AI Image Generator for Educators
What?
What?
AI image generator that creates classroom-ready visuals by anticipating what educators need next.
For who?
For who?
K-12 and higher-education teachers preparing slides, worksheets, and other classroom assets under tight prep time.
My role
My role
Product designer owning research, flows, and UI
Project duration
Project duration
5 weeks
Tools
Tools
Figma
Figma
Why This Matters
Why This Matters
Getting tailored results from existing AI models is not as easy as one might think, and it's costing teachers important time that could be spent with students.
Getting tailored results from existing AI models is not as easy as one might think, and it's costing teachers important time that could be spent with students.
Most teachers are not AI prompt experts which can make it difficult to get specific results, especially when AI generators are making assumptions to fill in the gaps. Generic AI tools are not tuned for grade level, curriculum, or safety, which slows lesson prep and leads to inconsistent visuals.
Most teachers are not AI prompt experts which can make it difficult to get specific results, especially when AI generators are making assumptions to fill in the gaps. Generic AI tools are not tuned for grade level, curriculum, or safety, which slows lesson prep and leads to inconsistent visuals.
What Educators Need
What Educators Need
Produce age-appropriate, on-topic images quickly.
Produce age-appropriate, on-topic images quickly.
Anticipate educator needs to minimize the risk of prompt fatigue.
Anticipate educator needs to minimize the risk of prompt fatigue.
The Solution
An anticipatory image generator that turns Subject, Grade, and Learning Topic into smart suggestions so teachers get the right image in fewer prompts.
An anticipatory image generator that turns Subject, Grade, and Learning Topic into smart suggestions so teachers get the right image in fewer prompts.
How I Did It
"I’m actually using more time refining the prompt than I am if I just did it off the top of my head. It’s a false economy, isn’t it"
– Legal studies educator (AU)
Learning From Educators
Learning From Educators
AI image generation could be a useful tool that helps educators come up with creative visuals and illustrations to supplement their lesson plans. Research from the National Centre for AI states that educators are expected to know how to create "visually rich prompts" and "think like photographers" in order to get the perfect image. Even refining images with an AI tool doesn't guarantee a perfect result. A study surveying 57 educators from Sweden and Australia expressed that "teachers will reach a point where they decide to take output from GenAI and set about editing, refining it or sometimes completely reworking it themselves," which adds unnecessary extra work.
These tools should be saving time for educators, rather than requiring them to become prompting experts.
AI image generation could be a useful tool that helps educators come up with creative visuals and illustrations to supplement their lesson plans. Research from the National Centre for AI states that educators are expected to know how to create "visually rich prompts" and "think like photographers" in order to get the perfect image. Even refining images with an AI tool doesn't guarantee a perfect result. A study surveying 57 educators from Sweden and Australia expressed that "teachers will reach a point where they decide to take output from GenAI and set about editing, refining it or sometimes completely reworking it themselves," which adds unnecessary extra work.
These tools should be saving time for educators, rather than requiring them to become prompting experts.
Competitive Analysis
Competitive Analysis
To get a better understanding of the problems established in these studies, I analyzed four popular AI image tools (Canva, Freepik, Night Café, and Google Gemini) that educators might use to create these visuals. While these tools offer strengths such as templates, stock libraries, and artistic outputs, none address the specific needs of teachers.
The gaps in these models highlighted an opportunity to design an image generator that combines speed, classroom-appropriate filters, and anticipatory suggestions to teachers quickly reach a usable result with less trial and error.
To get a better understanding of the problems established in these studies, I analyzed four popular AI image tools (Canva, Freepik, Night Café, and Google Gemini) that educators might use to create these visuals. While these tools offer strengths such as templates, stock libraries, and artistic outputs, none address the specific needs of teachers.
The gaps in these models highlighted an opportunity to design an image generator that combines speed, classroom-appropriate filters, and anticipatory suggestions to teachers quickly reach a usable result with less trial and error.
Establish Goals
Empower educators
Enable educators to generate custom visuals without needing advanced technical skills.
Empower educators
Enable educators to generate custom visuals without needing advanced technical skills.
Save time
Replace time-consuming searching and refinement processes so that educators can spend time engaging with their students.
Save time
Replace time-consuming searching and refinement processes so that educators can spend time engaging with their students.
