Tenmin
AI-powered language learning app
I designed an engaging onboarding experience and a review screen to help users build trust with Tenmin’s AI tutor and motivate them to build lasting speaking habits
Role
UX/UI Designer
Team size
4 Members
Timeline
April — July 2025
skills
UX Design
Prototyping
Tenmin
AI-powered language learning app
I designed an engaging onboarding experience and a review screen to help users build trust with Tenmin’s AI tutor and motivate them to build lasting speaking habits
Role
UX/UI Designer
Team size
4 Members
Timeline
April — July 2025
skills
UX Design
Prototyping
Tenmin
AI-powered language learning app
I designed an engaging onboarding experience and a review screen to help users build trust with Tenmin’s AI tutor and motivate them to build lasting speaking habits
Role
UX/UI Designer
Team size
4 Members
Timeline
April — July 2025
skills
UX Design
Prototyping
Introduction
Tenmin
Tenmin is an AI-powered language learning app that focuses on speaking, not just memorizing. Learners get real-time pronunciation feedback, personalized lessons, and conversation practice that simulates real interactions.
Introduction
Tenmin
Tenmin is an AI-powered language learning app that focuses on speaking, not just memorizing. Learners get real-time pronunciation feedback, personalized lessons, and conversation practice that simulates real interactions.
Introduction
Tenmin
Tenmin is an AI-powered language learning app that focuses on speaking, not just memorizing. Learners get real-time pronunciation feedback, personalized lessons, and conversation practice that simulates real interactions.
As one of three designers, I led the prototyping and design for the onboarding flow, collaborating closely with Tenmin’s founders, product manager, and fellow designers. I also contributed to the redesign of the review home screen to ensure consistency in tone and visuals across the product.
I owned two key areas of the product:
Focus areas
Onboarding flow
Introduced Tenmin’s AI tutor in a warm and confident way that builds trust and encourages habit formation from the first use
Focus areas
Review home screen
Redesigned the layout to make daily review simple, motivating, and visually clean
Tenmin / The redesigned onboarding flow
Problem
Many AI-powered language learning apps feel either overly robotic or disorganized, which can leave learners unmotivated. Onboarding experiences are often bloated, transactional, or forgettable, failing to inspire confidence or encourage return visits
Tenmin wanted to strike a balance between professional polish and youthful energy, while adding a human touch that makes their AI tutor approachable. The onboarding needed to create a sticky first impression, build trust in the AI, and set the tone for ongoing engagement.
Problem
Many AI-powered language learning apps feel either overly robotic or disorganized, which can leave learners unmotivated. Onboarding experiences are often bloated, transactional, or forgettable, failing to inspire confidence or encourage return visits
Tenmin wanted to strike a balance between professional polish and youthful energy, while adding a human touch that makes their AI tutor approachable. The onboarding needed to create a sticky first impression, build trust in the AI, and set the tone for ongoing engagement.
Problem
Many AI-powered language learning apps feel either overly robotic or disorganized, which can leave learners unmotivated. Onboarding experiences are often bloated, transactional, or forgettable, failing to inspire confidence or encourage return visits
Tenmin wanted to strike a balance between professional polish and youthful energy, while adding a human touch that makes their AI tutor approachable. The onboarding needed to create a sticky first impression, build trust in the AI, and set the tone for ongoing engagement.
How might we?
How might we create a warm and trust-building onboarding experience while keeping a brand identity that balances professionalism and youthful energy?
Discovery
User interviews revealed a key issue: Many people didn’t realize who or what the AI tutor was until later in the experience
Without that early clarity, it was harder for them to feel a personal connection and trust the experience.
Additionally, our competitor analysis showed that most onboarding flows either rushed through introductions or overloaded users with feature lists, leaving little room to build rapport.
Discovery
User interviews revealed a key issue: Many people didn’t realize who or what the AI tutor was until later in the experience
Without that early clarity, it was harder for them to feel a personal connection and trust the experience.
Additionally, our competitor analysis showed that most onboarding flows either rushed through introductions or overloaded users with feature lists, leaving little room to build rapport.
Discovery
User interviews revealed a key issue: Many people didn’t realize who or what the AI tutor was until later in the experience
Without that early clarity, it was harder for them to feel a personal connection and trust the experience.
Additionally, our competitor analysis showed that most onboarding flows either rushed through introductions or overloaded users with feature lists, leaving little room to build rapport.
