Scrivener
Powerful, but steep learning curve. Writers feel overwhelmed before they've written a word.
Inkbug Beta
Designing a writing workspace that supports momentum.
Built from the ground up.
Inkbug is a writing companion app I created from scratch — concept, user flow, visual identity, and entire interface. My goal was to build a tool that supports authors with structure, clarity, and motivation without overwhelming them.
My Role
Founder & Senior Visual Designer. I owned product strategy, UX architecture, UI design, visual identity, front-end styling, and the component library.
Current State
Beta with one active project slot while multi-project functionality is tested and expanded.
The Problem
Most writing tools fall into two extremes.
Writers told me they wanted something in the middle — organized, warm, and creative. Not clinical or chaotic.
Notion
Flexible but blank-canvas paralysis. No writing-specific structure or built-in motivation.
Dabble
Clean but sterile. Nothing about the interface inspires a writer to open it every day.
Design Process
Goals
What I set out to solve
- Reduce cognitive overload for writers at every stage
- Create a workspace that feels calm and inspiring, not clinical
- Make progress visible and motivating
- Build a UI system that feels intentional and consistent
- Support structure without boxing writers in
Research & Insights
What writers told me through interviews and surveys
- Writers want structure, but not complexity
- Warm, editorial design resonates strongly
- Progress needs to be visible to sustain momentum
- Decorative UI should support the experience, not distract
- Long-form writing requires excellent typography
Information Architecture
Built around the natural flow of writing
The IA is organized into three modes so writers never lose their place in the process. Each section feeds into the next — planning feeds drafting, drafting feeds progress.
Write
Chapters · Scenes · Notes
Organize
Characters · Plot · Worldbuilding
Progress
Goals · Streaks · Word Count
Visual Design System
A full system built from scratch to ensure consistency
Every interface decision is backed by a component library and token system. This is what makes the product feel intentional at every screen — not just the hero view.
Color tokens
Typography scale
Spacing scale
Component library
Iconography style
Responsive rules
Interaction patterns
Iterations
Two rounds of focused refinement before final build
Iteration 1 → 2
- Improved contrast across all components
- Simplified chapter cards to reduce noise
- Reduced decorative elements in the workspace
- Softened elevation and shadows sitewide
Iteration 2 → 3
- Added progress rings to dashboard
- Introduced chapter health indicators
- Refined mobile writing mode for small screens
- Improved long-form typography for readability
Final Design
A workspace that feels warm, structured, and motivating
The final experience spans a full dashboard, chapter workspace, writing challenges, character sheets, progress tracking, and a writing environment for focused drafting. Key screens below.
Join the Beta
Inkbug Beta is looking for authors.
Beta access is limited. If you're working on a manuscript and want a writing tool built around your actual process, apply below.