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AI SEARCH · CMS PLUGINS · CONTENT INTELLIGENCE
IndexPlus
An AI search and answer platform that helps people find products, pages and trusted information faster.
A product concept spanning conversational search, cited answers, content indexing, relevance controls, analytics and native Shopify and WordPress integrations.

3+
CMS integrations
Shopify, WordPress and custom APIs
5
Product modules
Search, sources, analytics, settings and integrations
4
Answer controls
Citations, filters, tone and relevance
24/7
Live indexing
Continuous syncing and crawl monitoring

Product strategy · UX architecture · UI design · Plugin ecosystems · Responsive system · Accessibility
INDEXPLUS · AI SEARCH
Turn any CMS into an answer engine.
A configurable AI search layer that understands natural-language questions, generates cited answers and connects visitors to the right products, pages and actions.
index
Plus
Every answer starts with your content.
3+
CMS integrations
1
Unified search layer
4
Search result modes
24/7
Automatic indexing

PROJECT OVERVIEW
Search should resolve intent, not just match words.
IndexPlus was designed as an embeddable search and answer product for websites with large product catalogues, documentation libraries and editorial content.
ROLE
Product strategy · UX/UI · brand
PRODUCT
Web app · Shopify · WordPress
TYPE
Independent concept project
FOCUS
Discovery · relevance · conversion
THE PROBLEM
Traditional site search makes users translate intent into keywords.
Visitors often know what they need but not the exact product name, page title or terminology used by the organisation.
“A useful AI answer should shorten the search, not hide the evidence.”
The experience needed to answer directly while preserving clear links to products, pages and source content.
FRICTION
Keyword dependence
Exact wording creates dead ends.
TRUST
Opaque AI answers
Users need citations and confidence.
CONTROL
Weak merchandising
Teams need ranking and pinning tools.
INSIGHT
Invisible content gaps
Failed searches should improve the site.
DESIGN STRATEGY
Build an answer layer that remains searchable, explainable and controllable.
The design combines semantic retrieval with familiar search results, transparent citations and CMS-native administration.
01
Answer first
Resolve the question before presenting the result list.
02
Show evidence
Keep every generated claim connected to source content.
03
Preserve control
Let teams tune ranking, synonyms and pinned results.
04
Learn continuously
Turn zero-result queries into content recommendations.
INDEXPLUS RETRIEVAL SYSTEM
01
CONNECT
Shopify · WordPress · CMS
02
INDEX
Products · pages · documents
03
RETRIEVE
Intent · meaning · relevance
04
ANSWER
Citations · results · actions

RESEARCH AND MODELLING
Map user questions to content, evidence and next actions.
The system model was structured around the full retrieval loop rather than a single search-results page.
ASK
Natural-language question
Users describe needs, constraints and context.
UNDERSTAND
Intent and entities
The system separates subject, filters and goal.
ANSWER
Evidence-backed response
A concise answer cites the original content.
ACT
Product, page or task
The user continues with a clear next step.
Key behavioural findings
“Can I trust this?”
Citations must be visible before expansion.
“What else fits?”
Follow-up questions should retain context.
“Why is this first?”
Ranking logic needs admin transparency.
“What are people missing?”
Zero-result searches become content gaps.
DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
From brand exploration to a testable search system.
These image positions document how the identity, information architecture and search journey developed before high-fidelity design.




PRODUCT ECOSYSTEM
One search system across customer experience and CMS operations.
The product includes public-facing search, content indexing, ranking controls, analytics and embedded CMS plugins.





MAIN PROTOTYPES
The core experience across customer search and administration.
Use these positions for the strongest high-fidelity screens before showing how IndexPlus adapts inside each CMS.

CMS INTEGRATIONS
The same AI search system, adapted to each publishing workflow.
Dedicated Shopify and WordPress plugins sit alongside connectors for Webflow, Contentful, headless CMS platforms, documentation tools and custom APIs.



FINAL DESIGNS
A polished, responsive product shown at full fidelity.
The final gallery should present the completed UI system, responsive behaviour, distinctive components and a believable product-in-use moment.

OUTCOME
A credible AI search concept that works beyond the search box.
IndexPlus demonstrates how AI answers, traditional results, CMS controls and search intelligence can operate as one responsive product system.
DISCOVERY
Question-first search
Natural language without losing filters.
TRUST
Cited answers
Sources remain visible and accessible.
CONTROL
Admin relevance tools
Weighting, synonyms, pins and exclusions.
GROWTH
Content-gap intelligence
Failed searches guide content investment.

MENU

START WITH THE PROBLEM
Have a product, store or digital experience that needs clearer thinking?
I help SaaS founders, Shopify brands and agencies diagnose friction, design better journeys and deliver interfaces that can actually be built.
Start a project
→
Book a UX audit
→
UX · PRODUCT · SHOPIFY · DEVELOPMENT
I solve usability problems before they become business problems — connecting UX, product thinking and build-ready delivery.
Available for selected remote projects
© 2026 Steve Roberts / ME&CO. All rights reserved.
CASE STUDIES
Portfolio
UX Design & Research
UI Design
Graphic Design
Just Branding
Alt Graphics
Development
→
Back to Portfolio
AI SEARCH · CMS PLUGINS · CONTENT INTELLIGENCE
IndexPlus
An AI search and answer platform that helps people find products, pages and trusted information faster.
A product concept spanning conversational search, cited answers, content indexing, relevance controls, analytics and native Shopify and WordPress integrations.

