Generative AI based Ice-breaker tool for any situation.
Generative AI based Ice-breaker tool for any situation.
Generative AI based Ice-breaker tool for any situation.
Client
Client
Personal Concept
Product
Deliverables
Wireframes
Prototypes
Design System
Role
Year
2024
UX Researcher & Designer
Spark Your Conversation
Spark
Your
Conversation
Spark Your Conversation
ZAP generates situational icebreakers to make starting conversations easier.
Choose the setting, get AI-generated suggestions, and save your own lines for future moments.
ZAP generates situational icebreakers to make starting conversations easier.
Choose the setting, get AI-generated suggestions, and save your own lines for future moments.
ZAP generates situational icebreakers to make starting conversations easier.
Choose the setting, get AI-generated suggestions, and save your own lines for future moments.
People struggle to initiate conversations in strange environments, particularly at entrepreneur meetups, networking events. This revealed a broad audience who value confidence in social environments.
Many thought that pulling out a phone during a conversation can feel disruptive or socially awkward, especially in professional settings. In contrast, they preferred checking their watch to be a more natural and socially accepted gesture.
People struggle to initiate conversations in strange environments, particularly at entrepreneur meetups, networking events. This revealed a broad audience who value confidence in social environments.
Many thought that pulling out a phone during a conversation can feel disruptive or socially awkward, especially in professional settings. In contrast, they preferred checking their watch to be a more natural and socially accepted gesture.
People struggle to initiate conversations in strange environments, particularly at entrepreneur meetups, networking events. This revealed a broad audience who value confidence in social environments.
Many thought that pulling out a phone during a conversation can feel disruptive or socially awkward, especially in professional settings. In contrast, they preferred checking their watch to be a more natural and socially accepted gesture.
Problem
Problem
As an international student, I’ve seen how difficult it can be to start conversations: in casual social settings or professional moments
As an international student, I’ve seen how difficult it can be to start conversations: in casual social settings or professional moments
Research
Research
Interviews were conducted via WhatsApp Phone calls. Each Interview ran for around 30min
Interviews were conducted via WhatsApp Phone calls. Each Interview ran for around 30min
Common pain-points
Difficulty initiating conversations
70–75% people report hesitation when initiating conversations.
Phone usage creates social friction
Pulling out a phone mid-conversation feels disruptive, noticeable, or socially rude.
Missed opportunities for meaningful connections
Users often reflect on social situations feeling they could have connected better.
How might we help users feel less awkward and more confident when starting conversations in unfamiliar settings, without reaching for their phone?
How might we help users feel less awkward and more confident when starting conversations in unfamiliar settings, without reaching for their phone?
How might we help users feel less awkward and more confident when starting conversations in unfamiliar settings, without reaching for their phone?
Solution
Solution
When Zap is active:
Conversation prompts appear on the watch
Short, glanceable nudges help users initiate or continue conversations naturally.
Most number of users said prompts reduced the stress of “what to say next.”
Short, glanceable nudges help users initiate or continue conversations naturally.
Most number of users said prompts reduced the stress of “what to say next.”
An interactive tool that lives on the wrist and gives spot-on prompts that help people start or keep a conversation going without needing to pull out their phone.
An interactive tool that lives on the wrist and gives spot-on prompts that help people start or keep a conversation going without needing to pull out their phone.
An interactive tool that lives on the wrist and gives spot-on prompts that help people start or keep a conversation going without needing to pull out their phone.
Context-aware suggestions are surfaced
Prompts generate based on setting (casual or professional)
The process began with zoning the problem space into key areas such as user needs, navigation, privacy and core actions. This helped clarify scope and reduce complexity early on.
The process began with zoning the problem space into key areas such as user needs, navigation, privacy and core actions. This helped clarify scope and reduce complexity early on.
After eliminating a couple of unnecessary features like changing languages, i stuck with this optimal user flow-which keeps things simple and effective.
After eliminating a couple of unnecessary features like changing languages, i stuck with this optimal user flow-which keeps things simple and effective.
After eliminating a couple of unnecessary features like changing languages, I stuck with this optimal user flow-which keeps things simple and effective.
Early Iterations
Early Iterations
The ideas looked pretty friction-free on paper so i moved on to the next step making some logical changes like changing the delete button to like instead.
The ideas looked pretty friction-free on paper so i moved on to the next step making some logical changes like changing the delete button to like instead.
The ideas looked pretty friction-free on paper so i moved on to the next step making some logical changes like changing the delete button to like instead.
Feedback
Feedback
I recruited some participants and asked them to simply navigate around while thinking out aloud. This helped me understand the common area of what they needed vs what i wanted to achieve.
I recruited some participants and asked them to simply navigate around while thinking out aloud. This helped me understand the common area of what they needed vs what i wanted to achieve.
Speed-Bumps
Features overload
Users did not feel the need to add friends, change language or save/delete lines
How to get Premium?
The confusing route of changing premium settings annoyed a lot of users.
The Color scheme needed an Upgrade
Gave a mediocre, non-premium feel to the tool.
Impact
Final
Iteration
Users could not speak with significantly higher confidence
Ice breaking efficiency improved by over 45 percent !
Changes and Impact
Changes and Impact
Keeping things simple yet elegant
Keeping things simple yet elegant
Eliminated flows, features to maintain the purpose the Tool.
Eliminated flows, features to maintain the purpose the Tool.
Anthropometrical Considerations
Anthropometrical Considerations
Pleasing ergonomic design backed by science.
Pleasing ergonomic design backed by science.
Easy Navigation
Easy Navigation
Users can generate lines with discreet and minimal actions and keep the conversation going.
Users can generate lines with discreet and minimal actions and keep the conversation going.
Eliminated flows, features to maintain the purpose the Tool.
Pleasing ergonomic design backed by science.
Users can generate lines with discreet and minimal actions and keep the conversation going.
Let's Work Together!
Let's Work Together!
Let's Work Together!
© 2025 Sanketh Verma
Made with Care and Coffee
1:05:17 AM
2/15/2026
© 2025 Sanketh Verma
Made with Care and Coffee
1:05:17 AM
© 2025 Sanketh Verma
Made with Care and Coffee
2/15/2026
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