Thespian
Thespian
Thespian is the ultimate modern app for actors, designed to help them to elevate their acting careers. With cutting-edge technology, sleek design, and smart AI, it delivers a seamless and enjoyable experience tailored to the unique needs of performers. Whether you're honing your skills or booking your next big role, Thespian makes it effortless and inspiring every step of the way.
Thespian is the ultimate modern app for actors, designed to help them to elevate their acting careers. With cutting-edge technology, sleek design, and smart AI, it delivers a seamless and enjoyable experience tailored to the unique needs of performers. Whether you're honing your skills or booking your next big role, Thespian makes it effortless and inspiring every step of the way.
Thespian is the ultimate modern app for actors, designed to help them to elevate their acting careers. With cutting-edge technology, sleek design, and smart AI, it delivers a seamless and enjoyable experience tailored to the unique needs of performers. Whether you're honing your skills or booking your next big role, Thespian makes it effortless and inspiring every step of the way.
Time
Time
September, 2024
September, 2024
September, 2024
My Role and responsibilities
My Role and responsibilities
Lead Product Designer
Led the end-to-end design process.
Collaborated closely with a Product Manager and Engineering team to bring the vision to life.
Strategic approach, ensuring that the product was visually cohesive and scalable but also accessible, intuitive, and optimized for actors’ workflows.
Focused on three core areas: Accessibility, Scalability, and Cross-Platform Consistency.
Lead Product Designer
Led the end-to-end design process.
Collaborated closely with a Product Manager and Engineering team to bring the vision to life.
Strategic approach, ensuring that the product was visually cohesive and scalable but also accessible, intuitive, and optimized for actors’ workflows.
Focused on three core areas: Accessibility, Scalability, and Cross-Platform Consistency.
Lead Product Designer
Led the end-to-end design process.
Collaborated closely with a Product Manager and Engineering team to bring the vision to life.
Strategic approach, ensuring that the product was visually cohesive and scalable but also accessible, intuitive, and optimized for actors’ workflows.
Focused on three core areas: Accessibility, Scalability, and Cross-Platform Consistency.
About
About
Actors face significant challenges when preparing for auditions and rehearsals, as traditional methods require hiring a reader, coordinating schedules with friends, or using inefficient manual processes.
We saw an opportunity to leverage AI to revolutionize the way actors rehearse, eliminating the need for external readers and making the process more independent, efficient, and seamless.
Actors face significant challenges when preparing for auditions and rehearsals, as traditional methods require hiring a reader, coordinating schedules with friends, or using inefficient manual processes.
We saw an opportunity to leverage AI to revolutionize the way actors rehearse, eliminating the need for external readers and making the process more independent, efficient, and seamless.
Actors face significant challenges when preparing for auditions and rehearsals, as traditional methods require hiring a reader, coordinating schedules with friends, or using inefficient manual processes.
We saw an opportunity to leverage AI to revolutionize the way actors rehearse, eliminating the need for external readers and making the process more independent, efficient, and seamless.
The Problem
The Problem
Actors struggle with finding reliable, flexible, and independent ways to rehearse their scripts and record self-tape auditions, often relying on costly hired readers or the availability of friends, making the process inefficient and inconsistent.
Actors struggle with finding reliable, flexible, and independent ways to rehearse their scripts and record self-tape auditions, often relying on costly hired readers or the availability of friends, making the process inefficient and inconsistent.
Actors struggle with finding reliable, flexible, and independent ways to rehearse their scripts and record self-tape auditions, often relying on costly hired readers or the availability of friends, making the process inefficient and inconsistent.
How might we leverage AI to create an intuitive, real-time rehearsal assistant that not only reads lines with distinct voices but also adapts to the actor’s pace, pauses, and performance flow?
How might we leverage AI to create an intuitive, real-time rehearsal assistant that not only reads lines with distinct voices but also adapts to the actor’s pace, pauses, and performance flow?
How might we leverage AI to create an intuitive, real-time rehearsal assistant that not only reads lines with distinct voices but also adapts to the actor’s pace, pauses, and performance flow?
Research and Strategic Impact
Research and Strategic Impact
I combined industry standards research with competitive analysis to guide strategic decisions for Thespian.
I explored iOS guidelines, Dark Mode best practices, payment system and ideo recording standards. Through comparative research on direct and indirect competitors, I validated these standards in real-world applications and identified opportunities to innovate and optimize the user experience.
