Overview
YSIOS Prints was a lean digital product experiment combining AI image generation, scalable operations, and platform UX. By leveraging MidJourney, Etsy, and streamlined workflows, the project achieved 32 sales with a 93% profit margin.
Case Summary
Product Vision:
To test whether AI-generated imagery could be transformed into a scalable digital product that generated passive income while I pursued my UX studies.
Discovered User Problem:
Buyers on Etsy were seeking affordable, high-quality artwork to download and print at home. The new ability to generate copyright-free, high-fidelity imagery with AI opened a gap: quickly supplying an endless variety of digital art PDFs at scale.
Outcomes:
32 sales.
Achieved 93% profit margin.
Built an automated production pipeline combining design, delegation, and platform distribution.
Process Highlights
Product Team
Myself + one trained assistant abroad.
My Responsibilities
Business concept, product design (mockups, branding, store layout), image generation, workflow system setup, competitor research.
Methodology
Rapid experimentation with high-volume Etsy listings to identify demand patterns. Competitor benchmarking for store UX, product descriptions, and presentation styles.
Project Plan
Research competitors on Etsy.
Generate high-quality animal imagery using MidJourney.
Design branded presentation mockups for store listings.
Build production workflow (Google Drive, Sheets, Photoshop template).
Train assistant to produce PDFs and upload listings.
Monitor sales and refine based on buyer behavior.
Discovery and Ideation
The idea was sparked not by spotting a specific “gap” but by exploring how to monetise AI outputs. After researching on YouTube, I validated that PDF art downloads were already a thriving category on Etsy. The opportunity was clear: high-quality, copyright-free AI art could be quickly scaled to meet buyer demand.
Idea Prioritisation
Must-have: Generate copyright-free, high-quality imagery quickly.
Should-have: Present artwork in aspirational mockups (e.g., framed in homes).
Could-have: Automate listing processes with shared spreadsheets + templates.
Won’t-have (yet): Custom commissions or physical prints, as they required higher overhead.
Prototyping
Prototype 1: Generated animal images with MidJourney.
Prototype 2: Created branded mockup presentations to contextualise artwork for buyers.
Prototype 3: Uploaded initial listings to Etsy and monitored sales performance.
Prototype 4: Iterated based on competitor analysis and early buyer behavior.
Outcomes
User Impact: Provided customers with affordable, high-quality printable art in multiple sizes.
Business Impact: 32 sales over the course on the venture at a 93% profit margin, demonstrating strong product-market fit and scalability.
Operational Efficiency: Delegation to an overseas assistant allowed 24/7 workflow - I generated images by day, and listings were posted overnight.
Professional Growth: Learned how to build lean, scalable digital product systems using AI, cloud storage, spreadsheets, and collaborative workflows.
