Honestly, this seems kind of underwhelming flavorfully. Nothing about investing? How about replacing the search ability with "At the beginning of your upkeep, invest up to one target artifact you control." And then the second ability "1U, Tap an untapped artifact you control and remove a charge counter from that artifact: Draw a card."

Well, Navani says she's less of an actual fabrial engineer, and more of a patron for the ardents and artifabrians she works with. She's kind of like a project manager, or something to that effect. She's less involved in the nitty-gritty of fabrial creation, and more acquainted with the broader concepts. My reasoning behind the abilities is she is not as involved with the artifact mechanics themselves, and more useful in establishing a stronger artifact base.

Maybe then something like a cost reduction? For whatever reason, the first ability isn't clicking for me.

That would work. How would you want to execute the reduction? Would it work for just artifacts, or artifacts and artificers as well?

Probably both. Maybe "As long as you control a permanent with a counter on it, artifact and Artificer spells you cast cost less to cast."

I added an ability that allows her to self-enable. Would that be overpowered?

Probably. Could take the draw ability down to and scratch the self-enablement.

Well, I'm just worried it would be too parasitic without the self enablement. You would need a fairly strong counter infrastructure to make it work.

I think it's fine. Counters aren't particularly rare in the game, and the second ability is already strong.

Alrighty then.

Idea... a cycle of rares that fit both enemy-color archetypes of that color? (i.e. this fits artifacts and is enabled by counters)

That would be cool.