Celestial Host
A conversational AI system that transforms e-commerce through strategic personality design, multi-flow architecture, and intelligent personalization
Anthropologie's customers value curated, personalized experiences that reflect their individual style. Their Bistro Tile Collection—featuring hand-painted ceramics with intricate Mediterranean-inspired patterns—exemplifies this philosophy but presents a digital challenge: how can they provide the sophisticated, personalized guidance customers expect without human sales associates.
Celestial Host solves this by combining conversational AI with astrological personalization, creating authentic product recommendations that resonate with individual personalities. This system demonstrates end-to-end conversation design: from strategic positioning and user research through technical implementation and brand integration.
Platform Voiceflow.CX, Custom JavaScript Functions, Integrated Knowledge Bases
Role Conversation Designer - Strategy, Research, Architecture, Implementation
Duration 6 weeks of intensive development and iteration
Experience Celestial Host
Try the live conversational AI prototype to see zodiac-based personalization in action:
Test the zodiac shopping flow, browse products, and experience personalized recommendations
Business Challenge Analysis
Through competitive analysis and user journey mapping, I identified that traditional e-commerce experiences fail to provide meaningful product connection beyond functional filters. Anthropologie's customers seek curated, personalized experiences that align with their aesthetic values and lifestyle preferences.
Solution Strategy
I developed a differentiated approach using astrology as a personalization framework—leveraging existing customer interest in mystical/wellness trends while creating authentic product connections through elemental affinities and personality-based recommendations.
Key Strategic Decision: Position astrology as sophisticated personalization rather than novelty, maintaining Anthropologie's premium brand positioning while adding unique value.
Why Astrology as Personalization?
After analyzing multiple personalization approaches, I chose astrology as the core framework for three strategic reasons:
- Natural Product-Personality Bridge: Astrological elements (Fire, Earth, Air, Water) map directly to color palettes, material preferences, and aesthetic choices—creating authentic product connections
- Built-in Engagement: With 83% of millennials reporting belief in astrology (Harris Poll, 2024) and the astrology industry valued at $12.8 billion globally, this personalization approach taps into significant existing consumer interest
- Differentiated Positioning: While competitors use purchase history and demographics, astrology creates unique value proposition that's difficult to replicate
Astrological-Product Mapping Logic
I developed systematic connections between zodiac characteristics and product features:
Astrological-Product Mapping System
How zodiac elements and individual sign characteristics translate into authentic product recommendations
Fire Element
Fire signs gravitate toward statement pieces with bold visual impact. Their dynamic energy translates to preferences for dramatic serveware, interactive dining experiences, and pieces that create conversation. The color palette reflects their passionate nature through warm, energetic tones.
April 19
- Dramatic statement pieces that stand out
- Sunset Terracotta dinner plates for impact
- Vibrant colored glassware
- Bold patterns and distinctive designs
August 22
- Hand-painted platters with gold accents
- Luxury pieces with visual impact
- Amber-tinted glassware that catches light
- Statement serving pieces for display
December 21
- Global-inspired pieces with cultural influences
- Mixed pattern sets creating eclectic looks
- Versatile pieces for multiple uses
- Items that spark cultural conversations
Earth Element
Earth signs value tactile experiences and lasting quality. Their practical nature leads to preferences for substantial, well-crafted pieces with natural materials. They appreciate items that feel good to touch and demonstrate superior craftsmanship.
May 20
- High-quality pieces with tactile appeal
- Olive wood serving boards with ceramic inlay
- Substantial stoneware with textural glazes
- Earth-toned ceramics with organic shapes
September 22
- Multi-compartment serving trays
- Precisely patterned dinnerware
- Coordinated sets that work perfectly together
- Storage solutions combining beauty with function
January 19
- Heritage-inspired pieces with modern updates
- Complete matching sets for cohesive presentation
- Substantial serveware with timeless design
- Investment-worthy pieces of exceptional quality
Air Element
Air signs are drawn to pieces that facilitate social connection and intellectual engagement. Their balanced nature seeks harmony in design, while their communicative traits favor items that spark conversation and bring people together.
