2021
Snap Inc.
Overview
Roughly 28% of Spotlight Snaps are viewed with the sound off, yet Snapchat lacked a built-in captioning tool to support this viewing behavior. While closed captions are typically seen as an accessibility feature, Snapchat had no native solution for creators to add captions in a way that was both visually expressive and accessible—resulting in a gap for both creative control and inclusive content.
Role
As the Lead Product Designer, I designed a live-captioning tool that gave creators the ability to add dynamic, customizable captions to their Snaps.
Feature Breakdown
The goal was to create a tool that felt native to Snapchat’s playful design language while addressing real user needs around sound-off viewing and accessibility. Given the feature’s focus on Creator content, I also explored alternate captioning styles to support deaf and hard-of-hearing users, ensuring the solution was both expressive and inclusive. The result was a captioning experience that empowered creators with more control and made content more engaging and accessible for all viewers.
Business Impact
The live-captioning tool drove strong engagement across the board:
+17% increase in creation
+42% increase in Snap sends
+20% increase in story views