Provide tailored results
Provide outputs that are appropriate for classroom use, incorporating robust content filters and educator-specific style presets.
Provide tailored results
Provide outputs that are appropriate for classroom use, incorporating robust content filters and educator-specific style presets.
Iteration 1
Iteration 1
Iteration 1
Simplifying the Input Flow
Simplifying the Input Flow
Simplifying the Input Flow
Simplifying the Input Flow
Problem: Existing flows have vague setup flows and are not specifically tailored for educator needs.
Change: Reduced setup to three essentials: Grade, Subject, Style.
Impact: Teachers can set up a tailored request in under 30 seconds before starting the text-based input, a faster start compared to existing AI tools.
Problem: Existing flows have vague setup flows and are not specifically tailored for educator needs.
Change: Reduced setup to three essentials: Grade, Subject, Style.
Impact: Teachers can set up a tailored request in under 30 seconds before starting the text-based input, a faster start compared to existing AI tools.
Early Exploration
Wireframes
Step 1: User selects cards to indicate grade level and subject/learning goal.
Step 2: User selects a card to indicate the type of image they want to create.
Step 3: User chooses another card to indicate image style.
Step 4: User's previous selections are kept as tags at the top of the screen. They are then brought to a text-based input sequence to interact with the AI agent.
Step 1: User selects cards to indicate grade level and subject/learning goal.
Step 2: User selects a card to indicate the type of image they want to create.
Step 3: User chooses another card to indicate image style.
Step 4: User's previous selections are kept as tags at the top of the screen. They are then brought to a text-based input sequence to interact with the AI agent.
Step 1: User selects cards to indicate grade level and subject/learning goal.
Step 2: User selects a card to indicate the type of image they want to create.
Step 3: User chooses another card to indicate image style.
Step 4: User's previous selections are kept as tags at the top of the screen. They are then brought to a text-based input sequence to interact with the AI agent.
Step 1: User selects cards to indicate grade level and subject/learning goal.
Step 2: User selects a card to indicate the type of image they want to create.
Step 3: User chooses another card to indicate image style.
Step 4: User's previous selections are kept as tags at the top of the screen. They are then brought to a text-based input sequence to interact with the AI agent.
Pain Points
Pain Points
Pain Points
While the flow was simple and provided tailored inputs upfront, it didn't provide a proper way to refine results without starting over.
Next, I focused on adding guided suggestions to make refinement easier and reduce prompt entries.
While the flow was simple and provided tailored inputs upfront, it didn't provide a proper way to refine results without starting over.
Next, I focused on adding guided suggestions to make refinement easier and reduce prompt entries.
Iteration 2
Iteration 2
Iteration 2
Adding Anticipatory Suggestions
Adding Anticipatory Suggestions
Adding Anticipatory Suggestions
Adding Anticipatory Suggestions
Problem: Teachers weren't sure how to refine images without starting over, which failed to minimize prompt fatigue.
Change: Introduced one-tap suggestion chips to guide refinement without retyping.
Impact: Educators can move through prompts with greater confidence and fewer retries, reaching a usable image in less steps.
Problem: Teachers weren't sure how to refine images without starting over, which failed to minimize prompt fatigue.
Change: Introduced one-tap suggestion chips to guide refinement without retyping.
Impact: Educators can move through prompts with greater confidence and fewer retries, reaching a usable image in less steps.
Early Exploration
Early Exploration
Wireframes
Wireframes
Initial Inputs: Teachers start by entering grade level and subject, giving the AI a strong foundation for tailored results.
First round of suggestions: The AI suggests possible prompt refinements right away, helping teachers move forward faster without needed to rewrite prompts.
Expanded guidance: If the teachers reject a suggestion, the system provides additional options, preventing dead ends in the workflow.
Confirmation setup: Once a suggestion is accepted, the AI confirms choices to ensure accuracy before generating the image, reducing misaligned outputs.
Start of image generation: After inputs are confirmed the AI begins producing an image, giving teachers a clearer sense of progress in the flow.
Initial Inputs: Teachers start by entering grade level and subject, giving the AI a strong foundation for tailored results.
First round of suggestions: The AI suggests possible prompt refinements right away, helping teachers move forward faster without needed to rewrite prompts.
