ShadowTalk

Overview

Social media and messaging apps have made communication more accessible, but few prioritise anonymity and authenticity. ShadowTalk is a mobile app where people send and receive anonymous audio messages: a safe space to share ideas, poetry and other forms of expression without fear of judgement.

I also focused on security, addressing the potential for misuse by building a sense of community and mutual support into the experience.

The problem

Current communication platforms lack anonymity, which holds back authentic expression and meaningful connection because people fear being judged.

The solution was a secure, anonymous platform for audio messages that puts anonymity, usability and community first.

Who it’s for

• Young adults (18–30): tech-savvy students and young professionals who want to express themselves freely.
• Creatives: poets, musicians and writers who want to share their work anonymously.
• Privacy-conscious people: users wary of data breaches who prefer not to reveal their identity.
• Active social media users: people looking for something fresher than saturated, familiar formats.
• Community-minded users: people who enjoy online communities and discussions.

Process

I followed a design thinking process (empathise, define, ideate, prototype, test). I built user personas and a competitive analysis of direct and indirect competitors, then moved from lo-fi screens, used to test core functionality and gather feedback, to high-fidelity designs.

Key features

• Onboarding and login: a smooth introduction and a sign-in flow that balances security with convenience.
• Home screen: quick navigation to key features and content.
• Communities: share and discover audio posts, and like, comment on or repost them.
• Voice chat: a chat interface centred on voice for more personal conversations.
• Personal hub: notifications, personal details and account settings.

Visual design

The design system uses Inter with a purple primary palette (#8563ED, #9E63ED), a blue accent (#3AAEF8) and dark neutrals (#121212, #000000).