Generative interfaces that make the next step clear
2 min read
Flexible interfaces still need a stable frame. Keep the task, evidence, and next action visible as the content changes.
This field note works through the decisions between an idea and a usable product. It starts with a concrete task and follows the choices that shape the experience, the delivery, and the next iteration.
Give changing content a stable frame
Keep navigation, the current task, and the primary action in predictable places. Generated content can vary without making the entire workspace rearrange itself.
A person should be able to recognize what has changed since the last interaction. Group new content and preserve useful context.
Make the proposed action inspectable
Show a preview before an action changes a document or sends information elsewhere. Let the user edit the underlying inputs and understand the scope of the change.
Choose controls that fit the work. A table is useful for comparing rows; a form is useful for collecting structured decisions; a conversation is useful for clarification.
Design a complete set of states
Include loading, partial results, missing evidence, and recovery in the design. These states should offer a useful next step in plain language.
Test the experience using long answers and empty results as well as the polished example. Flexible content needs deliberate boundaries.