The insights gathered from the competitor onboarding flows shifted my focus
Rather than just simply explaining Tenmin’s features and value propositions, we needed to design for connection. I reframed the challenge into a guiding question that would anchor our approach:
The insights gathered from the competitor onboarding flows shifted my focus
Rather than just simply explaining Tenmin’s features and value propositions, we needed to design for connection. I reframed the challenge into a guiding question that would anchor our approach:
The insights gathered from the competitor onboarding flows shifted my focus
Rather than just simply explaining Tenmin’s features and value propositions, we needed to design for connection. I reframed the challenge into a guiding question that would anchor our approach:
How might we?
How might we create an emotional connection between the learner and the AI tutor from the very first tap?
Process
I worked closely with one of Tenmin’s founders to align design ideas with technical capabilities, ensuring every concept we proposed could realistically be implemented
I also collaborated with the product manager and lead designer to explore different illustration styles, refine the tone of voice in microcopy, and map the onboarding journey to progressively reveal Tenmin’s core value proposition.
Process
I worked closely with one of Tenmin’s founders to align design ideas with technical capabilities, ensuring every concept we proposed could realistically be implemented
I also collaborated with the product manager and lead designer to explore different illustration styles, refine the tone of voice in microcopy, and map the onboarding journey to progressively reveal Tenmin’s core value proposition.
Process
I worked closely with one of Tenmin’s founders to align design ideas with technical capabilities, ensuring every concept we proposed could realistically be implemented
I also collaborated with the product manager and lead designer to explore different illustration styles, refine the tone of voice in microcopy, and map the onboarding journey to progressively reveal Tenmin’s core value proposition.
Solution
The goal was to design features that not only communicated Tenmin’s value but also made the AI tutor feel approachable, supportive, and memorable from day one
Solution
The goal was to design features that not only communicated Tenmin’s value but also made the AI tutor feel approachable, supportive, and memorable from day one
Solution
The goal was to design features that not only communicated Tenmin’s value but also made the AI tutor feel approachable, supportive, and memorable from day one
An onboarding flow that builds trust
A 4-screen sequence that clearly communicates Tenmin’s value, integrates social proof early, and uses bright illustrations with friendly microcopy to humanize the AI tutor.
An onboarding flow that builds trust
A 4-screen sequence that clearly communicates Tenmin’s value, integrates social proof early, and uses bright illustrations with friendly microcopy to humanize the AI tutor.
An onboarding flow that builds trust
A 4-screen sequence that clearly communicates Tenmin’s value, integrates social proof early, and uses bright illustrations with friendly microcopy to humanize the AI tutor.
Personalized welcome with name recording
Personalized welcome with name recording
Personalized welcome with name recording
The Review screen that motivates daily practice
The Review screen that motivates daily practice
The Review screen that motivates daily practice
Outcomes
Usability testing with three language learners showed positive feedback. Participants particularly liked the onboarding’s tone, visuals, and clarity
Outcomes
Usability testing with three language learners showed positive feedback. Participants particularly liked the onboarding’s tone, visuals, and clarity
Outcomes
Usability testing with three language learners showed positive feedback. Participants particularly liked the onboarding’s tone, visuals, and clarity
While the designs were not implemented during our engagement, the projected outcomes based on testing include:
Memorable first impression
A warm, trust-building onboarding experience encourages users to return after their first session.
Memorable first impression
A warm, trust-building onboarding experience encourages users to return after their first session.
Memorable first impression
A warm, trust-building onboarding experience encourages users to return after their first session.
Daily engagement
Daily engagement
Daily engagement
Humanized AI
Humanized AI
Humanized AI
Retrospective
Early feedback suggested that the onboarding fostered stronger emotional engagement and helped users quickly understand the AI tutor’s role
✺ When we presented the design at the Technical University of Munich, it was met with enthusiastic responses from founders and prospective users.
✺ Looking ahead, there’s an opportunity to measure long-term retention, test alternative onboarding flows, and refine the illustration style to resonate with a broader global audience.
Retrospective
Early feedback suggested that the onboarding fostered stronger emotional engagement and helped users quickly understand the AI tutor’s role
✺ When we presented the design at the Technical University of Munich, it was met with enthusiastic responses from founders and prospective users.
✺ Looking ahead, there’s an opportunity to measure long-term retention, test alternative onboarding flows, and refine the illustration style to resonate with a broader global audience.
Retrospective
Early feedback suggested that the onboarding fostered stronger emotional engagement and helped users quickly understand the AI tutor’s role
✺ When we presented the design at the Technical University of Munich, it was met with enthusiastic responses from founders and prospective users.
✺ Looking ahead, there’s an opportunity to measure long-term retention, test alternative onboarding flows, and refine the illustration style to resonate with a broader global audience.