Tidy Tongue

01. Overview

Challenge

How can multilingual people improve pronunciation of their second, third, fourth (or more) languages?

Who

Multilingual individuals seeking to improve pronunciation of languages beyond their native tongue.

Why

While language-learning tools are plentiful, resources for improving pronunciation are limited both in options and scope.

Solution

Speech Therapy is provided through game-like, interactive activities to help people overcome their personal speech challenges.

My Role | UX and UI designer

Duration | 1 month

Tools | Figma, Procreate

02. DISCOVERY

Competitor Research

KEY FINDINGS

Key Finding #01

Audio feedback indicating correct or incorrect responses, as well as a way to hear correct pronunciations adds the value of positive reinforcement.

Key Finding #02

Providing varied learning activities for speech challenges being addressed provides an engaging and attention-holding experience.

Key Finding #03

Helpful features: course overview, timelines of steps or activities, visuals related to the word or sentence and the ability to record audio.

Key Finding #04

Potential pain points: Use of too many irrelevant visuals, use of lingo primarily used in speech therapy setting, and not keeping the UX engaging


User Research

KEY FINDINGS

Key Finding #01

It is easiest to learn languages and proper pronunciation by watching other people engage in natural conversations

Key Finding #02

The majority of potential users want to have a customizable experience- a list of words and phrases they have trouble with, along with spoken samples to compare to their own voice recordings

Key Finding #03

Duolingo’s game-like approach to the UX of their app was very appealing to all potential users. It was engaging and very encouraging to continue using.

Key Finding #04

All of the potential users would prefer program- or AI-analysis of their progress rather than relying solely on self-analysis.

03. Design Process

Sketches

Low to Mid- Fidelity Wireframes

Group 9 (2).jpg
Group 10 (1).jpg

Usability Testing

Participants were asked to used the app while completing the following activities:

  1. Practice TH Sound Activities

  2. Practice Sentences + My TH Words

  3. Complete the TH Words Activity

  • Progress bars at a high level of each category were well received and intuitive

  • Easy access to tips and activities made users feel they could exit and return any time without losing progress

  • The simple titles and content were found easy to digest, with two of the participants expecting there to be more speech therapy lingo they were unfamiliar with

  • The ability to record their own voice was valuable

  • The use for the underlined words was confusing

  • Having immediate audio feedback in addition to the visual cues and illustrations were successful

  • All participants liked being able to see how many words were in the activity

  • The positive reinforcement encouraged the participants to want to keep trying more activities

  • The progress bar and option to watch people speaking were found to be the most valuable features

04. Final Designs

05. Outcomes + Next Steps

Big Win #01

Speech therapy is a complicated subject. I created an easily digestible app that is delightful to use and encourages you to continue coming back to learn with a simple, engaging experience and fun game-like activities.

Big Win #02

I tackled big challenges about a subject I had minimal prior knowledge on through thorough research and application of design, behavior and learning principles. Many friends and strangers alike are excited about the app and would love to share it with multilingual friends and family.

Next Steps

  • Design a preliminary evaluation to determine a user’s own speech challenges

  • Determine what happens when someone does not do well/ thorny user states. How do you motivate someone to continue when their results aren’t optimal?

  • A plan or module setup to where the user can see a high level view of all they are venturing to improve, perhaps organized by goal

  • Future state, would provide virtual tutoring with an expert at a higher membership tier,