Fixing the Samsung’s Call Experience

UX

REDESIGN

AUDIT

This personal project explores how a subtle design tweaks adding minimal visual feedback to a phone dialer can significantly enhance user clarity. It’s not about redesigning the entire interface but about recognizing and addressing a small gap that impacts the overall experience.

Role:

Design Strategist

Tools Used:

Figma, Notion

Duration:

1 week

Project Type:

Personal Project

The dialer was functional. But not communicative.

While making a regular phone call, I noticed something odd: there was no visual sign telling me if the call was connecting, ringing, being forwarded, or failing. The screen just sat there—static and silent—relying only on audio.

In noisy places or when using earphones, this lack of visual feedback creates confusion. It breaks a basic rule of usability: users should always know what’s happening.

What if one small detail could fix it?

Can I help people understand what is happening during a phone call just by adding one small visual layer? I did not want to redesign the app or add extra buttons. I was not trying to make the screen look fancy or modern. I only wanted to add a small detail that tells the user something important without changing the way they use the phone.

I believed that sometimes the smallest change can give the biggest clarity. So the real challenge was this: Can I create a better experience using as little design as possible?

Adding the Real time feeback

The dialer app provided no clear, real-time visual feedback during various call states, such as:

• Connecting

• Ringing

• On hold

• Line busy / declined

• Call forwarding

• Errors / signal issues


Users had to guess what was going on — relying only on auditory cues or waiting for the screen to change. This gap creates uncertainty, especially in:

• Loud environments (stations, concerts)

• Quiet spaces (libraries, meetings)

• Accessibility use cases (users with hearing difficulties)

The dialer app provided no clear, real-time visual feedback during various call states, such as:

• Connecting

• Ringing

• On hold

• Line busy / declined

• Call forwarding

• Errors / signal issues

Users had to guess what was going on — relying only on auditory cues or waiting for the screen to change. This gap creates uncertainty, especially in:

Loud environments (stations, concerts)

Quiet spaces (libraries, meetings)

Accessibility use cases (users with hearing difficulties)

Brainstorming

Explored over 20+ ideas for visual feedback, including:

• Animated progress bars

• Color-coded backgrounds for call states

• Pulsing icons and signals

• Subtle wave or ripple effects

• Spinning dots or lines to show waiting/processing

After testing and filtering, I focused on a minimalist direction using color + motion as the primary feedback method.

Clarity Through Simplicity

My goal was to add subtle, elegant visual indicators that communicate call status instantly — without cluttering the screen or distracting the user.

I focused on:

• Minimal background animations

• Clear color cues

• Eliminating reliance on text or icons

• Designing for glanceable moments — when the user just wants quick feedback

My goal was to add subtle, elegant visual indicators that communicate call status instantly — without cluttering the screen or distracting the user.

I focused on:

  1. Minimal background animations

  2. Clear color cues

  3. Eliminating reliance on text or icons

  4. Designing for glanceable moments — when the user just wants quick feedback

Designing the Visual Feedback System

Connecting

Grey arrows moving upward

Transition in progress

Ringing

Green arrows moving upward

Upward motion = urgency

Call Forwarding

Blue arrows moving upward

Visualizes the rerouting process

Answered

Green pulse animation

Confirmation of connection

Busy / Declined

Red pulse animation

Pulse highlights attention

On Hold

Orange pulse animation

Gentle pulse shows it’s not over

Call Error / No Signal

Grey pulse animation

Subtle alert of issue

Designing for the Real World

To make sure the solution worked in real life, I thought about everyday situations where audio feedback might fail. In a busy train station, visual cues can replace lost sounds and help users understand what’s happening. At a loud concert, subtle animations can quietly inform without needing vibrations or headphones. And in a quiet library, gentle visuals can keep users updated without making any noise or causing distraction.

Big Impact with Small Details

This project was a reminder that tiny interactions when designed well can transform how users feel about everyday tools. By improving the visibility of system status in the dialer, I was able to:

• Make the experience more understandable

• Reduce user uncertainty and anxiety

• Improve accessibility for all environments

• Maintain a clean, familiar interface while adding depth and clarity

Forwarding

The forwarding state uses calm blue tones and upward movement to indicate that the call is being redirected. This helps users understand that the call hasn’t failed—it’s simply being routed elsewhere. The animation reassures users and reduces confusion during this brief transition.

