts without any design skills needed.
Explore ultimate kitchen ideas with AI-powered prompts
Generate kitchen designs using AI prompts without any design skills needed.
Access popular color and material options
Adjust styles, colors, and layouts without needing any design experience.
Access popular color and material options
Adjust styles, colors, and layouts without needing any design experience.
Explore ultimate kitchen ideas with AI-powered prompts
Generate kitchen designs using AI prompts without any design skills needed.
Explore ultimate kitchen ideas with AI-powered prompts
Generate kitchen designs using AI prompts without any design skills needed.
Pro version
Pro version
Access popular color and material options
Adjust styles, colors, and layouts without needing any design experience.
Access popular color and material options
Adjust styles, colors, and layouts without needing any design experience.
0.1
Industry is moving but tools aren’t
0.1
Industry is moving but tools aren’t
Kitchen design is part of interior design, but the tools haven’t kept up. Most designers still rely on outdated software like 2020, with visuals that can't meet today’s standards.
Kitchen design is part of interior design, but the tools haven’t kept up. Most designers still rely on outdated software like 2020, with visuals that can't meet today’s standards.
0.2
Homeowner struggle to visualize kitchens
0.2
Homeowner struggle to visualize kitchens
Even with 3D visuals, homeowners still struggle to imagine their future kitchen. The renderings don’t feel real, which makes it harder for them to choose the design they truly want.
Even with 3D visuals, homeowners still struggle to imagine their future kitchen. The renderings don’t feel real, which makes it harder for them to choose the design they truly want.
0.3
No tools built for the public
0.3
No tools built for the public
People want to try kitchen ideas on their own, but most tools are too technical.
People want to try kitchen ideas on their own, but most tools are too technical.
*rendering image from Design 2020
*rendering image from Design 2020
0.1
Iterations
Iteration 2:
Smarter Region Selection for More Accurate Edits
Iteration 1:
Swatches to Scenes — Improving Material Interpretation
first version
final version
Usability Test
Feedback:
Over 60% of users found small material swatches difficult to interpret—struggling to choose without seeing how each would look in a full kitchen setting.
Design Change:
Full-scene preview tiles replaced isolated texture icons.
Result:
This update significantly improved visual clarity and decision confidence.
85% of users said they felt more informed and comfortable selecting finishes after the change.
first version
final version
Feedback:
Over 40% of users worried that freehand circles might affect unintended cabinets—due to imprecise control on small screens.
Design Change:
Replaced circle selection with smart brush + auto-boundary detection, ensuring only intended areas are targeted.
Result:
The update improved accuracy and reduced selection time, making the process faster and more user-friendly.
90% of users reported feeling more confident selecting the right cabinet area.
Key Takeaways
Designing inclusively sometimes requires designing specifically.
At the beginning, I thought one version would be enough, for both homeowners and designers. But as I got deeper into research and interview, that clearly wasn’t the case.
Homeowners wanted ease and freedom to explore. Designers cared about rendering accuracy, and using real materials.
So I separated the two experiences and set up two version:
Homeowners get curated prompts and a lightweight, approachable interface and popular color board. Designers get a Pro version—brand swatches, upload their own color board and the control they need. And it worked! designers specifically praised how much time it saved and how accurate the visuals felt.
This shift reminded me: designing for “everyone” often means designing differently for each user.
Explore ultimate kitchen ideas with AI-powered prompts
Generate kitchen designs using AI prompts without any design skills needed.
Essentials Version
Explore kitchen styles using AI suggestions and trending color options
Build Your Own Swatch Library
Easily import photos to generate accurate color swatches for your own materials library.
Access exclusive brand materials
Generate more accurate renderings using color and finish swatches from partnered brands or your own material library
Pro version
Create realistic, trustworthy renders that
reflect real materials
0.1
Generate a customized kitchen preview in seconds
with Kitchen Render Lab
Upload Your Floorplan
Start with a Recommended
Prompt or Describe Your Idea
Or Use a Reference
from Your Inspiration Gallery
Generate Your Render
Save Your Favorite Look
0.2
Visualize your future kitchen in real-time using camera
with Virtual Kitchen Tour
Start with Camera View
Choose a Recommended
Prompt or Describe Your Idea
Waiting for Generation
View Rendered Kitchen
in Actual Space
Save Your Favorite Look
Start with Camera View
Onboard with Quick Tutorial
Place Start and End Markers
to Instantly Capture Accurate Length
Enter a new prompt to
change the whole design.
Use the brush tool to
adjust specific areas.
Want to explore more possibilities?
Not satisfied with the render?
0.3
Get precise kitchen measurements
with Quick Measure
Browse Designers by Service Area
View Designer‘s Profiles
& Past Design
Schedule a Meeting
Share Your Preferences in Advance
Easily share saved renderings and
inspiration during live consultations
0.4
Meet your kitchen designer
through Kitchen Verse
0.5
Discover More Kitchen Ideas
with Kitchen Verse
Enter a new prompt to
change the whole design.
Use the brush tool to
adjust specific areas.
Discover trending looks and popular ideas
—updated regularly to reflect current design buzz.
Explore curated inspiration boards categorized by kitchen styles
Built for Homeowners
Powered for Professionals
Access popular color and material options
Adjust styles, colors, and layouts without needing any design experience.
Reimagining kitchen design with AI
—making the process faster and clearer
about the project
During my two years as a kitchen designer at ABCabinet, the more kitchens I created, the more I felt the limitations of the tools we relied on. Like many of my teammates, I often found myself stuck in endless revisions and frustrated by low-quality renders that barely captured our vision.
At the same time, AI was evolving at an incredible pace—and I kept wondering: What if we could bring that intelligence into the kitchen design process?
That question led to the creation of Kitchen Verse—a smarter, AI-powered platform designed for both professionals and homeowners. For designers, it simplifies the workflow and brings real-time visual feedback. For homeowners, it offers clarity, creative freedom, and a sense of control throughout their renovation journey.
Because kitchen design shouldn't be slow, confusing, or reserved for experts. It should be intuitive, collaborative, and—yes—even enjoyable.
Design smarter, imagine freely
— turn your kitchen vision into effortless fun.
Current Challenges
Interior tools bring spaces to life.
But in kitchen design,
it’s a different story...
0.2
Homeowner struggle
to visualize kitchens
Even with 3D visuals, homeowners still struggle to imagine their future kitchen. The renderings don’t feel real, which makes it harder for them to choose the design they truly want.
0.3
No tools built for
the public
People want to try kitchen ideas on their own, but most tools are too technical.
0.1
Industry is moving
but tools aren’t
Kitchen design is part of interior design, but the tools haven’t kept up. Most designers still rely on outdated software like 2020, with visuals that can't meet today’s standards.
*rendering image from 2020 Design
*rendering image from SketchUp + V-Ray
0.2
Designer Insights
40 Minutes in a Designer’s Shoes:
Inside the Current Kitchen Design Process!
style
function
layout
color
material
rendering
4 mins
6 mins
1 mins
25 mins
4 mins
Key Pain Points
in the Current Design Process
Current Software
Limitations
Cabinet style can’t be changed mid-process—switching means starting from scratch.
Rendering lacks realism—flat lighting and weak environments make designs feel dull and unconvincing
Rendered colors and materials often differ from real-life finishes
—creating costly misunderstandings.
No renderings until every cabinet is placed—clients wait too long to see results.
The Need for
Smarter Kitchen Tools
0.1
Homeowner Insights
*All data presented is based on survey and interview responses, as well as insights from Houzz's Reports.
