Inno - an AI journal for blind and low-vision users

To bridge the chronic accessibility gap that leaves blind and low-vision users locked out of digital journaling platforms, I led UX research for our DePaul HCI team, focusing on inclusive mobile design.

Through a rigorous competitive audit of 10 journaling apps and contextual inquiries via exploratory interviews (n=5) with visually impaired adults in partnership with Second Sense, I identified three critical barriers: password-gated logins, uneditable entry mid-points, and inaccessible screen-reader buttons.

Translating these insights into product strategy, I prioritized a voice-first architecture and seamless text-to-speech integration to match users' natural cadence of capturing life as it happens.

I iteratively stress-tested interaction models and onboarding flows, replacing rigid vision-labeling with a universal accessibility toggle ("Do you wish to turn on accessibility features?"), delivering an equitable experience where users can effortlessly log and reflect without compromising their autonomy.