Company: Startup
Role: Director of UX/UI Architecture
Team: 3 Members (Startup Team)
Tools: Figma, Prototyping, Branding, User Research
Status: Under Development | Selected for Y Combinator – Round 1
Project Overview
AI-Wingmate is a personalized AI companion app designed to help users meet new people, build friendships, and form meaningful relationships.
The app uses AI-driven personalization to assist users in discovering compatible matches, suggesting conversation starters, and even planning meetups.As the Director of UX/UI Architecture, I led the design strategy from concept to prototype — including branding, logo design, visual language, and interactive user experience in Figma.
Problem
Designing an app that caters to three different age groups (young adults, mid-career professionals, and mature users) presented unique challenges:
- Each group had distinct expectations for aesthetics, tone, and interaction.
- The interface needed to convey trust, warmth, and intelligence while maintaining a modern feel.
- Integrating AI personality and visuals without making the app feel overly “techy” or impersonal was a delicate balance.
Additionally, as a small startup team, we faced the challenge of iterating rapidly based on feedback from internal testing and early user surveys.
Goals
- Design a personalized, inclusive, and emotionally intelligent experience for all user groups.
- Create a strong brand identity — logo, color palette, and typography — that resonates with both friendship and relationship seekers.
- Deliver a modern AI-driven interface that feels conversational and trustworthy.
- Build a prototype in Figma ready for user testing and Y Combinator submission.
Branding & Identity
Before designing the interface, I focused on creating a distinct brand identity for AI-Wingmate.
- Logo Design: A friendly yet sleek wordmark with subtle motion-inspired elements to symbolize connection and intelligence.
- Color Palette: A gradient blend of warm hues (friendship) and cool tones (AI + trust) to balance emotional and technological appeal.
- Design Language: Clean layouts, soft shadows, soft gradient and minimalistic icons to reflect simplicity and confidence.
- Typography: Rounded sans-serif fonts for approachability and readability across devices.
This foundation ensured that the app looked modern, human-centered, and intelligent.
Unique Challenges
Before designing the interface, I focused on creating a distinct brand identity for AI-Wingmate.
- Multi-Audience Design: Crafting an adaptable UI that appeals to both Gen Z and Gen X users without feeling disjointed.
- AI Personality Integration: Designing elements (avatars, glow effects, chat visuals) that subtly communicate intelligence and support.
- Startup Agility: Balancing speed, design depth, and frequent pivots as a three-person founding team.
Outcome
Before designing the interface, I focused on creating a distinct brand identity for AI-Wingmate.
- Delivered a fully branded, user-centric Figma prototype ready for development.
- Created a cohesive multi-age design system adaptable to different demographic themes.
- Established the visual and interaction foundation for AI-driven companionship apps.
- Proudly announced that AI-Wingmate was selected in the first round of Y Combinator, validating our vision and user-centered approach.
Key Takeaways
Leading the design and architecture for AI-Wingmate taught me the value of adaptable design systems and emotionally intelligent interfaces.
Designing for three different generations challenged me to think deeply about universal usability, tone, and perception.
This project represents how thoughtful design can make AI feel more human — and connections feel more authentic.