VisionTranslate
February - April 2024
My first experience on a product team– dipped my toes into business formation, GTM strategy, and emerging technology platforms through club startup project.
Overview
Timeline
3 Months
Business Strategist
Role
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3 Software Developers
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2 UI/UX Designers
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2 Business Strategists
Team
Project Context
Description
VisionTranslate is an accessibility app designed natively for Apple VisionOS, aimed at empowering users with hearing impairments. VisionTranslate overlays subtitles from conversations or multimedia content.
Goal
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Provide accessible solutions for users with hearing impairments on Apple Vision Pro
Problem Statement
Users with hearing impairments lack accessible solutions for real-time speech-to-text transcription in the new VisionOS ecosystem.
Product Analysis
Work
Market Research
Early Market Entry
New platforms like VisionOS present a unique opportunity where simple apps quickly gain traction due to limited competition. By launching VisionTranslate early in the platform’s lifecycle, we aimed to fill an important accessibility gap before established competitors entered the market. This timing strategy focused on building a strong user base while the app store was still small and users were actively seeking essential tools for their new devices.
Impact
This early market entry approach directly strengthened our GTM strategy by reducing customer acquisition costs and increasing organic discovery. With fewer competing apps in the VisionOS accessibility space, VisionTranslate would benefit from higher search rankings and featured placement opportunities in the app store.
Go-to-Market Strategy
As a result, VisionTranslate acquired 100+ users within the first three months of launching on the App Store.
I conducted a detailed, frame-by-frame audit of the onboarding flow, content creation process, chatbot, and settings interface—identifying layout issues, design flaws, bugs, and usability roadblocks throughout.
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Product Testing
Demoed the Apple Vision Pro for thedevelopment and design team, providing insights that informed the app's user interface and interaction design for spatial computing.
Usability Considerations
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Optimal text placement within the user's field of view
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Gesture-based navigation preferences
Recommendations
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Positioning subtitles in the lower peripheral vision to avoid obstructing immersive content
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Implementing adaptive transparency with smart contrast detection to ensure subtitle readability
Reflection
Working with people who brought completely different skills—designers, developers, and strategists—was a shift from what I was used to on sports teams, where everyone shares similar strengths. At first it felt unfamiliar, but the collaborative energy quickly became one of the most motivating parts of the project. We built a culture of shared excitement, and I found myself genuinely looking forward to every meeting. What made it work was how aligned we were on our purpose. Thanks to our PMs, we had a clear vision, and everyone pulled in the same direction to bring it to life.
My First Experience on a Product Team
Emerging Platforms Create Opportunity
Building for Apple Vision Pro showed me how powerful early adoption can be. With few competitors in the VisionOS app space, our team used timing as a strategic lever—launching early to maximize visibility, reduce acquisition costs, and carve out space before the market matured.
Designing an Accessibility App Requires Empathy
Creating a tool for users with hearing impairments challenged us to rethink how interfaces work in a spatial environment. We had to consider where text appears in the user’s field of vision, how to ensure readability in different lighting, and how gestures would feel natural. This experience showed me that designing for accessibility isn't just about inclusion—it's about creating thoughtful, user-centered products that work better for everyone.