Purple radar graphic representing Retail Signal

AI Assisted,News App.

A simple, distraction-free news app designed by me, to keep people informed without overwhelming them with information.

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Background

With so many different news sources and so much information competing for our attention, staying up to date can quickly become overwhelming. I wanted to create a simple focused news app that would allow my UX and Product Design team to catch up on relevant industry news in just 30 seconds, giving us useful insights and talking points to bring into our daily stand-ups.

Retail Signal displayed on a laptop and mobile phone

Getting Started

Could I use AI to create a useful tech and retail intelligence platform without traditional development skills?

I wanted to create a simple working prototype that gathered relevant news through RSS feeds, avoiding the complexity of databases and external services.

The initial result was functional but generic. It presented information without helping users understand its significance and looked overwhelming.

Sharing the prototype with colleagues early helped identify opportunities to improve the experience and set clear goals.

Goals

  1. Relevant, not overwhelmingSurface the most important stories without unnecessary noise.
  2. IntelligentHighlight significant developments first. I wanted users to obtain at least three useful articles in 30 seconds.
  3. PersonalisedLet users control what they’re interested in and prioritise results.
  4. Elegant and fastThe experience must feel like a native app, with smooth animations, automated progression and effortless speed.

Reflections. What I’ve Learnt

From a one-shot prompt that produced a generic news page to an engaging, bespoke news experience that feels designed, not generated.

My biggest takeaway? It’s incredibly easy to jump straight into tools like Codex and Claude, turning vague ideas into working apps that initially seem impressive. But just because something works doesn’t mean it’s well designed or solves the right problem.

Building with AI requires the same upfront planning, thought and consideration as traditional development. The difference is that, with those foundations in place, AI can help you achieve a better outcome in a fraction of the time.