Forwarding

The forwarding state uses calm blue tones and upward movement to indicate that the call is being redirected. This helps users understand that the call hasn’t failed—it’s simply being routed elsewhere. The animation reassures users and reduces confusion during this brief transition.

Forwarding

The forwarding state uses calm blue tones and upward movement to indicate that the call is being redirected. This helps users understand that the call hasn’t failed—it’s simply being routed elsewhere. The animation reassures users and reduces confusion during this brief transition.

Forwarding
Ringing

The ringing state uses vibrant green hues with upward motion to show that the recipient’s phone is ringing. It provides real-time feedback that the connection is progressing as expected. This reassures users and helps reduce uncertainty while waiting.

Ringing

The ringing state uses vibrant green hues with upward motion to show that the recipient’s phone is ringing. It provides real-time feedback that the connection is progressing as expected. This reassures users and helps reduce uncertainty while waiting.

Ringing

The ringing state uses vibrant green hues with upward motion to show that the recipient’s phone is ringing. It provides real-time feedback that the connection is progressing as expected. This reassures users and helps reduce uncertainty while waiting.

Ringing
Connecting

This state shows the initial attempt to connect the call using soft grey tones and subtle motion. It signals that the system is working behind the scenes to establish contact. The visual offers clarity and lowers anxiety during the early moment of dialing.

Connecting

This state shows the initial attempt to connect the call using soft grey tones and subtle motion. It signals that the system is working behind the scenes to establish contact. The visual offers clarity and lowers anxiety during the early moment of dialing.

Connecting

This state shows the initial attempt to connect the call using soft grey tones and subtle motion. It signals that the system is working behind the scenes to establish contact. The visual offers clarity and lowers anxiety during the early moment of dialing.

Connecting
Busy

The busy state appears when the recipient is unavailable or declines the call, marked by strong red tones. The color immediately conveys a sense of finality and clear feedback. It prevents confusion and quickly informs users of the outcome.

Busy

The busy state appears when the recipient is unavailable or declines the call, marked by strong red tones. The color immediately conveys a sense of finality and clear feedback. It prevents confusion and quickly informs users of the outcome.

Busy

The busy state appears when the recipient is unavailable or declines the call, marked by strong red tones. The color immediately conveys a sense of finality and clear feedback. It prevents confusion and quickly informs users of the outcome.

Busy
Answered

A call that’s been answered transitions into a steady green background with gentle pulse effects. This indicates a successful connection and marks the start of the conversation. The design ensures users feel confident and aware that the call is active.

Answered

A call that’s been answered transitions into a steady green background with gentle pulse effects. This indicates a successful connection and marks the start of the conversation. The design ensures users feel confident and aware that the call is active.

Answered

A call that’s been answered transitions into a steady green background with gentle pulse effects. This indicates a successful connection and marks the start of the conversation. The design ensures users feel confident and aware that the call is active.

Answered
Waiting

Yellow tones and a paused animation represent a call on hold or waiting. It signals to users that the call is still connected, just temporarily inactive. This helps manage expectations and keeps the user engaged without uncertainty.

Waiting

Yellow tones and a paused animation represent a call on hold or waiting. It signals to users that the call is still connected, just temporarily inactive. This helps manage expectations and keeps the user engaged without uncertainty.

Waiting

Yellow tones and a paused animation represent a call on hold or waiting. It signals to users that the call is still connected, just temporarily inactive. This helps manage expectations and keeps the user engaged without uncertainty.

Waiting

Designing Clarity Into Everyday Moments

This personal project focused on solving a subtle yet significant UX gap — the lack of visual feedback in call processes. By introducing minimal animations and intuitive color cues, I designed a cleaner, more informative experience without disrupting the simplicity of the dialer.

Though not formally tested, the redesign is rooted in best practices and thoughtful design decisions, clearly outlined in this case study. It reflects my ability to spot overlooked interaction problems and solve them with intention.

© 2025 I Sharan Bakki

© 2025 I Sharan Bakki