I combined industry standards research with competitive analysis to guide strategic decisions for Thespian.
I explored iOS guidelines, Dark Mode best practices, payment system and ideo recording standards. Through comparative research on direct and indirect competitors, I validated these standards in real-world applications and identified opportunities to innovate and optimize the user experience.
Insights
Insights
Subscription models vary significantly between mobile and web, impacting user adoption.
Text reading applications utilize various readability techniques, but not all are optimized for continuous script rehearsal.
Existing video recording applications offer different approaches to UI/UX, with varying ease of use.
Users expect different onboarding flows based on platform (mobile vs. web).
Subscription models vary significantly between mobile and web, impacting user adoption.
Text reading applications utilize various readability techniques, but not all are optimized for continuous script rehearsal.
Existing video recording applications offer different approaches to UI/UX, with varying ease of use.
Users expect different onboarding flows based on platform (mobile vs. web).
Subscription models vary significantly between mobile and web, impacting user adoption.
Text reading applications utilize various readability techniques, but not all are optimized for continuous script rehearsal.
Existing video recording applications offer different approaches to UI/UX, with varying ease of use.
Users expect different onboarding flows based on platform (mobile vs. web).
Actions
Actions
Designed a payment strategy that aligns with industry best practices, ensuring a seamless subscription experience across platforms while optimizing for conversion and revenue.
Implemented dynamic teleprompter features, including real time adjustable text speed, and contrast options (for future iterations,) ensuring smooth and accessible line reading.
Researched and integrated best-in-class UX patterns from video recording tools, ensuring Thespian’s self-tape recording was intuitive, minimalistic, and actor-friendly.
Developed platform-specific onboarding experiences, reducing friction for new users while maintaining consistency in brand messaging and core interactions.
Designed a payment strategy that aligns with industry best practices, ensuring a seamless subscription experience across platforms while optimizing for conversion and revenue.
Implemented dynamic teleprompter features, including real time adjustable text speed, and contrast options (for future iterations,) ensuring smooth and accessible line reading.
Researched and integrated best-in-class UX patterns from video recording tools, ensuring Thespian’s self-tape recording was intuitive, minimalistic, and actor-friendly.
Developed platform-specific onboarding experiences, reducing friction for new users while maintaining consistency in brand messaging and core interactions.
Designed a payment strategy that aligns with industry best practices, ensuring a seamless subscription experience across platforms while optimizing for conversion and revenue.
Implemented dynamic teleprompter features, including real time adjustable text speed, and contrast options (for future iterations,) ensuring smooth and accessible line reading.
Researched and integrated best-in-class UX patterns from video recording tools, ensuring Thespian’s self-tape recording was intuitive, minimalistic, and actor-friendly.
Developed platform-specific onboarding experiences, reducing friction for new users while maintaining consistency in brand messaging and core interactions.
Tab Bars vs Toolbars
Tab Bars vs Toolbars
To determine the best navigation approach for Thespian, I conducted a detailed review of iOS Human Interface Guidelines and analyzed how Apple and other iOS applications implement Tab Bars and Tool Bars in real-world scenarios.
This research helped identify when each component is most effective: Tab Bars for primary navigation between major sections, and Tool Bars for presenting contextual actions within a screen.
To determine the best navigation approach for Thespian, I conducted a detailed review of iOS Human Interface Guidelines and analyzed how Apple and other iOS applications implement Tab Bars and Tool Bars in real-world scenarios.
This research helped identify when each component is most effective: Tab Bars for primary navigation between major sections, and Tool Bars for presenting contextual actions within a screen.
To determine the best navigation approach for Thespian, I conducted a detailed review of iOS Human Interface Guidelines and analyzed how Apple and other iOS applications implement Tab Bars and Tool Bars in real-world scenarios.
This research helped identify when each component is most effective: Tab Bars for primary navigation between major sections, and Tool Bars for presenting contextual actions within a screen.
Both…
Both…
Based on the research and analysis, we decided to use both Tab Bars and Tool Bars in Thespian.
Tab Bars help users intuitively navigate between main sections, such as adding new scenes, accessing their scripts, and managing their accounts.
Tool Bars appear within the script view, offering quick access to rehearsal settings and customization options, adapting the interface to the user’s immediate context.