Style selection for consistency: Teachers choose a style once and apply it across materials, ensuring visual consistency throughout their lesson content.
Confirmation setup: Once a suggestion is accepted, the AI confirms choices to ensure accuracy before generating the image, reducing misaligned outputs.
Start of image generation: After inputs are confirmed the AI begins producing an image, giving teachers a clearer sense of progress in the flow.
Initial Inputs: Teachers start by entering grade level and subject, giving the AI a strong foundation for tailored results.
First round of suggestions: The AI suggests possible prompt refinements right away, helping teachers move forward faster without needed to rewrite prompts.
Expanded guidance: If the teachers reject a suggestion, the system provides additional options, preventing dead ends in the workflow.
Confirmation setup: Once a suggestion is accepted, the AI confirms choices to ensure accuracy before generating the image, reducing misaligned outputs.
Start of image generation: After inputs are confirmed the AI begins producing an image, giving teachers a clearer sense of progress in the flow.
Initial Inputs: Teachers start by entering grade level and subject, giving the AI a strong foundation for tailored results.
First round of suggestions: The AI suggests possible prompt refinements right away, helping teachers move forward faster without needed to rewrite prompts.
Expanded guidance: If the teachers reject a suggestion, the system provides additional options, preventing dead ends in the workflow.
Confirmation setup: Once a suggestion is accepted, the AI confirms choices to ensure accuracy before generating the image, reducing misaligned outputs.
Start of image generation: After inputs are confirmed the AI begins producing an image, giving teachers a clearer sense of progress in the flow.
Pain Points
Pain Points
Pain Points
Splitting the flow into multiple steps risked slowing users down, and the text input box was underused.
Next, I aimed to front-load key information and give the text box a clearer purpose to streamline that experience.
Splitting the flow into multiple steps risked slowing users down, and the text input box was underused.
Next, I aimed to front-load key information and give the text box a clearer purpose to streamline that experience.
Final Design
Final Design
Final Design
Faster, Classroom-Ready Image Generation
Faster, Classroom-Ready Image Generation
Faster, Classroom-Ready Image Generation
Faster, Classroom-Ready Image Generation
Problem: Collecting important information (Grade, Subject, and Learning Topic) required multiple steps and did not make full use of the text-input field.
Change: Consolidating the setup into a single screen with front-loaded inputs (Grade, Subject, Topic/Learning Goal) and added anticipatory suggestion chips in the text-input box.
Impact: Educators can generate a classroom-ready image with higher first-try success and less fatigue, making the process faster and better tailored to lesson needs.
Problem: Collecting important information (Grade, Subject, and Learning Topic) required multiple steps and did not make full use of the text-input field.
Change: Consolidating the setup into a single screen with front-loaded inputs (Grade, Subject, Topic/Learning Goal) and added anticipatory suggestion chips in the text-input box.
Impact: Educators can generate a classroom-ready image with higher first-try success and less fatigue, making the process faster and better tailored to lesson needs.
Wireframes
Wireframes
Front-loaded inputs: Teachers provide key information upfront, reducing friction later and setting the AI up for more accurate suggestions.
Smart image suggestions: The system anticipates needs by suggesting classroom-friendly image types (e.g., diagram, chart, illustration), cutting down trial-and-error prompt crafting.
Style selection for consistency: Teachers choose a style once and apply it across materials, ensuring visual consistency throughout their lesson content.
Flexible text input: The text box is reframed as an optional detail-attention tool, giving educators flexibility without requiring heavy typing.
Initial image preview: AI generates a few image variations that the user can choose to refine further.
One-tap refinement options: AI generates an initial image and offers suggested refinements, reducing cognitive load and helping teachers get to a usable result faster.
Iterative refinements: Teachers can continue to refine and polish their images through guided options or move on to finalizing and downloading assets, avoiding the fatigue of re-prompting from scratch.
Export + save for lesson use: Final images can be downloaded, added to a lesson plan, or stored in a library, directly supporting classroom workflows.
Front-loaded inputs: Teachers provide key information upfront, reducing friction later and setting the AI up for more accurate suggestions.
Smart image suggestions: The system anticipates needs by suggesting classroom-friendly image types (e.g., diagram, chart, illustration), cutting down trial-and-error prompt crafting.
