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AUGUST 21, 2024

BoldVoice

Helping non-native speakers build confident English

BoldVoice

Overview

BoldVoice is an English pronunciation and communication app designed for non-native speakers looking to speak clearly and confidently. When I joined the team, they had a strong core product but wanted to evolve their offering with smarter feedback, community-driven growth, and more engaging conversational AI.

Over the course of my time there, I led multiple product and design initiatives that pushed the experience forward—from launching an AI-powered speaking coach to designing feedback systems that turned passive content into actionable improvement. I also helped build their referral system and added frictionless loops for growth.


What We Built

1. AI Conversation Coach

We launched a voice-based AI chat that allowed users to practice real-life conversations. Think Duolingo-style prompts, but for actual spoken English, powered by voice recognition and a custom LLM prompt design.

  • Designed and prototyped the entire conversation UI/UX from scratch

  • Integrated real-time feedback for clarity, grammar, and filler words

  • Tuned AI prompts to adapt based on user confidence and pace

2. Pronunciation Feedback System

To help users speak more clearly, we built a pronunciation engine that provided targeted tips after every speaking practice.

  • Designed a feedback model that grouped errors by category: sounds, stress, and intonation

  • Created a visual scoring system inspired by gaming progress bars

  • Added session-level summaries so users could track improvement over time

3. Referral System

Growth was a key goal. We implemented a simple yet powerful referral system to drive organic adoption—particularly through immigrant communities.

  • Designed the entire referral flow from invite to reward

  • Used social proof moments (like finishing a session) as referral triggers

  • Measured virality by cohort, optimizing incentives based on engagement

4. Gamification and Motivation Loops

We wanted to make consistent practice feel rewarding. I designed multiple features to make the learning journey stick:

  • Weekly streaks, XP bars, and mini-achievements for hitting practice milestones

  • Personalized push copy that encouraged “just one more session”

  • Feedback system nudges (“Your ‘th’ sound has improved 23%!”)


Why It Mattered

English learners—especially professionals preparing for interviews or public speaking—don’t just need grammar lessons. They need confidence, feedback, and motivation. By combining thoughtful UX with voice AI and habit-forming systems, we helped turn a passive app into a daily communication gym.

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