Apptisan #020 — Talking with ideaShell’s Creator: This AI-Powered Voice Note App Ensures Great Ideas Don’t Just Remain Thought
ideaShell captures ideas by voice, amplifying reflection and action through AI.
Name: ideaShell
Developer / Team: RoundRedDot.
Platform: iOS
Read this newsletter issue in Chinese (中文) .
Please describe your product.
Capture your thoughts and inspirations by voice.
Every great idea starts from small sparks of inspiration. Having ideas and inspirations is just the first step. The process is: capture, reflect, act. So we use AI to assist in this process:
Capture: No need to organize your thoughts in advance. Just speak out your ideas without worrying about pauses, colloquial language, or unclear logic. AI can help organize everything.
Reflect: Always online, helping you nurture ideas, discuss and solve doubts, sort out your thoughts, and inspire creativity. It helps you discover every opportunity and highlight, making your ideas more mature and clear.
Act: Generate conversation summaries, to-do lists, planning proposals, work reports, copywriting, and more with one click. You can then continue to discuss and revise, meeting any need, even planning your next steps.
Three perspectives on good ideas:
Good ideas are always fleeting. — So writing them down is the first principle.
Good ideas should never be static. — So continuous reflection, nurturing, and growth are needed.
Good ideas should never stay just as ideas. — The true value of notes is not to stay on paper, so action is needed.
Was there a pivotal moment that inspired your product’s creation?
I’ve always wanted to create such software because I love capturing inspirations and taking notes, but I type very slowly and often make many typos. When I saw the emergence of ChatGPT, I felt that this could finally be achieved. I ultimately decided to develop this product after using ChatGPT to simulate the entire process and finding it feasible. There wasn’t really a single special moment.
This is a photo I took a few years ago, and these notebooks are just a part of my entire collection. I used to enjoy using paper notebooks, but later switched to an iPad. The Apple Pencil is amazing! I like to quickly record and sketch out my ideas.
What makes your product unique compared to others in the market?
The design (not just the visual design, but the entire product design).
A strong product quality is the foundation of a great product, and an attractive UI is also essential. That’s why we place a special emphasis on user experience and design. Functionally, we aim to downplay the technical aspects, much like in the movie Her, where technology doesn’t feel like technology. We borrowed the concept of physical sticky notes and continuously expanded on it, hoping to bring a sense of intimacy to users.
Additionally, we have a recording theme. When you are transcribing, there is a slight vibration, providing a kind of feedback from the physical world. This feeling is very wonderful.
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F572b4e26-1156-464b-9985-f427c1a11241_2012x1432.png)
How have you marketed your product, and what key lessons have you learned?
Currently, we mainly post on Twitter / X and haven’t started other promotion channels yet. In the early stages, we need to use data to verify and identify issues. Later, we will choose Xiaohongshu (a popular social media platform in China) for domestic promotion.
So far, the results have been consistent with this approach. The biggest takeaway, which is likely the same for many products, is to launch the product, use data to identify and verify issues, and then solve them. This process needs to happen as quickly as possible so that we can make the necessary adjustments.
What has been some memorable feedback since your product’s release?
I’ll start with the negative feedback. Some users find it difficult to understand certain design logic in the product, such as some interactive designs on our detail pages. This is actually a mistake we made; we have long-term plans for the product but can’t fully implement them in the current version. This causes confusion for users and makes me rethink the balance between the nodes and design in the product roadmap. Although there is no definite answer yet, a more straightforward approach might be to reduce “excessive” planning and design.
Positive feedback includes users noticing some design details and Easter eggs, which I find quite interesting. Because I love sci-fi movies, there are many Easter eggs in the app that pay tribute to sci-fi movies, such as Her and Star Wars. It feels resonant when these are discovered.
Are there any products out there that you feel deserve more recognition?
Linear: This product is simply exquisite. Early on, they precisely targeted users with similar tastes and qualities, and this user base has since expanded, influencing others and becoming a kind of flag bearer. Of course, their product capabilities are fundamental, such as speed, interactive experience, and unique visual design.
Reeder: This is an app I’ve been using for over 10 years, and it can be considered the pinnacle of reading software, with little likelihood of being surpassed in the future. They have done an excellent job in terms of design, performance, and consistency of multi-platform experience.
Are there any creators you admire? What outstanding qualities have you observed in them?
Kevin, the developer of Miraa.
His understanding of the product, his thinking, and his design taste are all exceptional.
One of his most noticeable qualities is his ability to balance product, design, and development, allowing all three to work together seamlessly as if it were a team effort without any weaknesses. This is particularly impressive given that he is an engineer, and achieving this balance is quite challenging.
Can you name some products that have significantly improved your sense of happiness?
Apple TV + HomePod(s).
I am a huge fan of movies, especially sci-fi and apocalyptic genres. I discovered that creating a stereo sound system with two HomePods is the easiest and most convenient way to set up a home theater. Combined with third-party viewing apps on Apple TV, it provides a fantastic experience. I highly recommend everyone to try it out.
Could you describe ideaShell’s product design process? Are there any tools or insights from this process that you believe could benefit other designers?
Typically, I don’t start with design directly. Even though I have a background as a designer, I usually begin with ideas. I might start by using MindNode to create mind maps to organize my thoughts, and then use GoodNotes to jot down some ideas. Occasionally, I also use a physical notebook; although I use my iPad more often, I still sometimes resort to paper and pen.
Once I have a general idea, I proceed to create design drafts. These drafts are usually made with Figma. Initially, I don’t focus too much on the design details but rather on showing the direction and ideas, and exploring design styles (even though I have a rough idea, I will create some mood boards). Here’s a tip: don’t get too caught up in details at the start of the design process, as it can limit your thinking and hinder idea generation.
Once the design takes shape, I then refine the details, such as specifications, layers, naming conventions, and components.
Main tools: iPad Pro, Apple Pencil, Mac, paper and pen
Software: GoodNotes, MindNode, Figma, Framer
Tell us a bit about yourself and what you envision for the future.
My name is Ping, and I am the founder of RoundRedDot. We are committed to creating tools that are both practical and visually appealing.
Previously, I was the Vice President and Chief Design Officer at iFanr, where I also founded the hardware brand Sugar Factory. Before that, I worked as a designer at Alibaba’s Taobao.
Our current goal is to develop more wonderful tools, especially by integrating AI technology into everyday applications.ideaShell is one of these tools. We have completed the initial version and plan to continue optimizing it, including introducing the Ask feature to facilitate search, review, and reflection through natural language. Our ultimate vision is to make ideaShell a valuable memory assistant and thinking partner, offering users a powerful tool for memory enhancement and cognitive support.
About Apptisan
Apptisan is a portmanteau of “application” and “artisan”, signifying “a weekly exploration into the world of apps and the passionate artisans who create them.” Each issue is a conversation with global creators, aiming to uncover and present intriguing products to a wider audience.
For those who prefer Chinese, you can subscribe via Quail. Creators interested in featuring their products are encouraged to submit them through our form, and we’ll be in touch promptly.
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