Bubbles
The chat bubble that improves your workflow
Bubbles is your new favourite team messaging platform designed to close the gap between professional productivity and human connection. Unlike traditional enterprise communication apps that prioritize corporate formality, Bubbles creates a, literally, bubble where teams can collaborate effectively while expressing their personalities and building genuine relationships.
Client
Bubbles
Deliberables
Logo Branding assets Promotional material Landing page
Year
2025
Role
Lead Product Designer
Problem
Despite having more communication tools than ever, workplace teams are experiencing a connection crisis. Our research with 847 knowledge workers revealed that 67% find their current messaging platforms too formal and corporate, while 54% struggle to build meaningful relationships with colleagues through digital communication. This isn't just about comfort—it's about performance. Teams that connect on a human level demonstrate 23% higher productivity and 31% lower turnover rates. Yet our competitive analysis shows that leading platforms like Slack and Teams score below 5/10 on personal connection metrics, despite high marks for professional functionality.
Foundation
We conducted comprehensive UX research across multiple methodologies to understand not just what users want, but why current solutions are failing. Through 120 survey responses, 16 in-depth interviews, and 43 card sorting exercises, three critical insights emerged: First, there's a universal desire for authentic communication—78% of users want better ways to express personality at work, but 73% worry about appearing unprofessional. This tension is paralyzing teams. Second, notification fatigue is crushing productivity. 71% of respondents cited overwhelming notifications as their top frustration, leading to either constant interruption or complete message avoidance. Third, current tools are accidentally dehumanizing workplace relationships. As one marketing manager told us: 'I feel like I have to put on a professional mask even in team chat. I want to be myself but also get work done.'
Opportunity
Our research revealed a significant market gap. While Discord scores 8.7/10 on fun factor, it only achieves 6.9/10 on professional effectiveness. Conversely, Slack delivers 8.2/10 professional effectiveness but just 3.1/10 on fun factor. Teams are forced to choose between productivity and personality. Bubbles does both - by designing features that improve both professional collaboration and human connection at the same time.
Validation
Our prototype testing with 32 users demonstrated the validity of this approach. Participants completed social interaction tasks 23% faster than with current apps, while rating their ability to express personality at 9.1/10 - nearly double the score of traditional platforms. Most significantly, our A/B testing showed that when we shifted from 'Update your status' to 'How's your vibe today?', daily engagement increased by 97%. Small changes in language and interaction design can dramatically impact user behavior and satisfaction.
