RIVERLY
RIVERLY
RIVERLY
[PRODUCT DESIGN]
NAVIGATE WORKPLACE CURRENTS WITH CONFIDENCE & CLARITY.
NAVIGATE WORKPLACE CURRENTS WITH CONFIDENCE & CLARITY.
Riverly: Designing Emotional Intelligence for the Workplace
Riverly emerged from a simple observation: while we have tools like Grammarly for our writing, nothing existed for our workplace conversations - the interactions that actually shape our careers.
As the sole designer and founder, I transformed user research insights from 150+ professionals into an AI-powered communication intelligence platform. Riverly analyzes workplace dynamics in real-time, providing actionable insights that help professionals navigate everything from difficult feedback conversations to high-stakes negotiations.
My vision extended beyond creating another productivity app. I designed Riverly to be a trusted companion - combining sophisticated AI analysis with an approachable, anxiety-reducing interface that makes emotional intelligence accessible to everyone. The glassmorphic design system I developed reflects this duality: professional enough for enterprise adoption, yet calming enough for users experiencing communication anxiety.
This project represents my evolution from designer to design founder - validating market need, shipping a functional product, and creating a brand that resonates with modern professionals seeking confidence in their workplace interactions.
Riverly: Designing Emotional Intelligence for the Workplace
Riverly emerged from a simple observation: while we have tools like Grammarly for our writing, nothing existed for our workplace conversations - the interactions that actually shape our careers.
As the sole designer and founder, I transformed user research insights from 150+ professionals into an AI-powered communication intelligence platform. Riverly analyzes workplace dynamics in real-time, providing actionable insights that help professionals navigate everything from difficult feedback conversations to high-stakes negotiations.
My vision extended beyond creating another productivity app. I designed Riverly to be a trusted companion - combining sophisticated AI analysis with an approachable, anxiety-reducing interface that makes emotional intelligence accessible to everyone. The glassmorphic design system I developed reflects this duality: professional enough for enterprise adoption, yet calming enough for users experiencing communication anxiety.
This project represents my evolution from designer to design founder - validating market need, shipping a functional product, and creating a brand that resonates with modern professionals seeking confidence in their workplace interactions.
ROLE
ROLE
ROLE
Product Designer
Product Designer
Product Designer
YEAR
YEAR
YEAR
2025
2025
2025
SERVICE PROVIDED
SERVICE PROVIDED
SERVICE PROVIDED
Product Design, Brand Design, Development
Product Design, Brand Design, Development
Product Design, Brand Design, Development
CHALLENGE
CHALLENGE
From Cognitive Overload to Conversational Flow
The primary design challenge emerged during user testing: our initial single-form approach overwhelmed users with 15+ fields, creating the very anxiety we aimed to reduce. Users abandoned the form at a 67% rate, paralyzed by the complexity of articulating their workplace situations.
Key Design Challenges Solved:
1. Progressive Disclosure Architecture
I redesigned the experience into a guided multi-step flow, revealing complexity gradually. Each step builds context naturally - from selecting conversation type to describing participants to outlining concerns. This reduced cognitive load while maintaining comprehensive data collection.
2. Balancing AI Power with Human Simplicity
The challenge wasn't the AI's capability - it was making sophisticated analysis feel approachable. I developed a visual language that translated complex workplace dynamics into clear, actionable insights without dumbing down the intelligence behind them.
3. Trust Through Transparency
Working with sensitive workplace scenarios required building immediate trust. I designed privacy indicators, data handling explanations, and clear value propositions at each interaction point, ensuring users felt safe sharing vulnerable situations.
4. Real-time Feedback Without Disruption
Integrating voice AI coaching (River) required careful interaction design - providing support without interrupting natural conversation flow. The solution involved subtle audio cues and optional intervention points that users control entirely.
