Show work as it happens
The assistant takes a while. What does the person see in the meantime?
Show each step as it happens, so waiting feels like progress and not a stall.
Try it
Checking which hotels are close to the station and under budget.
Look up the hotels
active- 2
Compare prices
todo - 3
Pick the best fit
todo
How to design it
- 1
Start right away
Show something within a moment, even if it is only "Thinking".
- 2
Name each step
Say what the assistant is doing now, in everyday words.
- 3
Keep details folded
Let curious people open the details. Everyone else sees one calm line.
- 4
Mark the finish
When it is done, the steps settle into a short summary.
Do and avoid
Do
- Show which step is active and which are left.
- Let words appear as they are written.
- Keep the layout still so text does not jump.
- Offer a Stop button during long work.
Avoid
- Do not show a blank screen.
- Do not use a spinner with no words for long waits.
- Do not flood people with every detail.
Why it works
A wait with no sign of life feels longer than it is, and people start to wonder if something broke. Seeing steady progress gives them a reason to be patient and lets them catch a wrong turn early.