NOT JUST A CALL. AN EXPERIENCE.
Creating the new and improved Smalltalk, redefining how we connect and communicate.
Client
I was brought on by Iqram Magdon-Ismail (Co-Founder of Venmo) to collaborate on his newest venture, a product he called Smalltalk. He had a bold vision: to reinvent the phone call, an experience that had barely evolved since the original iPhone launch. Our mission was to build something radically different—an expressive, amplified toolkit for conversations that felt both modern and fun. And the timing couldn't have been better. The AI wave was just beginning to rise, and we saw an opportunity to explore how it could meaningfully enhance the way people connect.
Overview
Together, we sculpted a narrative north star, forged a versatile visual toolkit that ignites the senses, and ushered in a new era of user-centric design—bold, playful, and fresh across every touchpoint.
ROLE
Lead Product Designer
TEAM
Iqram Magdon-Ismail, Founder
Matt Hamilton, CTO
TOOLS
After Effects, ChatGPT, Figma, Getty Images, Illustrator, Looka, Noun Project, Smalltalk, Webflow
NEW FOUNDATION
NEW FOUNDATION
Collaboration lies at the heart of Smalltalk's ethos, fostering unity, representing diverse voices, and creating lasting memories. From team workshops to countless stakeholder interviews, I utilized our shared perspectives to help shape the foundation for Smalltalk's brand refresh and experience redesign. Sketches then served as catalysts for directional discussions and were shared with a diverse range of users, including current customers, friends, and even strangers, to gather/evaluate their feedback.
Last row, from left to right: photo by Jack Davison, collage by Sarah Charlesworth, and painting by Nicolas Party
BOLD & REBELLIOUS
BOLD & REBELLIOUS
BOLD & REBELLIOUS BOLD & REBELLIOUS
Building on this collaborative process, I set out to differentiate Smalltalk from the industry crowd, creating a brand personality that equals the worldwide energy around revolutionized communication. I built a dynamic visual and verbal system that can accurately reflect this new direction across every touchpoint, positioning Smalltalk as bold, rebellious risk-takers railing against the norm, embracing everyone, no matter who they are or where they're from.
