Puzzle
We present Puzzle, a web-based system that repositions AI as a thinking partner rather than a content generator. Grounded in external cognition and reflection-in-action, Puzzle is a digital canvas of “puzzle pieces,” a visual design system for attachment and grouping, and a conversation UI structured around anchor questions that help users clarify intentions, relate fragments, and converge toward a design direction.
Research Team
Kida Huang
Yutong Wang
Sydney Nguyen
Connie Cheng
Location
MIT Medialab
Dates
25 Fall
Web System
AI Brainstorming
Convergent to divergent thinking
Sense Synthesis, Synthesizes emerging themes / levers.
Brainstorm Easily
User dump fragments of ideas on canvas, notes, sketches, references.
AI generate ideas
Open Lever and puzzle ideas with gamified interactions.
Gamified Content
Finished idea with Anchor & Reflect, the structure emerges.
1.Onboarding
2.Adding Fragments
3.Start a puzzle
4.Puzzling
5.Summarize
Mascot Character
AI Companion Design
To guide, talk with user,
Live on the bottom left of the webpage.
System Design
Visual Design : Design System
Visual Design : Color Palatte
Visual Design : Puzzle Design
User Study
CREATIVE BRIEF: DESIGN A MATCHA BRAND DIRECTION
Findings
Baseline Process
Understand participants’ natural sense making
process.
PuzzlingAI Process
Observe how Puzzle supports or disrupts convergent thinking.
Post-Task Reflection
Collect subjective impressions and usability insights, perceived value..
More assets launching soon. Stay tuned.
Technical Design
Conversational AI Logic Framework
Guides users through the reasoning process without overwhelming them or taking control of the creative direction.
PuzzleAI’s technical architecture integrates Context Engine and LLM Orchestration to generate context-aware anchor questions and direction statements.
Micro-prompt panel
Key Takeaways
What users want next
INSIGHTS
Puzzle AI brings clarity, focus, and emotional relief.
01 Helped user organize ideas and see connections
quickly. Visual metaphor.
Users were confused about how puzzle works.
02 Anchor mechanics + attachment logic is not obvious. Limit in dragging.
Make Puzzle AI more visible, guided, and controllable.
03 Gentle scaffolding. Allow rearranging + revisiting previous puzzle sessions.
I’m just here to organize the ‘Aha!” moments :)
Full demo of puzzle→