Bridge
Bridge
Bridge
Enabling Seamless Conversations
Enabling Seamless Conversations
Enabling Seamless Conversations
The Problem
Individuals with who don’t use their voice encounter difficulties when trying to engage in face-to-face conversations.
The Problem
Individuals with who don’t use their voice encounter difficulties when trying to engage in face-to-face conversations.
The Problem
Individuals with who don’t use their voice encounter difficulties when trying to engage in face-to-face conversations.
Overview
💡️
Proposed a new product concept aimed at enhancing communication accessibility within Sorenson's user base.
🤨
Prioritized understanding user challenges before delving into development, ensuring a grounded and resource-efficient approach.
🤳
Engaged in hands-on usability testing to gauge the practicality and user interest in the Bridge concept.
🧑💻
Currently navigating the initial phases of development for Bridge, the project represents a step towards a more inclusive communication landscape.
💡️
Proposed a new product concept aimed at enhancing communication accessibility within Sorenson's user base.
🤨
Prioritized understanding user challenges before delving into development, ensuring a grounded and resource-efficient approach.
🤳
Engaged in hands-on usability testing to gauge the practicality and user interest in the Bridge concept.
🧑💻
Currently navigating the initial phases of development for Bridge, the project represents a step towards a more inclusive communication landscape.
💡️
Proposed a new product concept aimed at enhancing communication accessibility within Sorenson's user base.
🤨
Prioritized understanding user challenges before delving into development, ensuring a grounded and resource-efficient approach.
🤳
Engaged in hands-on usability testing to gauge the practicality and user interest in the Bridge concept.
🧑💻
Currently navigating the initial phases of development for Bridge, the project represents a step towards a more inclusive communication landscape.
💡️
Proposed a new product concept aimed at enhancing communication accessibility within Sorenson's user base.
🤨
Prioritized understanding user challenges before delving into development, ensuring a grounded and resource-efficient approach.
🤳
Engaged in hands-on usability testing to gauge the practicality and user interest in the Bridge concept.
🧑💻
Currently navigating the initial phases of development for Bridge, the project represents a step towards a more inclusive communication landscape.
💡️
Proposed a new product concept aimed at enhancing communication accessibility within Sorenson's user base.
🤨
Prioritized understanding user challenges before delving into development, ensuring a grounded and resource-efficient approach.
🤳
Engaged in hands-on usability testing to gauge the practicality and user interest in the Bridge concept.
🧑💻
Currently navigating the initial phases of development for Bridge, the project represents a step towards a more inclusive communication landscape.
💡️
Proposed a new product concept aimed at enhancing communication accessibility within Sorenson's user base.
🤨
Prioritized understanding user challenges before delving into development, ensuring a grounded and resource-efficient approach.
🤳
Engaged in hands-on usability testing to gauge the practicality and user interest in the Bridge concept.
🧑💻
Currently navigating the initial phases of development for Bridge, the project represents a step towards a more inclusive communication landscape.
💡️
Proposed a new product concept aimed at enhancing communication accessibility within Sorenson's user base.
🤨
Prioritized understanding user challenges before delving into development, ensuring a grounded and resource-efficient approach.
🤳
Engaged in hands-on usability testing to gauge the practicality and user interest in the Bridge concept.
🧑💻
Currently navigating the initial phases of development for Bridge, the project represents a step towards a more inclusive communication landscape.
💡️
Proposed a new product concept aimed at enhancing communication accessibility within Sorenson's user base.
🤨
Prioritized understanding user challenges before delving into development, ensuring a grounded and resource-efficient approach.
🤳
Engaged in hands-on usability testing to gauge the practicality and user interest in the Bridge concept.
🧑💻
Currently navigating the initial phases of development for Bridge, the project represents a step towards a more inclusive communication landscape.
💡️
Proposed a new product concept aimed at enhancing communication accessibility within Sorenson's user base.
🤨
Prioritized understanding user challenges before delving into development, ensuring a grounded and resource-efficient approach.
🤳
Engaged in hands-on usability testing to gauge the practicality and user interest in the Bridge concept.
🧑💻
Currently navigating the initial phases of development for Bridge, the project represents a step towards a more inclusive communication landscape.
💡️
Proposed a new product concept aimed at enhancing communication accessibility within Sorenson's user base.
🤨
Prioritized understanding user challenges before delving into development, ensuring a grounded and resource-efficient approach.