3+
CMS integrations
Shopify, WordPress and custom APIs
5
Product modules
Search, sources, analytics, settings and integrations
4
Answer controls
Citations, filters, tone and relevance
24/7
Live indexing
Continuous syncing and crawl monitoring

Product strategy · UX architecture · UI design · Plugin ecosystems · Responsive system · Accessibility
INDEXPLUS · AI SEARCH
Turn any CMS into an answer engine.
A configurable AI search layer that understands natural-language questions, generates cited answers and connects visitors to the right products, pages and actions.
index
Plus
Every answer starts with your content.
3+
CMS integrations
1
Unified search layer
4
Search result modes
24/7
Automatic indexing

PROJECT OVERVIEW
Search should resolve intent, not just match words.
IndexPlus was designed as an embeddable search and answer product for websites with large product catalogues, documentation libraries and editorial content.
ROLE
Product strategy · UX/UI · brand
PRODUCT
Web app · Shopify · WordPress
TYPE
Independent concept project
FOCUS
Discovery · relevance · conversion
THE PROBLEM
Traditional site search makes users translate intent into keywords.
Visitors often know what they need but not the exact product name, page title or terminology used by the organisation.
“A useful AI answer should shorten the search, not hide the evidence.”
The experience needed to answer directly while preserving clear links to products, pages and source content.
FRICTION
Keyword dependence
Exact wording creates dead ends.
TRUST
Opaque AI answers
Users need citations and confidence.
CONTROL
Weak merchandising
Teams need ranking and pinning tools.
INSIGHT
Invisible content gaps
Failed searches should improve the site.
DESIGN STRATEGY
Build an answer layer that remains searchable, explainable and controllable.
The design combines semantic retrieval with familiar search results, transparent citations and CMS-native administration.
01
Answer first
Resolve the question before presenting the result list.
02
Show evidence
Keep every generated claim connected to source content.
03
Preserve control
Let teams tune ranking, synonyms and pinned results.
04
Learn continuously
Turn zero-result queries into content recommendations.
INDEXPLUS RETRIEVAL SYSTEM
01
CONNECT
Shopify · WordPress · CMS
02
INDEX
Products · pages · documents
03
RETRIEVE
Intent · meaning · relevance
04
ANSWER
Citations · results · actions

RESEARCH AND MODELLING
Map user questions to content, evidence and next actions.
The system model was structured around the full retrieval loop rather than a single search-results page.
ASK
Natural-language question
Users describe needs, constraints and context.
UNDERSTAND
Intent and entities
The system separates subject, filters and goal.
ANSWER
Evidence-backed response
A concise answer cites the original content.
ACT
Product, page or task
The user continues with a clear next step.
Key behavioural findings
“Can I trust this?”
Citations must be visible before expansion.
“What else fits?”
Follow-up questions should retain context.
“Why is this first?”
Ranking logic needs admin transparency.
“What are people missing?”
Zero-result searches become content gaps.
DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
From brand exploration to a testable search system.
These image positions document how the identity, information architecture and search journey developed before high-fidelity design.




PRODUCT ECOSYSTEM
One search system across customer experience and CMS operations.
The product includes public-facing search, content indexing, ranking controls, analytics and embedded CMS plugins.





MAIN PROTOTYPES
The core experience across customer search and administration.
Use these positions for the strongest high-fidelity screens before showing how IndexPlus adapts inside each CMS.

CMS INTEGRATIONS
The same AI search system, adapted to each publishing workflow.
Dedicated Shopify and WordPress plugins sit alongside connectors for Webflow, Contentful, headless CMS platforms, documentation tools and custom APIs.



FINAL DESIGNS
A polished, responsive product shown at full fidelity.
The final gallery should present the completed UI system, responsive behaviour, distinctive components and a believable product-in-use moment.

OUTCOME
A credible AI search concept that works beyond the search box.
IndexPlus demonstrates how AI answers, traditional results, CMS controls and search intelligence can operate as one responsive product system.
DISCOVERY
Question-first search
Natural language without losing filters.
TRUST
Cited answers
Sources remain visible and accessible.
CONTROL
Admin relevance tools
Weighting, synonyms, pins and exclusions.
GROWTH
Content-gap intelligence
Failed searches guide content investment.

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START WITH THE PROBLEM
Have a product, store or digital experience that needs clearer thinking?
I help SaaS founders, Shopify brands and agencies diagnose friction, design better journeys and deliver interfaces that can actually be built.
Start a project
→
Book a UX audit
→

UX · PRODUCT · SHOPIFY · DEVELOPMENT
I solve usability problems before they become business problems — connecting UX, product thinking and build-ready delivery.
Available for selected remote projects
© 2026 Steve Roberts / ME&CO. All rights reserved.