Black Boys Code London - Designing for Real Users

Workshop Overview

In May, students move beyond simply building AI projects into one of the most exciting stages of innovation: designing experiences for real people.

This workshop introduces learners to user-centered design, where technology is not just functional, but intuitive, engaging, and meaningful. Students begin to understand that the best digital products succeed because they connect with users, responding to their needs, emotions, and interactions.

Participants explore how AI can create personalized, interactive experiences, blending creativity with technical skills. It’s a powerful shift from “Does it work?” to “Does it feel right for the user?”

In the Beginner Track, students build emotion-responsive interactive stories that adapt in real time to a viewer’s facial expressions. Their projects come alive as narratives change based on how users feel, turning storytelling into a dynamic, personalized experience.

In the Advanced Track, students refine and elevate their Python chatbots into more polished, user-friendly systems. They improve logic, strengthen error handling, and enhance personality and usability through peer testing and real-world feedback, transforming their work from simple programs into real product-like experiences.

This workshop reinforces a key idea in modern technology: great products are designed for people, not just built for function.

This workshop is FREE, and all learning materials will be provided, students simply need to bring their curiosity, creativity, and willingness to build something meaningful.

Beginner Track - AI Interactive Storytelling

This is the culminating creative project of the beginner AI journey.

Students design and build interactive stories that respond to human emotions in real time. Instead of following a fixed storyline, their stories branch into multiple paths, creating unique experiences for every user. A smile might trigger a joyful adventure, while a sad expression could unlock a comforting storyline.

Learners begin with intentional design, planning characters, settings, and story paths before coding, reinforcing that great digital experiences start with thoughtful ideas. They then bring their stories to life in Scratch using emotion detection and branching logic.

Key Activities

• Explore the difference between interactive and traditional storytelling
• Learn how emotion detection creates personalized experiences
• Plan characters, settings, and multi-scene narratives
• Build three emotion-based story paths
• Write dialogue and design immersive scenes
• Code emotion-triggered transitions
• Test and refine all story paths
• Prepare projects for showcase

Learning Outcomes

Students will:

• Think like a designer: Plan stories with the user experience in mind
• Create dynamic narratives: Build stories that change based on emotions
• Master branching logic: Develop multi-path storytelling systems
• Bring stories to life: Combine visuals, dialogue, and interaction
• Design meaningful experiences: Connect technology with human emotion

Materials Needed

• Laptops with Scratch
• Story planning worksheets
• Emotion models from February
• Backdrop and sprite libraries
• Sample story structures

Deliverables

• Completed 3-scene interactive story
• Story planning document
• Saved project for showcase

Advanced Track - Chatbot Refinement & UX

With functional chatbots already built, students now step into the role of product designers and engineers.

This session focuses on transforming chatbots into polished, user-friendly, and intelligent systems. Learners refine their code, implement error handling to improve reliability, and enhance user experience through clearer interactions and creative personality features.

Through peer testing and real feedback, students iterate on their designs, learning how real-world products are improved through continuous refinement.

Key Activities

• Review and clean up existing code
• Add comments and documentation for clarity
• Implement error handling using try/except
• Improve user experience and interaction flow
• Add personality features (emojis, dynamic responses, personalization)
• Build memory features (e.g., remembering user names)
• Conduct peer testing sessions
• Analyze feedback and refine chatbot performance

Learning Outcomes

Students will:

• Think like a product engineer: Improve both functionality and user experience
• Write cleaner, smarter code: Refactor and document programs effectively
• Build resilient systems: Handle errors and unexpected inputs
• Design engaging interactions: Add personality and responsiveness
• Learn from real users: Test, gather feedback, and improve iteratively

Materials Needed

• Laptops with chatbot projects
• Code review checklist
• Error-handling examples
• Peer testing feedback forms
• Creative feature inspiration sheets
• UX best-practice guide

Deliverables

• Fully polished chatbot with error handling
• Clean, commented, and documented code
• Peer feedback implemented
• Feature list and improvement documentation

Register Now, Space Is Limited!

For further questions you may have on the day of the workshop, please reach out to [email protected]

Or [email protected]

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Physics and Astronomy, Physics and Astronomy Building, Western University, London, Canada

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

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