🤳
Engaged in hands-on usability testing to gauge the practicality and user interest in the Bridge concept.
🧑💻
Currently navigating the initial phases of development for Bridge, the project represents a step towards a more inclusive communication landscape.
💡️
Proposed a new product concept aimed at enhancing communication accessibility within Sorenson's user base.
🤨
Prioritized understanding user challenges before delving into development, ensuring a grounded and resource-efficient approach.
🤳
Engaged in hands-on usability testing to gauge the practicality and user interest in the Bridge concept.
🧑💻
Currently navigating the initial phases of development for Bridge, the project represents a step towards a more inclusive communication landscape.
💡️
Proposed a new product concept aimed at enhancing communication accessibility within Sorenson's user base.
🤨
Prioritized understanding user challenges before delving into development, ensuring a grounded and resource-efficient approach.
🤳
Engaged in hands-on usability testing to gauge the practicality and user interest in the Bridge concept.
🧑💻
Currently navigating the initial phases of development for Bridge, the project represents a step towards a more inclusive communication landscape.
🧐
You're probably wondering how Bridge works.
Let’s take a look!
🧐
You're probably wondering how Bridge works.
Let’s take a look!
Type Your Thoughts. Users can effortlessly express themselves through typing, receiving real-time captions of spoken words, all conveniently gathered in a single interface.
Type Your Thoughts. Users can effortlessly express themselves through typing, receiving real-time captions of spoken words, all conveniently gathered in a single interface.
Empowering Expression. When words need to be heard, our platform offers the power of text-to-speech.
Empowering Expression. When words need to be heard, our platform offers the power of text-to-speech.
Never lose a thread of conversation. Users can navigate through their interaction history, providing the ability to revisit and resume past discussions.
Never lose a thread of conversation. Users can navigate through their interaction history, providing the ability to revisit and resume past discussions.
My Role
I'm the only designer working on this product, and I've got a pretty hands-on role with Bridge. I pitched the idea to the company and took charge of the research and testing phase, working closely with our UX Researcher, Valeriia Koltsova, to lay the groundwork before development kicked off.
I'm the only designer working on this product, and I've got a pretty hands-on role with Bridge. I pitched the idea to the company and took charge of the research and testing phase, working closely with our UX Researcher, Valeriia Koltsova, to lay the groundwork before development kicked off.
The Core Team
Dallin Green
UX Designer
Valeriia Koltsova
Lead Researcher
Dallin Green
UX Designer
Valeriia Koltsova
Lead Researcher
Letitia Shotlow
Product Manager
Dmitri Eryomin
Lead Developer
Letitia Shotlow
Product Manager
Dmitri Eryomin
Lead Developer
Proposing a New Product
As a member of Sorenson’s Incubation Team, our goal is to find new problems to solve and provide a solution that can hopefully turn into a new product for Sorenson.
As a member of Sorenson’s Incubation Team, our goal is to find new problems to solve and provide a solution that can hopefully turn into a new product for Sorenson.
The idea for this product struck me while watching a stand-up comedian who couldn't use his voice due to a medical condition. It caught my attention how time-consuming it was for him to type everything out, and the voice from his device didn't sound natural. Looking into the market, I was surprised to find a gap—lots of transcription and captioning tools, plus text-to-speech apps like Speechify, but none that combine both.
The idea for this product struck me while watching a stand-up comedian who couldn't use his voice due to a medical condition. It caught my attention how time-consuming it was for him to type everything out, and the voice from his device didn't sound natural. Looking into the market, I was surprised to find a gap—lots of transcription and captioning tools, plus text-to-speech apps like Speechify, but none that combine both.
Click Here for the Kill Tony Version (what I was actually watching)
Click Here for the Kill Tony Version (what I was actually watching)
Considering Sorenson’s user base (deaf and hard of hearing), I thought about how they might benefit. Many can speak but often avoid it due to potential misunderstandings. That led me to hypothesize that Sorenson’s use base may find this product useful to express themselves and understand others better through captions.
Considering Sorenson’s user base (deaf and hard of hearing), I thought about how they might benefit. Many can speak but often avoid it due to potential misunderstandings. That led me to hypothesize that Sorenson’s use base may find this product useful to express themselves and understand others better through captions.
Thought Vomit
Rather than keeping this product concept in my head, I turned to a product called MindNode that allowed me to vomit all of my thoughts out into a little tree that made it look pretty and be better understood by others.
