Startup Product
Designing a Messaging Feature for an Online Tool Social Directory Platform.
❋ Web Design
✿ Visual Design
★ User Research
☁︎ Information Architecture
ROLE
Product Design Intern
team
Mike Doan
Hitomi Abiko
Florian Ludot
Alex Sebastiano
Sarah Vang
Mick Smit
duration
2024 (3 months)
skills
Product
UI/UX
Research
Branding
Marketing
TLDR
During my internship at Skydea, I lead the design project to design a messaging feature for Twork, an AI-powered social tool directory, to help creative professionals connect, collaborate, and stay on top of the ever-growing library of online tools and technologies.
IDEA
What if you could know Steve Jobs' workflow?
Accessing curated selections of game-changing online tools from fellow creatives could transform the way you work.
the problem
We can't keep up.
Every day it feels like someone is talking about some sort of new tool or product that people are using at work. Whether it's using generative AI to streamline your workflow, how to go viral with trends on TikTok to promote your brand, or organizing every aspect of your life on Notion, there's always something new. How do we keep up with all of it?
1000+ new AI tools were introduced to the market in April 2023 alone.
62% surge in the utilization of video conferencing applications was observed amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
91% of UI/UX designers report that they are likely to use generative AI into their future professional work.
solution
The Social Platform for Professionals' Toolkits
With a database with over 650 tools, Twork is the only social media platform dedicated to professionals showcasing their "tworklists", turning everyday users into industry influencers.
Socially Vetted Tools
Showcased Tools
For SaaS Companies
Gain insights about your fast-moving industry.
opportunity
Teamwork makes the dream work.
Using Twork not only to discover new tools but also to collaborate with others to share how to utilize them could change how we work. We aimed to design a messaging feature for the Twork platform to give users a way to achieve just that.
research
Building off of user's expectations.
There are already countless messaging tools, so users know the basics. Our challenge was to design for their specific needs. We looked at popular apps like Slack, WhatsApp, WeChat, Instagram Messenger, TikTok, and iMessage to see which patterns should stay the same and where we could innovate. From this research, we identified the key features and design choices to bring into our own messaging feature.
usability testing
After conducting a few rounds of user testing, we made the following iterations based on the most mentioned pain points.
Iteration #2
Readability First
By increasing font size and improving color contrast, we ensured that key details stand out, reducing strain and making the experience more accessible.
Iteration #3
Visual Separation with Color
We introduced a broader palette of similar shades to better distinguish between sections, helping users quickly orient themselves without confusion.
final designs
In the end, the messaging feature kept the things people already know and expect, like simple conversation threads and an easy send/receive flow. What we added were the details that made sense for Twork, like the profile tab and clearer separation between sections. The goal was for the feature to feel familiar right away, but also give people a little something extra that reflects how Twork helps professionals connect and share tools.
takeaways
Feeling inspired.
As one of my first real projects, I learned so much. This project especially showed me how important it is to balance what people already understand with what’s new. Messaging should feel natural, so small changes like a clearer profile icon, easier-to-read text, and more contrast in the colors went a long way. At the same time, tailoring the feature to Twork proved that even something as familiar as chat can feel fresh when the updates are thoughtful and useful.