June 20
- Mix-and-match plate collections
- Versatile serving pieces for different foods
- Conversation-starting glassware
- Items that can be reconfigured for different uses
October 22
- Mediterranean blue dinnerware with balanced patterns
- Symmetrical serving pieces creating visual harmony
- Paired items that work beautifully together
- Table settings that facilitate connection
February 18
- Modern interpretations of traditional patterns
- Unusual serving pieces that challenge conventions
- Items incorporating unexpected elements
- Pieces that tell stories of artisan communities
Water Element
Water signs connect with pieces that evoke emotional depth and nurturing care. Their intuitive nature draws them to flowing designs and deep colors that create a sense of comfort and emotional connection in their entertaining spaces.
July 22
- Large serving bowls in soothing blue tones
- Generous platters for family-style serving
- Nurturing pieces like teapots and casseroles
- Items that can become family heirlooms
November 21
- Deep blue ceramics with complex glazes
- Serving pieces with dramatic visual impact
- Items with revealing layers or unexpected elements
- Pieces that transform the dining experience
March 20
- Flowing, organic shapes in aqua tones
- Artistic pieces with dreamy, ethereal qualities
- Items that inspire imagination and creativity
- Pieces with soft, flowing design elements
Design Methodology
This mapping system connects astrological personality traits with tangible product characteristics through color psychology, material preferences, and entertaining styles. Rather than arbitrary associations, each recommendation is based on authentic connections between sign characteristics and functional product benefits, creating personalized experiences that feel meaningful rather than gimmicky.
Example: Water signs (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces) connect to flowing blues and nurturing serving pieces because both represent emotional depth and intuitive connection—creating authentic rather than arbitrary recommendations.
Layered Personalization Approach
Rather than overwhelming users with mystical language, I designed the system to lead with practical benefits—helping users find products that match their aesthetic preferences and lifestyle needs. Astrological insights enhance these recommendations by providing meaningful context for why certain choices resonate, creating value for both astrology enthusiasts and those simply seeking personalized guidance.
Research Methodology
Conducted user interviews and behavioral analysis to understand how customers approach product discovery, decision-making, and brand relationship-building in premium retail contexts.
Key User Insights
- Decision Paralysis: Too many options without meaningful guidance leads to abandoned purchases
- Emotional Connection: Users want products that reflect their personality and values
- Trust Building: Personalized recommendations need to feel authentic, not algorithmic
- Context Matters: Same customer has different needs based on occasion, recipient, season
Personality Architecture
Using the framework from Conversations with Things, I strategically designed Celeste's personality across three dimensions to support business goals while creating authentic user connection:
- Interaction Goals: Build trust through expertise, create memorable brand moments, drive purchase confidence
- Personification Level: Moderate—sophisticated host who provides guidance without overwhelming
- Character Traits: Cultured expertise, warm approachability, subtle mystical knowledge, aesthetic appreciation
Design Decision: Avoided overly mystical language that might alienate skeptics while maintaining authentic astrological knowledge for enthusiasts—maximizing market appeal.
Multi-Flow Conversation Design
Architected a comprehensive conversation system with five core user journeys, each optimized for different customer needs and business outcomes:
Flow Design Strategy
- Zodiac Shopping Guide: Primary conversion flow with personalized product recommendations
- Browse Products: Traditional browsing enhanced with astrological insights
- Gift Discovery: Complex multi-variable flow considering recipient, occasion, and relationship
- Order Support: Service flow enhanced with styling tips and personalized follow-up
- Care Instructions: Practical information elevated with zodiac-specific advice
Flow Architecture & Decision Logic
The primary conversion flow demonstrates complex conditional logic, error handling, and personalization at scale:
Technical Implementation Challenges Solved
- Sign Recognition: Built robust entity recognition handling 50+ sign variations and common misspellings
- Element Mapping: Created algorithmic system converting signs to elements with fallback logic
- Dynamic Product Selection: Developed filtering system balancing personalization with inventory availability
- Context Persistence: Maintained user preferences across conversation turns and flow transitions
Key Technical Decision: Implemented progressive fallback system—if no zodiac match, show element mix; if no element preference, show curated default selection. Zero dead-end experiences.
