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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.

ABOUT

UX CONSULTANT

UX RESEARCH

UI & GRAPHICS

SOFTWARE

PORTFOLIO

RESOURCES

BOOKS

BLOG

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.