This made it easier for me to share and eventually put together a product write-up, explaining the assumed problem and possible solution to share with the Incubation Team.
Rather than keeping this product concept in my head, I turned to a product called MindNode that allowed me to vomit all of my thoughts out into a little tree that made it look pretty and be better understood by others.
This made it easier for me to share and eventually put together a product write-up, explaining the assumed problem and possible solution to share with the Incubation Team.
Initial MindNode
Initial MindNode
Competitor Research
Competitor Research
The team was on board with my direction, but we needed to dive into market research. Not much was out there, but there were a few players like Ava, Big, and Cardzilla. Ava had a similar setup with TTS and STT but got flak for accuracy and the interface. Big and Cardzilla are basic, letting users type and displaying it in large text. While lacking TTS or STT, these are favored by non-speakers for communication.
Analyzing competitors' pros and cons guides us in figuring out our space in this market.
The team was on board with my direction, but we needed to dive into market research. Not much was out there, but there were a few players like Ava, Big, and Cardzilla. Ava had a similar setup with TTS and STT but got flak for accuracy and the interface. Big and Cardzilla are basic, letting users type and displaying it in large text. While lacking TTS or STT, these are favored by non-speakers for communication.
Analyzing competitors' pros and cons guides us in figuring out our space in this market.
Competitor Research FigJam
Competitor Research FigJam
Validating the Problem
Armed with a deeper market understanding, our next step was to validate whether this problem was genuinely widespread. To do this, we created a survey probing into the communication habits of deaf individuals in face-to-face interactions.
We aimed to unravel how they currently navigate communication, pinpointing existing problems. The survey, which garnered around 50 responses, shed light on the current state of problem-solving methods and the satisfaction levels with those approaches. Here's what we uncovered:
Armed with a deeper market understanding, our next step was to validate whether this problem was genuinely widespread. To do this, we created a survey probing into the communication habits of deaf individuals in face-to-face interactions.
We aimed to unravel how they currently navigate communication, pinpointing existing problems. The survey, which garnered around 50 responses, shed light on the current state of problem-solving methods and the satisfaction levels with those approaches. Here's what we uncovered:
Initial Designs
Our initial research solidified the reality of this problem, signaling it's time to roll up our sleeves and craft a solution. My usual approach kicks off by drawing inspiration from similar products, aligning with Jakob’s Law to create a user experience that feels familiar.
Leveraging insights from competitor research and our problem validation, we steered the initial iterations of Bridge.
Our initial research solidified the reality of this problem, signaling it's time to roll up our sleeves and craft a solution. My usual approach kicks off by drawing inspiration from similar products, aligning with Jakob’s Law to create a user experience that feels familiar.
Leveraging insights from competitor research and our problem validation, we steered the initial iterations of Bridge.
Different Screen Sizes
Different Screen Sizes
Keyboard Action Iteration
Keyboard Action Iteration
Layout Exploration
Layout Exploration
Additionally, weaving in references to existing Sorenson products was crucial for maintaining consistency, anticipating that many Bridge users would likely engage with other Sorenson apps.
Additionally, weaving in references to existing Sorenson products was crucial for maintaining consistency, anticipating that many Bridge users would likely engage with other Sorenson apps.
Usability Testing
Usability Testing
Validating the Solution
Validating the Solution
Now that we've got a potential solution in hand, it's time to get some real-world feedback. Our approach involved giving testers free rein to explore the product, sharing their thoughts as they navigated. We also threw a few scenarios their way to gauge how intuitive the experience is.
Now that we've got a potential solution in hand, it's time to get some real-world feedback. Our approach involved giving testers free rein to explore the product, sharing their thoughts as they navigated. We also threw a few scenarios their way to gauge how intuitive the experience is.
Given that our prototype involved both microphone and keyboard use, it wasn't a perfect example of the experience.
Given that our prototype involved both microphone and keyboard use, it wasn't a perfect example of the experience.
Still, we did our best by creating a semi-functional keyboard and displaying responses. Here are some key takeaways:
Still, we did our best by creating a semi-functional keyboard and displaying responses. Here are some key takeaways:
Making Revisions
We received some incredibly valuable feedback from our first round of usability testing. We were able to identify what worked, what didn’t, and what users would like to see that we hadn’t considered. That made us much more confident in the direction we were going as well as with the changes that needed to be made.