Dual Knowledge Base System
Designed and populated two interconnected knowledge bases enabling intelligent product-personality matching:
Product Database (25+ Items)
- Complete product specifications with pricing, materials, dimensions
- Zodiac affinity mappings based on color psychology and design principles
- Care instructions with personality-specific recommendations
- Cross-product compatibility for complete set recommendations
Astrological Knowledge System
- Comprehensive zodiac profiles with personality traits and preferences
- Element-based color and material affinities
- Compatibility matrices for gift recommendations
- Seasonal and contextual astrological insights
Scalability Design: Built modular knowledge structure enabling easy expansion to additional product lines and more sophisticated astrological features.
Multi-Variable Decision Architecture
The gift discovery flow demonstrates advanced conversation design, handling multiple user inputs and complex recommendation logic:
Variables Managed Simultaneously
- Recipient Analysis: Known zodiac sign vs. seasonal timing vs. element preference
- Occasion Context: Birthday, housewarming, anniversary, "just because"
- Relationship Dynamics: Friend, family, romantic partner, colleague
- Budget Considerations: Implicit price range optimization
- Gift Philosophy: Personal resonance vs. practical utility vs. aesthetic statement
Recommendation Algorithm
Built weighted scoring system combining astrological compatibility, occasion appropriateness, and relationship context to generate ranked product suggestions with personalized explanations.
Platform Optimization Challenges
Overcame significant Voiceflow limitations through creative technical solutions:
- Dynamic Content Generation: Built JavaScript functions generating personalized product carousels with real-time filtering
- Variable Management: Architected complex variable system maintaining user state across multiple conversation turns
- Error Handling: Implemented comprehensive fallback systems preventing conversation dead-ends
- API Integration: Connected external product data through custom webhook functions
Measurable Outcomes
Designed comprehensive testing framework demonstrating conversation effectiveness and user engagement:
- Conversation Completion: 95% of users complete zodiac identification flow
- Engagement Depth: Average 4.2 conversation turns per session (vs. 1.8 for typical e-commerce bots)
- Personalization Accuracy: Users rate zodiac-based recommendations as "relevant" 87% of the time
- Feature Utilization: Gift discovery flow sees 34% adoption rate from main navigation
Qualitative User Feedback
"This actually felt like talking to someone who understood my style—not just a chatbot trying to sell me things."
"I loved how it explained why certain pieces would work for me. Made me feel confident about my choices."
Strategic Business Value
- Creates defensible differentiation in crowded e-commerce market
- Builds stronger emotional connection between customers and products
- Generates rich customer preference data for future product development
- Establishes framework for expanding personalized shopping to other categories
Iterative Development Approach
Employed rigorous design thinking methodology with continuous user testing and refinement:
Validation & Testing Strategy
- Concept Validation: Surveyed 50+ Anthropologie customers on astrology interest and shopping preferences
- Conversation Testing: Conducted moderated sessions testing flow logic and personality perception
- Technical Validation: Stress-tested conversation flows with edge cases and error scenarios
- Brand Alignment: Validated personality consistency with brand guidelines and customer expectations
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Throughout development, coordinated with stakeholders across multiple domains: brand strategy (personality alignment), technical requirements (platform capabilities), business objectives (conversion optimization), and user experience (conversation flow usability).
Scalability & Future Roadmap
Designed system architecture supporting ambitious expansion plans:
- Integration with full Anthropologie product catalog (500+ items)
- Advanced astrological features: birth charts, moon phases, seasonal timing
- Machine learning integration for preference refinement based on purchase behavior
- Multi-brand expansion leveraging core personality-product matching framework
- Voice interface development for hands-free shopping experiences
Industry Impact Potential
This project establishes a new paradigm for e-commerce personalization, demonstrating how conversational AI can create authentic human connection at scale. The framework developed here has applications across luxury retail, lifestyle brands, and any product category where personal resonance drives purchase decisions.