Small Talk, Big Blooms.
Improve small talk and conversation skills.
Estimated 8 min read
SmallTalker
Overview
Small Talker is an AI-powered app designed to help non-native English speakers build confidence in casual conversations. By providing real-time feedback, cultural insights, and customizable practice scenarios, it enables users to improve their conversational skills without the pressure of perfection. Whether practicing with AI characters or exploring common phrases, Small Talker helps users engage more naturally and comfortably in everyday interactions.
Timeline
Sep 2024 - Present
Role
Visual Design
Experience Design
Team
Individual Project!
Challenge
“I struggle to keep casual conversations going and often feel self-conscious in social situations.”
Abby / 34 / San Francisco
“As a foreigner, I really want to fit in, but I find it hard to connect with others in casual settings.”
Bob / 32 / San Francisco
“I focus too much on speaking perfectly and fear making mistakes, so I avoid starting conversations.”
Emily / 29 / San Jose
Problem
The Struggle with Small Talk
Non-native English speakers often focus on grammar and pronunciation, feeling anxious about making mistakes. Traditional language apps overlook the social aspect of communication, leaving users unprepared to engage in casual conversations.
Small talk is powerful, but without confidence to start, those connections remain out of reach.
Solution
The Power of Small Talk
By offering low-pressure practice for everyday conversations, users build confidence and social skills. Just like a small gesture can spark lasting bonds, Small Talker helps users take the first step toward bigger connections in real life.
Competitive Analysis
There's no in-between.
The competitive analysis for “Eat with Me” identifies both direct and indirect competitors in the dining and social networking space. Direct competitors include Eatwith and Feastly, which focus on social dining experiences but lack features like restaurant discovery and user-generated events. Indirect competitors like Yelp and OpenTable dominate restaurant searches and reservations but do not facilitate social interactions.
The app’s unique value proposition combines restaurant discovery with social dining experiences, targeting social eaters and newcomers seeking connections. Market opportunities exist for fostering social interactions around local dining, but threats from established platforms could pose challenges. By addressing these aspects, “Eat with Me” aims to carve out a unique niche in the market.
User Interviews
Before starting the design process for Small Talker, I wanted to ensure the challenges addressed were real concerns for potential users. I conducted a survey with 40 participants to understand their struggles with small talk and social interactions. Additionally, I interviewed 3 diverse individuals, including students and professionals, to gain deeper insights into their specific needs and goals for improving casual conversations.
The Survey: What I found Out?
70% of users have difficulty understanding slang or idioms.
68% struggle to keep the conversation going.
60% don’t know what topics to talk about.
Only 25% feel fear of making mistakes.
The 1:1 Interviews: What I found Out?
1
Many users want to connect with others but feel held back by a lack of cultural understanding and confidence in their ability to keep the conversation going.
2
Foreigners living in the U.S. often struggle not because of their English level, but because they don’t know how to start or continue conversations.
Main Insights
But what if we shifted the focus?
What if small talk wasn’t about how “perfect” your English is, but about making a meaningful connection, one word at a time?
Opportunity
How might we help non-native English speakers confidently start and maintain small talk by providing conversation topics and cultural insights?
Task 1
Explore Common Phrases and Hot Topics:
Access a library of everyday phrases and trending topics to help users start and sustain engaging conversations.
Make the experience enjoyable by using useful English phrases from pop culture and the latest news.
Task 2
Practice Social Scenarios with AI:
Browse various social scenarios and practice conversations with AI characters, receiving real-time feedback to boost confidence in real-life interactions.
Step1.
Choose a scenario.
Step2.
Practice mode
Step3.
Generate notes!
Task 3
Create Custom AI Characters:
Personalize your practice experience by creating AI characters with different tones and personalities, tailored to the types of conversations you want to practice.
Iteration 1
I redesigned the page to reduce text, turning the content into swipeable cards for a more visually friendly and engaging experience before practice.
Iteration 2
To simplify the practice mode, I used simple shapes that move with the voice, keeping the design clear, functional, and easy to follow.
Style Guide
Iteration!
Final Solutions : Meet SmallTalker
Lessons Learned
What I’d pay more attention on.
1. Importance of Personalization:
Allowing users to create custom AI characters helped make the learning experience feel more relevant and enjoyable.
2. Real-Time Feedback Matters:
Instant feedback during practice increased user confidence, showing that immediate guidance is essential for improvement.
3. Focus on Social Context:
Understanding that small talk is about connection, not language perfection, helped shape the app’s focus on cultural tips and conversation flow rather than just grammar.
What’s Next?
Expand Scenarios and Topics:
Add more social scenarios and trending topics to keep content fresh and engaging.
Enhanced Personalization:
Introduce more customization options for AI characters to reflect diverse real-life situations.
User Feedback Integration:
Continuously collect user feedback to refine and improve the AI’s responses and real-time feedback, ensuring it stays relevant and effective.