Based on the research and analysis, we decided to use both Tab Bars and Tool Bars in Thespian.
Tab Bars help users intuitively navigate between main sections, such as adding new scenes, accessing their scripts, and managing their accounts.
Tool Bars appear within the script view, offering quick access to rehearsal settings and customization options, adapting the interface to the user’s immediate context.
Based on the research and analysis, we decided to use both Tab Bars and Tool Bars in Thespian.
Tab Bars help users intuitively navigate between main sections, such as adding new scenes, accessing their scripts, and managing their accounts.
Tool Bars appear within the script view, offering quick access to rehearsal settings and customization options, adapting the interface to the user’s immediate context.
Design System
Design System
As Thespian evolved from an initial concept to a full-fledged cross-platform product, I recognized the need for a scalable, consistent, and accessible design system to streamline development and enhance the user experience.
As Thespian evolved from an initial concept to a full-fledged cross-platform product, I recognized the need for a scalable, consistent, and accessible design system to streamline development and enhance the user experience.
As Thespian evolved from an initial concept to a full-fledged cross-platform product,
I recognized the need for a scalable, consistent, and accessible design system to streamline development and enhance the user experience.
The design system ensured:
1. The product felt cohesive across platforms.
2. Components were reusable, speeding up the design and development process.
3. The user experience remained intuitive and familiar regardless of the device.
1. The product felt cohesive across platforms.
2. Components were reusable, speeding up the design and development process.
3. The user experience remained intuitive and familiar regardless of the device.
The product felt cohesive across platforms.
Components were reusable, speeding up the design and development process.
The user experience remained intuitive and familiar regardless of the device.
Mobile App
Mobile App
Thespian is the next-generation app for actors. The app acts as a user’s Reader, reading the lines of all other characters in each scene in a completely customizable fashion. This enables the user to rehearse their lines, and it also enables users to record self-tape auditions on their own (without the app, actors must recruit friends as Readers to help with their auditions).
Thespian is the next-generation app for actors. The app acts as a user’s Reader, reading the lines of all other characters in each scene in a completely customizable fashion. This enables the user to rehearse their lines, and it also enables users to record self-tape auditions on their own (without the app, actors must recruit friends as Readers to help with their auditions).
Thespian is the next-generation app for actors. The app acts as a user’s Reader, reading the lines of all other characters in each scene in a completely customizable fashion. This enables the user to rehearse their lines, and it also enables users to record self-tape auditions on their own (without the app, actors must recruit friends as Readers to help with their auditions).
Create an account
Add a new scene empty state
A new scene created empty state
Create an account
Add a new scene empty state
A new scene created empty state
Add a new line manually. Includes a Character name and AI voice selection
User account section
Script reader interface with self recording
Add a new line manually. Includes a Character name and AI voice selection
User account section
Script reader interface with self recording
Onboarding
Onboarding
Open the app and explore a quick guided tour showcasing how to rehearse and record with AI assistance.
Easily sign up by entering your email, password, and name.
Enjoy a 14-day free trial — cancel anytime or adjust your subscription settings later through your account.
Navigate intuitive empty states for each section and quickly add your first scene with a single tap.
Open the app and explore a quick guided tour showcasing how to rehearse and record with AI assistance.
Easily sign up by entering your email, password, and name.
Enjoy a 14-day free trial — cancel anytime or adjust your subscription settings later through your account.
Navigate intuitive empty states for each section and quickly add your first scene with a single tap.
Onboarding
Open the app and explore a quick guided tour showcasing how to rehearse and record with AI assistance.
Easily sign up by entering your email, password, and name.
Enjoy a 14-day free trial — cancel anytime or adjust your subscription settings later through your account.
Navigate intuitive empty states for each section and quickly add your first scene with a single tap.
Upload, Assign Voices, and Start Rehearsing
Upload, Assign Voices, and Start Rehearsing
Add a new scene with just a few clicks — upload your script, let AI automatically detect characters and assign voices, and easily customize if needed.
Edit lines if necessary, then start rehearsing with real-time AI assistance that highlights your lines and adapts to your voice and rhythm, creating a seamless rehearsal experience.
Add a new scene with just a few clicks — upload your script, let AI automatically detect characters and assign voices, and easily customize if needed.
