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Project Overview
BrainByte is a conversational AI app that lets users chat with historical figures - from Nikola Tesla to Cleopatra, using playful, low-friction interfaces and a vibrant pixel-art aesthetic. The goal was to make learning feel magical, personal, and weirdly delightful.
I created the full visual and interaction system: product UI, marketing website, brand identity, and all pixel art. The result is an experience that’s educational but doesn’t feel like school, but a safe place where curiosity drives engagement, and pixel personalities bring the past to life.
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The Challenge
AI products often fall into two main brands, both in design and UX : They're either slick but sterile, or experimental but inaccessible.
We wanted to differentiate Brainbyte from other AI products, therefore it needed to be:
We wanted to differentiate Brainbyte from other AI products, therefore it needed to be:
- Approachable: Fun and frictionless enough that anyone, no matter their age, could jump in and try it
- Educational: Deliver real historical insights and meaningful dialogue
- Distinctive: Compete in a sea of ChatGPT clones and AI toolkits with a clear brand personality
- Scalable: Support a growing cast of characters and possible storylines without design bloat
I had to create a brand and product experience that was clear, lovable, and easy to expand.
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I developed a pixel-art identity that connects playfulness with retro learning nostalgia. It included custom pixel avatars: Each historical figure is rendered in a mini character portrait, detailed but expressive. The Typography was chosen as Rounded, modern fonts contrast with the pixel visuals for a clean/fun balance. The Color palette was bright but soft - every screen feels cohesive and friendly without being chaotic. It also featured Micro-interactions: Subtle animations and transitions make the app feel alive without slowing it down
This visual identity supports both the learning mission and the app’s goal of being accessible to all ages.
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Product Design
I designed a lightweight, mobile-friendly chat app that gives each historical figure a distinct visual identity and conversational flow:
- Onboarding: simple and fast - pick a character and start chatting
- Main interface: stylized chat bubbles, character headers, and a friendly tone that makes the experience feel playful
- AI personality profiles: Each character has a mini pixel portrait and introduction
- Back navigation: lets users jump between figures and revisit past chats
The UI system is designed to feel like a tiny time machine with a friendly UI, part toy, part tool.
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Marketing Website and Social Media
The marketing site and social media campaign introduces the app with a tone that’s quirky, clear, and confidence-building:
- Homepage: quickly explains the app concept, “Talk to the past”, and invites visitors to start immediately
- Character cards: showcases the historical cast as adorable pixel portraits
- Call to action: prominent “Try it now” buttons, no-login needed
- Performance-focused: fast-loading, responsive, and accessible across devices
The site blends storytelling and conversion with personality, turning casual scrollers into curious clickers. The Social Media ads were accessible and friendly, and prompted the user towards learning and conversating with fascinating characters.
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Results & Reach
While BrainBytes is still in its early stages, it was built for growth and scalability.
- Dozens of characters added with no UI changes needed, thanks to a flexible design system
- Used by students, teachers, and curious adults as a learning companion
- Sparked creative user behavior, like “debating Marx vs. Machiavelli” or “asking Tesla to explain NFTs”
- The pixel-art characters became a visual hook, widely shared on social and Discord communities
- The brand tone helped BrainBytes stand apart in a saturated AI tools space
- Users describe it as “funny, weird, and kind of brilliant”—exactly the intended vibe
BrainBytes combines three things I love: smart interaction design, creative technology, and strong visual storytelling. It was a chance to build a product end-to-end- from UI flows to avatars to launch site, while making something educational that doesn’t talk down to its users.
It’s playful, curious, and built to grow- Just like the minds it’s meant to inspire.