Apptisan #028 — Talking with Scribe’s Creator: How a Craft Product Designer Built an AI Voice Memo App for Effortless Idea Capture On-the-Go
For our 28th edition, we welcomed Daniela Muntyan, co-founder and Chief Product Officer of 31 Labs, who is also the product designer for Craft, a renowned note-taking application.
Name: Scribe
Developer / Team: 31 Labs
Platforms: iOS
Read this newsletter issue in Chinese (中文) .
Please describe your product.
Scribe app is the ultimate AI voice memos tool for professionals, students, journalists, and more. With its one-tap voice recorder and real-time transcription capabilities, you can easily capture and transcribe important information on the go. Search and playback your recordings effortlessly, and export them as TXT or audio files for easy sharing. The app also offers smart AI features like automatic title generation and live captioning.
Whether you’re a student taking notes in class, professional recording meetings, or a journalist conducting interviews, Scribe app is the perfect solution to boost your productivity and streamline your workflow. Your privacy and security are our top priorities – your data is always confidential and never shared with third parties.
Was there a pivotal moment that inspired your product’s creation?
Greg and I both noticed the difficulty in finding a simple voice recorder app on the iPhone. Greg came up with the idea to create an extremely simple voice recorder that we believed people would love. I have always been a massive fan of simple apps, as products become overwhelming as they grow in complexity.
We decided that the key focus of our app would be simplicity and ease of use to make it a one-click recorder. Inspired by the simple design of recording devices from Teenage Engineering, we aimed to achieve a similar level of simplicity where users could just tap and begin recording. As I searched for the right visual metaphor for our app, I realized I don’t have any smart devices in my car - just a simple disc player. I love the convenience of having my favorite music with me on discs, and I decided to use this as the main metaphor for our app.
After sharing our idea on Twitter, we were overwhelmed by the positive response from people. Encouraged by the feedback, Greg and I decided to move forward and start building the app.
What makes your product unique compared to others in the market?
Our app focuses on delivering a seamless user experience through its unique design and simplicity. We strive to provide a one-tap recording feature that sets us apart from other apps in the market. This approach has contributed to our rapid growth and success. Moving forward, we will continue prioritizing simplicity and ease of use while incorporating additional features to enhance the overall user experience.
How have you marketed your product, and what key lessons have you learned?
When we first launched, I posted on Twitter to attract more attention to our voice recorder. Greg did a fantastic job with competitive analysis, and we had already conducted extensive research on potential markets that could benefit from our app. With the knowledge we gained from our competitors, we began our marketing campaign and saw incredible growth. One key factor was our investment in localization to provide a better user experience and simplify the marketing of our app. This strategy has proven to be very effective.
What has been some memorable feedback since your product’s release?
We received valuable feedback from a user regarding using a voice recorder during a walk in the park. He expressed concern about losing his recording if his phone turned off or he received a call. However, once we became aware of this particular use case, we quickly addressed this issue.
It is essential to consider all potential use cases and listen to the needs and concerns of users.
Are there any products out there that you feel deserve more recognition?
I recently came across the Nothing Ear (a) and was blown away by its design. The quality of sound and durability far surpassed my expectations, and the vibrant yellow added a stylish touch. It’s a prime example of exceptional design in technology.
Craft is not just any app — it’s my absolute favorite. This powerful tool allows me to create impressive, functional, and visually stunning documents. What sets Craft apart is its flexibility in expression. Whether I want to sketch out ideas on a virtual whiteboard, organize data in a table, or create beautiful cards with my favorite photos, Craft delivers. The ability to customize and style my documents makes me incredibly productive. I rely on Craft for various tasks like maintaining my diary, creating shopping lists, compiling recipes, and organizing my design library. It truly serves as my second brain.
Another product that left a lasting impression on me is mmm.page. It’s a fun and exciting tool that allows for endless self-expression. I highly recommend trying it and experiencing its creative potential firsthand.
Are there any creators you admire? What outstanding qualities have you observed in them?
Twitter is a great platform for me to find inspiration from a variety of creators. I appreciate the open and supportive community on Twitter, where everyone is willing to help each other out.
One person I really admire is Steve Ruiz, the Founder of Tldraw, a React developers’ infinite canvas SDK. I believe he and his team are setting a great example by creating small interactions that make a big impact on people.
I greatly admire the simplicity of Zerocam, an app Sergio and Dmitry Novikov created. It’s a great example of an absolutely simple product that works. The onboarding process and overall interaction are truly impressive.
Can you walk us through your typical design process from concept to completion? What tools and methodologies do you rely on?
My design process may seem a bit messy, but it’s a method that works for me. Initially, I like to spend time immersing myself in the subject matter and gathering as much knowledge as possible from various sources such as articles, books, references, and data from tools like Sensor Tower. This helps me to build a mental whiteboard filled with ideas and possibilities, which I then capture in thorough notes.
From there, I transition to sketching out concepts on notepads. Drawing on my background in illustration, I find that physically creating sketches allows me to explore ideas freely without getting bogged down in implementation details. Once I have a few promising concepts, I move on to prototyping and design.
For prototyping, I rely on tools like Play and Figma. I collaborate with my team to test different ideas, evaluate their effectiveness, and make informed decisions on the best approach. Documentation is crucial to my process, as I believe clear communication is key to successful design implementation. I use tools like Craft to consolidate and organise all project details for seamless handover.
Finally, I prioritise ongoing feedback and iteration to refine and improve the design. By constantly seeking input and making adjustments based on insights, I ensure the final product meets and exceeds expectations.
Tell us a bit about yourself and what you envision for the future.
I am Daniela Muntyan, a Product Designer at Craft Docs in London. With eight years of experience in designing iOS apps and multi-platform design systems, I have had the opportunity to work with well-known brands such as Vodafone and Spellar AI. Originally from Ukraine.
I am also the co-founder and Chief Product Officer of the Scribe app. Working alongside Greg Tkachenko, a successful entrepreneur and co-founder of AI Factory (which was acquired by Snapchat for 166M$), we have brought a unique blend of experience and innovation.
Greg Tkachenko, recognized as a Forbes 30 under 30, serves as the CEO of Scribe, where we continue to push boundaries and drive impactful solutions through our collaborative efforts. Together, we are dedicated to creating outstanding experiences and driving success in all our projects.
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.
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