Edit lines if necessary, then start rehearsing with real-time AI assistance that highlights your lines and adapts to your voice and rhythm, creating a seamless rehearsal experience.
Upload, Assign Voices, and Start Rehearsing
Add a new scene with just a few clicks — upload your script, let AI automatically detect characters and assign voices, and easily customize if needed.
Edit lines if necessary, then start rehearsing with real-time AI assistance that highlights your lines and adapts to your voice and rhythm, creating a seamless rehearsal experience.
Switch to Teleprompter View for a Real-Life Experience
Easily switch to Teleprompter View in Settings for a rehearsal mode that mirrors real-life audition setups.
After a familiar countdown, your script flows naturally — with AI highlighting and reading lines in sync with your voice and rhythm, giving you an authentic rehearsal experience.
Easily switch to Teleprompter View in Settings for a rehearsal mode that mirrors real-life audition setups.
After a familiar countdown, your script flows naturally — with AI highlighting and reading lines in sync with your voice and rhythm, giving you an authentic rehearsal experience.
Switch to Teleprompter View for a Real-Life Experience
Easily switch to Teleprompter View in Settings for a rehearsal mode that mirrors real-life audition setups.
After a familiar countdown, your script flows naturally — with AI highlighting and reading lines in sync with your voice and rhythm, giving you an authentic rehearsal experience.
Rehearse and Record Seamlessly with Teleprompter View
Rehearse and Record Seamlessly with Teleprompter View
Combine rehearsal and recording effortlessly — practice your lines with Teleprompter View while recording yourself at the same time.
A countdown prepares you, the script flows naturally, and your live video appears in a small preview window, allowing you to stay focused on your performance while tracking your delivery.
Combine rehearsal and recording effortlessly — practice your lines with Teleprompter View while recording yourself at the same time.
A countdown prepares you, the script flows naturally, and your live video appears in a small preview window, allowing you to stay focused on your performance while tracking your delivery.
Rehearse and Record Seamlessly with Teleprompter View
Combine rehearsal and recording effortlessly — practice your lines with Teleprompter View while recording yourself at the same time.
A countdown prepares you, the script flows naturally, and your live video appears in a small preview window, allowing you to stay focused on your performance while tracking your delivery.
Web Application
Web Application
Thespian is a next-generation web-based app for actors, acting as a customizable Reader to streamline rehearsals — no need to rely on others for help. I designed and implemented a comprehensive design system and created the brand’s landing page, ensuring a seamless and professional user experience that empowers actors to focus on their craft.
Thespian is a next-generation web-based app for actors, acting as a customizable Reader to streamline rehearsals — no need to rely on others for help. I designed and implemented a comprehensive design system and created the brand’s landing page, ensuring a seamless and professional user experience that empowers actors to focus on their craft.
Thespian is a next-generation web-based app for actors, acting as a customizable Reader to streamline rehearsals — no need to rely on others for help. I designed and implemented a comprehensive design system and created the brand’s landing page, ensuring a seamless and professional user experience that empowers actors to focus on their craft.
Create an account
Create an account
Create an account
Add a new scene empty state
Add a new scene empty state
Add a new scene empty state
Add a new scene modal
Add a new scene modal
Add a new scene modal
Add lines manually
Add lines manually
Add lines manually
Scene web browser recommendation
Scene web browser recommendation
Scene web browser recommendation
Scene with all lines added mode
Scene with all lines added mode
Scene with all lines added mode
Teleprompter mode. Script reader with controls and AI voices
Teleprompter mode. Script reader with controls and AI voices
Teleprompter mode. Script reader with controls and AI voices
Reflection
Cross-Platform Complexity – Designing for both mobile and web required a scalable approach, reinforcing my expertise in adaptive design systems.
More Usability Testing with Prototypes – Conduct earlier prototype testing with a broader set of actors to validate key interactions before development.
Exploring More Edge Cases – Test for unconventional use cases, such as actors rehearsing in different environments (low-light, noisy settings, etc.), to refine UX further.
Cross-Platform Complexity – Designing for both mobile and web required a scalable approach, reinforcing my expertise in adaptive design systems.
More Usability Testing with Prototypes – Conduct earlier prototype testing with a broader set of actors to validate key interactions before development.
Exploring More Edge Cases – Test for unconventional use cases, such as actors rehearsing in different environments (low-light, noisy settings, etc.), to refine UX further.