Leela Podcast App – Designing Within Apple’s System
Leela Labs
Problem
Leela Labs needed to quickly design and launch an MVP podcast app that offered a streamlined listening experience while introducing new features—like the ability to rate podcast content and subscribe to specific topics. The challenge was to create an experience that felt modern and playful while strictly adhering to Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines. I was responsible for UX flows, system-aligned component design, and visual branding, including the app icon.
Results
I designed a mobile-first MVP for the Leela Podcast App that followed Apple’s native interaction patterns and iOS visual conventions. The final experience included a scrollable player screen, integrated rating system, playlist features, and a clear visual hierarchy that worked at scale. I also created a bold, clean app icon that represented the brand without compromising system fit. The project highlighted mobile UX fluency, platform alignment, and visual design clarity—delivered on a fast timeline.
My Role
UI/UX Design, Visual Direction, Branding, App Icon Design
Target Audience
Leela Labs (client), podcast listeners, iOS mobile users
Search Flow + Toolbar Design
Moved directly into high-fidelity mobile designs using Sketch to meet tight MVP timeline
Designed modular podcast cards with episode title, length, content CTA, and rating interface
Introduced an info icon that opened a bottom popup sheet, providing quick access to episode descriptions without disrupting the scroll experience
Integrated a 4-icon toolbar (Search, My Podcasts, Alerts, More), styled to match Apple HIG spacing and tap target specs
Balanced visual simplicity with discoverability to prioritize usability in early-stage release
Player Screen + Content Rating
Designed a clean player screen that aligned with native iOS behavior, allowing content to remain accessible while audio playback continued uninterrupted
Prioritized white space and visual clarity to emphasize listening-first experience
Designed a custom rating component for users to react to podcast content—placed to minimize distraction
Structured layout according to Apple’s spacing and text hierarchy guidance
Collaborated with client to simplify the MVP scope—phasing in sharing functionality for a future release
App Icon Design
Explored visual concepts for “L” that balanced boldness, curiosity, and platform consistency
Chose color gradients inspired by rising sound waves to support an audio-first experience
Designed for legibility and recognition at various iOS sizes using Apple’s icon grid and corner radius logic
Delivered an icon that aligned with platform expectations while helping Leela stand out in the App Store
“This project challenged me to design within Apple’s mobile design system while introducing new user interactions that felt intuitive and lightweight. From playlist creation to content rating, I had to strike a balance between feature richness and platform simplicity. Designing the app icon and interface flows together allowed me to unify visual direction with UX strategy—an exercise in creative constraint, clarity, and clean execution.”
— Reflections