Katie Oberlag Portfolio
Designed "Work Buddy," an Alexa skill concept helping part-time-job high schoolers check shift schedules by voice, complete with competitive analysis, user interviews, and an 8-participant usability test.
What makes it work
A breakdown of the choices that make this portfolio stand out.
Documenting a negative competitive finding honestly
The case study reports her competitive analysis found no direct competitor except one product with real limitations, rather than manufacturing a false gap — a more credible research posture than claiming a market whitespace exists when it barely does.
Usability testing reported with a specific sample size
Stating "8 of 8 participants found it useful" is a small, honest number rather than a vague claim of success — it signals the designer understands usability testing is directional evidence, not statistical proof.
A stated, unresolved limitation instead of a fake happy ending
The write-up is explicit that the skill couldn't connect to real scheduling apps and worked only with manually entered data — naming a real constraint rather than glossing over it.
What Conversational AI Designers can take from this
Specific, actionable tips to apply to your own portfolio — no generic advice.
Report your actual usability test sample size, even if small (5-8 people) — specificity reads as more credible than a vague "users loved it."
State the technical limitation your prototype couldn't solve. A case study that admits what didn't work is more trustworthy than one that only shows success.
When you can't find a close competitor, say so and explain why — an honest "there's no direct competitor because X" beats an invented market gap.
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