A system and method for content creation based on a mixed-initiative approach includes an interface configured to allow a user to access and interact with a generation module to assist in the creation of a media project based on media from a media database. The generation module is configured to receive user-selected media and retrieve a set of related media and populate and organize the media project with the user-selected media and related media. For example, in the case of a photo book project, the generation module is configured to automatically identify a set of images associated with a user-selected image and populate a corresponding page of the photo book with the user-selected image and set of associated images in a corresponding layout, having the user-selected image most prominently depicted. The generation module provides the user with a preview of a generated page for evaluation and manual user editing.