Multi-edit feature
01. Preface
Project Overview
Project Type
Personal /
Solo Conceptual Project
Responsibilities
User research, Wireframing,
Prototyping, usability testing,
and Product research
Timeline
1 week sprint
Introduction
Picture a cluttered ChatGPT history, where deleting outdated conversations one by one eats away at your time, or worse, a single “delete all” button wipes out everything you might need. As a frequent ChatGPT user I couldn’t ignore this frustration anymore. I set out to create a solution for users to have more control over how they manage their chatlist.
The Design Challenge
Improve the efficiency of chat management in ChatGPT by designing a multi-edit feature that allows users to select and manage multiple conversations simultaneously. Create a design that remains consistent across mobile, web, and desktop platforms.
Constraints on the Challenge
The solution must closely mirror the design decisions of the ChatGPT
UX team.
The solution must adhere to OpenAI’s core values of design.
02. The Problem
"Delete all"
ChatGPT users suffer with an inefficient process of managing their chat history. Currently the process of managing chats looks like this, Delete all chats all at once or delete them one by one, one at a time.
Delete-all
The same across all platforms
Single Chat deletion
the same across all platforms
The Problem (continued)
Extensions only help
for web browser.
While third-party browser extensions are the current solution, they’re limited to web browsers only, leaving mobile and desktop app users unsupported. Some extension providers require payment, while some introduce setup complexity or security risks.
03. The Solution
Built into the existing user interface
across all platforms.
ChatGPT chat management is now a reality. Introducing a sleek multi-edit feature allowing users to control what chats get specifically deleted. Improving the functionality and efficiency of the user interface and user journey for chat management .
Minimal design across all platforms.
A simple tap or click makes the editing bar appear. No clunky setup, no third party extensions, just a built in feature to make editing a chatlist effortless.
Safely delete, by controlling your data.
A final confirmation step before deletion prevents accidental irreversible data loss. Users have a safeguard with a familiar design pattern of conformations before action.
04. the Process
How I got there.
05. Initial research
Maybe its just me?
Heuristic evaluation
My heuristic evaluation revealed a key usability issue in ChatGPT's chat management: users consistently lack sufficient control and efficiency when managing their chat history. The only options are a tedious one-by-one deletion process or a drastic 'Delete all' function buried within the settings menu.
06. SECONDARY research
Let the Users Vent!
My secondary research within Reddit and OpenAI Developer forums immediately confirmed a critical insight. This multi-edit feature isn't just a "nice to have", it's a deeply desired and consistently requested feature within the ChatGPT user community.
07. Primary research
Lets Talk to The People
My primary research involved brief interviews with 5 ChatGPT users, ranging from tech-savvy builders to heavy researchers and everyday users relying on it as a search engine.
Here are the results
2/5
Interviewees
Used third-party extensions to manage or bulk-delete conversations.
All 5
Interviewees
Said they’d welcome a built in solution allowing them
to delete multiple chats
at once.
4/5
Interviewees
Found deleting multiple older chats felt like a task rather than a experience.
Highlighted user quote:
"Deleting chats one by one? It's ridiculously time-consuming! Scrolling through an endless history feed just to clean things up is a huge waste of time, they can
just pile up."
08. competitive analysis
Do other AI platforms have
this feature?
After extensive competitive analysis research through all of the mainstream popular chatbots.
I reached a dead end…No AI chatbot has this feature in their user interface!
So Now What?
Pivoting to a productivity lens, I studied Notion’s clean, intuitive interface and Gmail’s efficient email selection tools, which informed my approach to simplicity and familiarity.
09. insights
Lets Connect the Dots
Based on Primary & Secondary research I established 3 main personas
Key Insights
01.
Time-Consuming Deletions
Heavy users may generate dozens of chats per day. Deleting them one by one is cumbersome.
02.
ChatGPT as a Search Engine
Casual users frequently start new chats for each query, resulting in a cluttered list.
03.
Extension Friction
Some users turn to browser extensions for bulk deletions, but when it comes to mobile or macOS these aren’t available. These tools break with updates and feel disjointed from ChatGPT’s ecosystem.
