This series was part of Xero’s new in-product onboarding experience, created to help new users get started quickly and confidently. The three Guided Setup videos appear within the product as part of the “task zone,” guiding users through essential setup tasks.
The goal was to drive faster task completion, excite users about the product, and support conversion by making the content clear, approachable, and engaging. I led the creative direction and production for the series, developing the concept, storyboards, and visual style.
The visual direction, called Guided Focus, simplifies complex workflows by highlighting only the most important details of the Xero interface, supported by complementary AI visuals that bring the story to life. Using the fictional company Foxglove Studios, I created realistic, relatable business scenarios with bright, energetic animation and sound design.
Here we explore the interaction between real-world elements and Xero, moving beyond a sole focus on the user interface. We look at how products appear as they’re hovered over, and how they flow seamlessly into Xero.
This scene transforms the contact list into a tangible group of individuals, showing how real people connect directly to the invoicing process. It turns abstract data into something familiar, human, and easy to understand.
The Guided Focus approach was developed to make learning Xero’s workflows feel simple, intuitive, and engaging. Each scene focuses only on the essentials, showing users exactly what they need to see.
By simplifying the interface and removing unnecessary details, the visuals highlight key actions and outcomes without overwhelming the viewer. Buttons, layouts, and UI components remain in their correct positions, so the learning experience still feels authentic - even as the real product evolves.
AI tools played a key role in supporting this flexibility. They allow us to create any supporting visuals or scenarios we need without being tied to a fixed illustration set. This approach makes it faster to iterate across multiple topics and scenarios while keeping the tone consistent and the content scalable.
