In an era where AI tools are multiplying fast, with the promise to improve how we work across industries, technical prowess alone is no longer enough to drive widespread adoption.
Users increasingly demand experiences that build trust, foster emotional connection, and combat perceptions of cold impersonality. Strong branding through personality, visual identity, and human-like elements plays a critical role in bridging this gap.
By characterizing AI interfaces with memorable personalities and consistent aesthetics, brands can not only differentiate in a saturated market but also drive deeper user engagement and loyalty. That’s exactly what Voiceflip sought to create when they partnered with Modern.tech, leveraging our deep expertise in crafting compelling product identities to bring Ardi and Zip to life.
Crafting an Identity
Voiceflip builds custom AI assistants tailored for the real estate industry, transforming documents, policies, and internal knowledge into instant, always-on support. Their assistants speak fluent real estate, feel human, and free teams to focus on high-value work while keeping staff and members happy.
When Voiceflip partnered with Modern.tech, they already had a strong foundation, but to truly differentiate in a crowded AI landscape, they needed cohesive brand guidelines and visual assets that could scale across marketing channels. The primary goal? Bring their two flagship AI assistants to life with personalities that resonated with their audiences.
Over a focused short-term engagement, Modern.tech synthesized comprehensive brand guidelines as a source of truth for Voiceflip’s identity. This included refining the logo usage, establishing primary and secondary colors for vibrancy and consistency, defining typography, iconography, and more. These guidelines served as the bedrock, ensuring every touchpoint felt unified and professional.
The heart of the project, however, was bringing their AI-assistants to life: Ardi, the wise owl for MLSs, Associations, and their members; and Zip, the energetic chipmunk for PropTech companies.
Ardi embodies reliability and wisdom, the perfect traits for an assistant that works tirelessly 24/7, delivering accurate answers on rules, services, and benefits. Drawing inspiration from the owl’s classic association with knowledge, Modern.tech gave Ardi wide-eyed excitement and a fun, inviting personality, with the signature Voiceflip pink integrated into her design via both her feathers and glasses—a nod to the parent brand.
Zip, on the other hand, captures speed and cleverness for fast-moving PropTech teams. This quick chipmunk tackles onboarding chaos, FAQ overload, and repetitive queries instantly, pulling from help docs and internal resources without ever hitting a ticket backlog. Like Ardi, Zip’s design channels energetic charm and that same nostalgic, approachable vibe, echoing beloved helpers like Microsoft’s Clippy (RIP), but updated for today’s AI era.
Modern.tech developed full branded identities for each mascot, including logos, expressions, poses, and guidelines. Beyond the characters, the team created practical templates: social media graphics, newsletter designs, sales decks, web assets, and business card layouts, aligned to the new guidelines to stand out in what has quickly become a booming AI-ecosystem.
Collaboration as the Moving Force
Collaboration between both teams was key to land on personas that truly resonate with the brand and product direction. The team at Modern kept the Voiceflip team deeply involved, allowing for real-time feedback, refinements, and approvals. This close partnership ensured the vision stayed true while leveraging Modern.tech’s proven experience in building standout technology brands.
The results speak for themselves since bringing both Ardi and Zip to life. The mascots have quickly become fan favorites, especially guest appearing at conferences in the form of swag and plushies, sparking energizing conversations throughout the real estate industry. These tangible, fun elements helped Voiceflip cut through the noise, making their AI assistants not just functional, but endearing and memorable.
The AI space is often criticized for feeling cold, impersonal, and inhuman, but Voiceflip’s branded assistants prove that thoughtful design and personality can drive real adoption. By infusing personality into technology, the partnership with Modern.tech created a brand that’s vibrant, consistent, and ready to scale—turning innovative support tools into beloved industry companions.