04.
Desire for Simplicity
Across the board, users valued ChatGPT’s minimal design and wanted a built-in, straightforward solution.
10. Goals
Perfect Planning Prevents
Poor Performance
Design Goals
Goal 1
Introduce an “Edit” or “Manage Chats” option that’s easy to spot but blends into the UI.
Goal 2
Keep friction low, a single action to trigger bulk deletion, plus a final confirmation step.
Goal 3
Respect the existing UI aesthetic, so the feature feels natural rather than a bolted-on hack.
Goal 4
Accessible to All Users and platforms! Create one solution that will fit into each platform.
User & Business Goals
User
The goal is to allow users to have more control over their chat list without creating unnecessary complexity in the current
user experience.
Business
Since currently no AI chatbot on the market has this feature, the a business goal is to put ChatGPT ahead of the competitors by adding a unique highly requested feature.
11. Crazy 8's
Quick sketches.
I did one round of crazy 8's to workout and include all of the insights and design goals. I did the 8's not only for mobile but also for web and desktop.
12. first Iteration (Lo-fi)
The Dropdown Menu isn’t what I thought.
My initial design iteration explored a drop-down "Edit" menu, a familiar pattern from email interfaces. This concept aimed for quick access with the edit option triggering checkbox displays alongside chats. However, feedback from users indicated this approach felt misaligned with Chatgpt. Recognizing this, I returned to the drawing board, seeking inspiration again from Notion and Gmail to better understand alternative UX patterns for list management.
13. Final design
Less is more.
Users can now manage their chat history with ease, thanks to a new 'Edit' button in the sidebar, placed right by the chat list for quick access. Tapping it reveals checkboxes for selecting multiple conversations and a simple bar for 'Select All' or deleting. The design feels familiar, making chat management intuitive and hassle-free.
Simplicity is key.
Problem
Users struggle with time-consuming,
one-by-one chat deletions in ChatGPT.
Solution
Designed a seamless multi-delete
feature for effortless chat management
in ChatGPT.
Impact
Enhances ChatGPT user experience by streamlining chat organization and reducing frustration.
A Solution for All Platforms
Problem
Existing multi-delete extensions for ChatGPT solve the problem only on the web, creating a platform gap.
Solution
Close the platform gap in ChatGPT chat management by offering equal functionality across all platforms.
Impact
Designed a truly cross-platform multi-delete feature, available on web, mobile, and desktop.
14. IMpact
Personal Projects Have Impact To!
User Feedback
I followed up with my original interviewees and included Reddit users to test the final design. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Users described the multi-edit feature as intuitively simple and remarkably familiar, drawing parallels to established deletion patterns in apps like Apple's Messages and Gmail.
My Feedback
I believe this multi-edit feature is more than just a response to user requests; it's a strategic opportunity for ChatGPT to distinguish itself in a competitive chatbot landscape. While the industry emphasizes raw model capabilities, this feature positions ChatGPT as the platform that truly values user experience and workflow efficiency. Ultimately, users gravitate towards tools that not only meet their needs but also seamlessly enhance their productivity and simplify their daily interactions.
15. Closing
Lots of Battles Scars
From This Project!
Key Lesson Learned
Sometimes in UX design, you just have to know when to 'let go' for the greater good of the project. Designing this ChatGPT feature in Figma, I really got caught up wanting to add logic way beyond just variables. Then I had to 'snap back to reality' and realize – I was trying to build a whole app, not a prototype for a case study! As a perfectionist (trust me, I went down every rabbit hole!), I learned it's always better to deliver your best work and get the job done, rather than show up empty-handed with excuses.
Biggest Takeaway
In today's UX landscape, competitive analysis are not just beneficial – it's essential. The sheer volume of well-designed digital products provides an unparalleled resource for actionable insights. By strategically analyzing existing solutions, designers can extract proven patterns, learn from successes (and failures), and ultimately, create more informed and effective designs.
Matthew
heard