ELLO

BYND RECT II (25/26)

BFA Design

Discover BYND RECT II

Outline

ELLO is a real-time AI translation app designed to help students navigate conversations with confidence. Moving beyond direct translation, ELLO captures cultural nuance, tone, and slang to deliver meaning as it’s truly intended. With its press-to-translate feature, users can access instant translation exactly when needed. By reducing language barriers without interrupting the natural flow of conversation, ELLO enables users not only to understand and express themselves, but also to feel a genuine sense of belonging. It’s not just about translating words—it’s about connecting people through shared understanding.

Meet the Creative

Yumin Kim

D.B.A: Yumin

Yumin Kim is a graphic designer currently studying at the School of Visual Arts, based in New York City and Seoul. She focuses on branding and UI/UX, valuing the creation of compelling brand stories and the translation of solutions into clear, impactful visuals.

Story

ELLO began with a simple question:

What if language barriers didn’t interrupt conversations, but quietly disappeared within them?

As international students in a new country, we often found ourselves missing meaning in fast conversations, struggling to express the right tone, and feeling disconnected even when we understood the words. These experiences revealed a gap—translation tools convert language, but rarely capture nuance, intent, or cultural context.

ELLO was created to bridge that gap.

Designed as a real-time, on-demand translator, ELLO works only when needed. Its press-to-translate interaction delivers instant support without breaking the flow of conversation, allowing users to stay present and engaged.

Beyond direct translation, ELLO recognizes cultural nuance and slang, interpreting meaning between the lines. It supports not only understanding, but also expression—helping users communicate more naturally and confidently.

ELLO is more than a translation app. It’s a conversation companion—turning moments of hesitation into connection, and language into a sense of belonging.

Apple Watch in real-world use. The wearable interface displays Ello’s translation feature in action, highlighting accessibility and seamless integration into everyday life.

What We Did

UX Research
ELLO’s UX research was grounded in both academic study and user-centered inquiry. Initial research identified critical pain points in existing translation tools. To validate these findings, in-depth interviews were conducted with professors and students, who are the core users of the product. The insights derived from this process directly shaped ELLO’s design principles, emphasizing real-time interaction, cultural nuance, and seamless conversational engagement.
Design
The Ello logo is inspired by a speech bubble. It represents a sense of continuous conversation through its flowing line, as well as smooth translation expressed by its soft, curving forms.
Branding
Developed ELLO’s friendly, approachable, and supportive tone through rounded visual and typographic elements and a simple interface. Legibility was prioritized, particularly for Apple Watch use. The visual concept centers on a UI that is simple, yet not boring.

Data-driven insight visuals supporting the project. Statistics highlight the number of international students in the U.S., SVA’s student demographics, and the impact of language barriers, grounding the design in real user needs.

Media

Apple Watch interface showcasing Ello’s real-time translation experience. The screen displays emotional keywords like “happy,” “excited,” and “angry” in bold, colorful typography, emphasizing expressive communication.

Ello’s core watch interaction flow. Users press to start translation, select languages, and receive instant results. The interface highlights key features like “Press-to-translate” and minimal, distraction-free communication.

Nuance Detection feature on Apple Watch. Ello identifies cultural meaning behind phrases like “You’re the goat” or “I’m broke,” translating not just words but intent and tone for deeper understanding.

Mobile app and Apple Watch integration. The phone interface introduces the watch connection, while the watch UI demonstrates real-time translation, creating a seamless cross-device experience.

Personalized dictionary feature within the mobile app. Users can explore saved words like “Banter” and “Lowkey,” with contextual meanings and examples that support language learning over time.