Style selection for consistency: Teachers choose a style once and apply it across materials, ensuring visual consistency throughout their lesson content.
Flexible text input: The text box is reframed as an optional detail-attention tool, giving educators flexibility without requiring heavy typing.
Initial image preview: AI generates a few image variations that the user can choose to refine further.
One-tap refinement options: AI generates an initial image and offers suggested refinements, reducing cognitive load and helping teachers get to a usable result faster.
Iterative refinements: Teachers can continue to refine and polish their images through guided options or move on to finalizing and downloading assets, avoiding the fatigue of re-prompting from scratch.
Export + save for lesson use: Final images can be downloaded, added to a lesson plan, or stored in a library, directly supporting classroom workflows.
Front-loaded inputs: Teachers provide key information upfront, reducing friction later and setting the AI up for more accurate suggestions.
Smart image suggestions: The system anticipates needs by suggesting classroom-friendly image types (diagram, chart, illustration), cutting down trial-and-error prompt crafting.
Style selection for consistency: Teachers choose a style once and apply it across materials, ensuring visual consistency throughout their lesson content.
Flexible text input: The text box is reframed as an optional detail-attention tool, giving educators flexibility without requiring heavy typing.
First image preview + refinement options: AI generates an initial image and offers one-tap refinements, reducing retries and helping teachers get to a usable result faster.
Iterative refinements: Teachers can continue to refine and polish their images with guided options or finish generating, avoiding the fatigue of re-prompting from scratch.
Export + save for lesson use: Final images can be downloaded, added to a lesson plan, or stored in a library, directly supporting classroom workflows.
Front-loaded inputs: Teachers provide key information upfront, reducing friction later and setting the AI up for more accurate suggestions.
Smart image suggestions: The system anticipates needs by suggesting classroom-friendly image types (e.g., diagram, chart, illustration), cutting down trial-and-error prompt crafting.
Style selection for consistency: Teachers choose a style once and apply it across materials, ensuring visual consistency throughout their lesson content.
Flexible text input: The text box is reframed as an optional detail-attention tool, giving educators flexibility without requiring heavy typing.
Initial image preview: AI generates a few image variations that the user can choose to refine further.
One-tap refinement options: AI generates an initial image and offers suggested refinements, reducing cognitive load and helping teachers get to a usable result faster.
Iterative refinements: Teachers can continue to refine and polish their images through guided options or move on to finalizing and downloading assets, avoiding the fatigue of re-prompting from scratch.
Export + save for lesson use: Final images can be downloaded, added to a lesson plan, or stored in a library, directly supporting classroom workflows.
Final Prototype
Final Prototype
This prototype demonstrates how educators can go from entering lesson details to generating a classroom-ready image in just a few guided steps, with anticipatory suggestions reducing retries and ensuring consistency.
This prototype demonstrates how educators can go from entering lesson details to generating a classroom-ready image in just a few guided steps, with anticipatory suggestions reducing retries and ensuring consistency.
Reflection
Reflection
Reflection
This project was my first time working with AI models and conversational agents, which challenged me to think beyond traditional interfaces and explore how predictive design could reduce user effort.
Key takeaways from this project include:
Learning how to balance AI-driven guidance with user control to prevent fatigue
Structuring flows that anticipate intent while still offering flexibility
Framing complex technologies in a way that feels simple and approachable for non-technical users like educators
This experience gave me the confidence to tackle projects that integrate innovative technology into everyday workflows while staying grounded in user needs. Moving forward, I'll continue to apply these lessons by making designing trustworthy, accessible, and intuitive solutions for diverse user groups.
This project was my first time working with AI models and conversational agents, which challenged me to think beyond traditional interfaces and explore how predictive design could reduce user effort.
Key takeaways from this project include:
Learning how to balance AI-driven guidance with user control to prevent fatigue
Structuring flows that anticipate intent while still offering flexibility
Framing complex technologies in a way that feels simple and approachable for non-technical users like educators
This experience gave me the confidence to tackle projects that integrate innovative technology into everyday workflows while staying grounded in user needs. Moving forward, I'll continue to apply these lessons by making designing trustworthy, accessible, and intuitive solutions for diverse user groups.