We received some incredibly valuable feedback from our first round of usability testing. We were able to identify what worked, what didn’t, and what users would like to see that we hadn’t considered. That made us much more confident in the direction we were going as well as with the changes that needed to be made.
Creating an Onboarding
Creating an Onboarding
Conversation History
Conversation History
I really enjoy moderated testing as you get to see how they react, not just the text that comes back to you like in an unmoderated survey. We got to see where they were frustrated, confused, and impressed.
I really enjoy moderated testing as you get to see how they react, not just the text that comes back to you like in an unmoderated survey. We got to see where they were frustrated, confused, and impressed.
🙎
Customer Journey Map & Personas
As we got further and further into Bridge, we slowly brought in more people. The reasoning for this was to not have too many cooks in the kitchen hyperlink too early. At Sorenson in the past, this has lead to timelines becomes stretched out and MVPs turning into fully fleshed out products before putting it in front of users.
Now that we have more people coming onto the product and data to help guide us, I began putting together a Customer Journey Map to help everyone on the team understand what the overall flow looks like and where attention is needed.
🙎
Customer Journey Map & Personas
As we got further and further into Bridge, we slowly brought in more people. The reasoning for this was to not have too many cooks in the kitchen hyperlink too early. At Sorenson in the past, this has lead to timelines becomes stretched out and MVPs turning into fully fleshed out products before putting it in front of users.
Now that we have more people coming onto the product and data to help guide us, I began putting together a Customer Journey Map to help everyone on the team understand what the overall flow looks like and where attention is needed.
Where We’re at Now
Where We’re at
We're developing a proof of concept for comprehensive validation. Our decision stems from consistent feedback during multiple rounds of Figma prototype testing. Many testers were distracted by the prototype's limited functionality, especially the lack of a fully working keyboard and microphone.
Our next step is to validate with a complete, working proof of concept once it's finished.
We're developing a proof of concept for comprehensive validation. Our decision stems from consistent feedback during multiple rounds of Figma prototype testing. Many testers were distracted by the prototype's limited functionality, especially the lack of a fully working keyboard and microphone.
Our next step is to validate with a complete, working proof of concept once it's finished.
Takeaways (So Far)
Takeaways (So Far)
Push yourself. Working within a small core team on this project, I frequently found myself stepping outside my job description, and I enjoyed it. These situations allow me to push my limits and be in a position where I can actively grow. Tasks such as market research, creating user stories, and presenting to stakeholders are some examples. Embracing challenges and pushing oneself is essential for personal and professional growth.
Push yourself. Working within a small core team on this project, I frequently found myself stepping outside my job description, and I enjoyed it. These situations allow me to push my limits and be in a position where I can actively grow. Tasks such as market research, creating user stories, and presenting to stakeholders are some examples. Embracing challenges and pushing oneself is essential for personal and professional growth.
Welcome the negative feedback. Many people fear negative feedback because it challenges the time and effort invested in a project, and that's understandable. However, my perspective shifted after testing Bridge and reading the Mom Test. Now, I genuinely welcome and actively seek negative feedback. While it's crucial not to overemphasize a single piece of feedback, looking for consistency is key. Negative feedback, in essence, is honesty, and it's this honesty that is essential for building a product that people genuinely value.
Welcome the negative feedback. Many people fear negative feedback because it challenges the time and effort invested in a project, and that's understandable. However, my perspective shifted after testing Bridge and reading the Mom Test. Now, I genuinely welcome and actively seek negative feedback. While it's crucial not to overemphasize a single piece of feedback, looking for consistency is key. Negative feedback, in essence, is honesty, and it's this honesty that is essential for building a product that people genuinely value.
Share your ideas. Initially, I wanted to keep this product idea as a personal project. However, upon joining the Incubation team, I reconsidered and decided to share it, thinking it could benefit our user base. Collaborating with Sorenson, I'm grateful for the shared experience and the knowledge gained from working with others. While it was initially nerve-wracking to propose the idea, I've come to realize that there's nothing wrong with sharing ideas, even if they don't pan out.
Share your ideas. Initially, I wanted to keep this product idea as a personal project. However, upon joining the Incubation team, I reconsidered and decided to share it, thinking it could benefit our user base. Collaborating with Sorenson, I'm grateful for the shared experience and the knowledge gained from working with others. While it was initially nerve-wracking to propose the idea, I've come to realize that there's nothing wrong with sharing ideas, even if they don't pan out.
Incubation
Creating new products for Sorenson
Incubation
Creating new products for Sorenson