Mesh.app
Bridging the Gap Between "Asking AI" and "Getting It Done"
Timeline
4 Weeks
Conceptual Sprint
Role
Lead Product Designer
Research to UI
Tools
Figma, Miro
OpenAI (Research)
Platform
SaaS Web App
Desktop First
01 // Summary
The Context
We are in the "Golden Age" of Generative AI. Tools like ChatGPT can write code, draft emails, and create strategies in seconds. But a year ago, I noticed a frustrating pattern.
The Problem: The "Execution Gap"
Despite these tools, creators are burning out. AI can generate the plan, but the transition from 'AI text' to 'real work' remains broken. When a chatbot provides a 20-step list, the manual data entry required to move it into a project management tool becomes so overwhelming that many abandon the project entirely.
The Goal:
Transform the AI experience from a passive "text generator" (Consumption) into an active "visual workspace" (Co-Creation).
of digital transformation projects fail due to lack of adoption and behavioral change.
of users abandon AI tools after month one due to workflow friction.
"I have 50 great ideas stored in ChatGPT, but I haven't started a single one."
02 // Desk Research & Findings
I conducted deep secondary research, including social listening on Reddit and market analysis of current SaaS and AI tools.
Sarah
The Overwhelmed Visionary. High ambition, low patience. Gets "Analysis Paralysis" with long lists.
Transfer Friction
Manual effort copying text from Chatbot to Trello causes major drop-off.
Context Amnesia
Chatbots "forget" project constraints as the conversation scrolls down.
Mountain Effect
"Build Website" feels impossible without a granular breakdown.
Business Goals
Targets defined for launch.
03 // Competitive Analysis
The Blue Ocean Strategy
The market is split.
allows you to Think (Whiteboard).
forces you to Manage (Tickets).
helps you Generate (Text).
There is no "Transition Tool." No tool combines the visual freedom of a whiteboard with the execution logic of a project manager. AI Canvas fills this gap by being a "Generative Workspace."
04 // Ideation
Concept: Auto-List
FailedAI fills a spreadsheet. Still felt like "Admin Work". High cognitive load for the user.
Solution: A "Living Map"
SelectedNode-based network. Matches mental models. Progressive disclosure hides details until needed.
05 // Core Features
Pre-Mortem Interview
Chat interface asks 3 key questions (Budget, Time, Platform) before starting.
Generative Node Map
AI visualizes the project as connected bubbles instead of a vertical list.
Recursive Breakdown
Click a node to "Zoom In" and use AI to split that task into sub-tasks.
Agentic Actions
AI stays in the node to perform actions (e.g., "Draft Email," "Search API").