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NameRead
Helping people say names with confidence in first-time interactions.
Mispronunciation isn’t a knowledge problem. It’s a social pressure problem. NameRead will help people say names right in Zoom meetings in first-time interactions.
• 87.5% of users felt “more respectful and comfortable.”
• Reduced hesitation in meetings
• Improved inclusivity in remote teams
Role
Product Designer
Timeline
5 Weeks, 2025
Contribution
Prototyping, Usability testing, Storytelling, User research
Problem？
In remote meetings, reading a name can always be the first moment of hesitation. Mispronouncing a name can quietly build disconnection before a conversation even begins.
Research？
• People don’t want to ask for pronunciation again so quickly, so they hesitate to say names until they feel more familiar.
• The first meeting is the highest-friction moment because people have not built familiarity yet.
Core Issue？
We reviewed 4 name-pronunciation tools + 4 meeting platforms and uncovered a gap. Current meeting tools support identification:
• Almost none of the tools enable private practice pre-meeting
• None of the platforms offer one-tap in-meeting audio playback
Goal
Increase first-time correct pronunciation rate and perceived meeting comfort (CSAT) for first introductions through Zoom. The tool may help millions of users who are working in a global environment reduce social pressure.
• Must operate on the Zoom system 🔗: Information Architecture.
• Must not interrupt meeting flow
Design Process
Existing solutions surface pronunciation (Profile Card), but fail to support real-time usage, are not available across all users, and are heavy to read.
The pronunciation feature in Profile Cards is hidden behind multiple clicks. Besides, they support lookup, but not fast recall in real conversations.
Instead of adding more information, we restructured how information is surfaced for clarity.
Because hesitation happens in real time, but confidence is built before the moment.
Before: users prepare privately to avoid making mistakes
During: users need fast, low-friction recall while speaking
After: reflection happens, but behavior rarely changes in the moment
Design Solution
• Users can record the name in the Zoom account profile and replay their pronunciation quickly. Led an A/B test, 7/8 participants preferred a more visible button to hear the name.
• Meeting invites include a “Name Pack” — a preview of all participants’ name pronunciation.
• Users can choose to display pronunciation, phonetics, and name stories visually.
• Users can hover to see a small name tag with a playback button, phonetic line, and personal story. 8/8 participants from an A/B test preferred the Hover Card interaction over Click-to-Reveal.
Highlight Interactions
Outcomes
Tested with 16 participants in 2 rounds of usability testing, using Figma prototypes and Userberry (online tools).
• Users felt “more respectful and comfortable.”
• Reduced hesitation in meetings
• Improved inclusivity in remote teams
feel less pressure
average satisfaction
appreciate Name Preview
Impact
NameRead may help millions of users reduce social pressure, strengthening Zoom’s role in inclusive, cross-cultural collaboration.
“Mispronouncing names isn’t just about language. It’s about identity, respect, and belonging.”
- Participant, Professor at Columbia University
Next Steps
Designing NameRead reminded me that inclusion is built through details. The simple act of saying a name correctly can reshape how people feel seen at work.
As a next step, I’d explore expanding NameRead beyond Zoom into broader workplace communication.