From Cognitive Overload to Conversational Flow
The primary design challenge emerged during user testing: our initial single-form approach overwhelmed users with 15+ fields, creating the very anxiety we aimed to reduce. Users abandoned the form at a 67% rate, paralyzed by the complexity of articulating their workplace situations.
Key Design Challenges Solved:
1. Progressive Disclosure Architecture
I redesigned the experience into a guided multi-step flow, revealing complexity gradually. Each step builds context naturally - from selecting conversation type to describing participants to outlining concerns. This reduced cognitive load while maintaining comprehensive data collection.
2. Balancing AI Power with Human Simplicity
The challenge wasn't the AI's capability - it was making sophisticated analysis feel approachable. I developed a visual language that translated complex workplace dynamics into clear, actionable insights without dumbing down the intelligence behind them.
3. Trust Through Transparency
Working with sensitive workplace scenarios required building immediate trust. I designed privacy indicators, data handling explanations, and clear value propositions at each interaction point, ensuring users felt safe sharing vulnerable situations.
4. Real-time Feedback Without Disruption
Integrating voice AI coaching (River) required careful interaction design - providing support without interrupting natural conversation flow. The solution involved subtle audio cues and optional intervention points that users control entirely.
RESULTS
RESULTS
From Concept to Market Validation in 30 Days
User Impact
79% of surveyed users wanted post-conversation analysis features
71% requested real-time communication support
Reduced form abandonment from 67% to 12% after implementing multi-step flow
Average session time increased from 2 minutes to 8 minutes, indicating deeper engagement
Design Achievement
Successfully shipped a fully functional product combining OpenAI and ElevenLabs APIs
Created a cohesive design system that scaled from web to potential mobile applications
Developed a distinctive brand identity that differentiated Riverly in the productivity space
Designed and implemented responsive glassmorphic UI that performed across all devices
Business Validation
24 user interviews validated core value proposition
Live product at riverly.app demonstrated technical feasibility
Hackathon submission proved ability to ship under pressure
Framework established for B2B SaaS expansion into enterprise market
Personal Growth
Evolved from pure UI/UX design to full product ownership
Learned to translate user research into technical requirements
Developed skills in AI/UX integration and conversational interface design
Demonstrated ability to ship real products, not just prototypes
The project validated my hypothesis: professionals desperately need emotional intelligence tools for workplace communication. More importantly, it proved I can identify market gaps, design solutions that resonate with users, and ship products that create real value—the complete product design skillset modern tech companies seek.
From Concept to Market Validation in 30 Days
User Impact
79% of surveyed users wanted post-conversation analysis features
71% requested real-time communication support
Reduced form abandonment from 67% to 12% after implementing multi-step flow
Average session time increased from 2 minutes to 8 minutes, indicating deeper engagement
Design Achievement
Successfully shipped a fully functional product combining OpenAI and ElevenLabs APIs
Created a cohesive design system that scaled from web to potential mobile applications
Developed a distinctive brand identity that differentiated Riverly in the productivity space
Designed and implemented responsive glassmorphic UI that performed across all devices
Business Validation
24 user interviews validated core value proposition
Live product at riverly.app demonstrated technical feasibility
Hackathon submission proved ability to ship under pressure
Framework established for B2B SaaS expansion into enterprise market
Personal Growth
Evolved from pure UI/UX design to full product ownership
Learned to translate user research into technical requirements
Developed skills in AI/UX integration and conversational interface design
Demonstrated ability to ship real products, not just prototypes
The project validated my hypothesis: professionals desperately need emotional intelligence tools for workplace communication. More importantly, it proved I can identify market gaps, design solutions that resonate with users, and ship products that create real value—the complete product design skillset modern tech companies seek.
THIS IS THE FUTURE OF A HEALTHY WORKPLACE - WE'RE EMPOWERING ALL USERS.
THIS IS THE FUTURE OF A HEALTHY WORKPLACE - WE'RE EMPOWERING ALL USERS.
- Andy Ramos
