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Meet Octodo 🐙 — The Little Companion Behind Audio Action

Eight arms. One little companion. Helping turn thoughts into action.

When I started building Audio Action, I was focused on the product itself — the voice capture experience, turning spoken thoughts into actions, the interface and everything needed to make the idea work.

But somewhere along the way, I realised something was missing.

The app needed a personality.

I didn't want Audio Action to feel like another productivity tool that simply tells you what you haven't done yet. I wanted it to feel a little more human, approachable and memorable.

And that's how Octodo came to life.

Why an Octopus?

The idea started with something quite simple.

An octopus has eight arms, each capable of doing something different.

Our minds can feel a little like that.

We carry multiple thoughts at the same time — things we need to do, things we don't want to forget, ideas we want to explore, plans we want to make and dreams we want to pursue.

Sometimes it can feel like we're juggling everything at once.

That felt like the perfect metaphor for Audio Action.

Eight arms. Eight possibilities. One little companion.

And then came the name:

Octo + Todo = Octodo.

It was playful, easy to remember, and somehow felt right.

More Than Just a Mascot

I didn't want Octodo to exist simply as an illustration sitting somewhere inside the app.

The idea was for Octodo to represent the spirit of Audio Action.

Audio Action is about taking the things floating around in your head and giving them somewhere to go.

You speak a thought.
You capture it.
You turn it into an action.
And then you move forward.

Octodo is there as a friendly visual reminder of that process.

Not a productivity coach constantly telling you to do more.

Not another notification demanding your attention.

Just a little companion along the way.

Designing Octodo

Creating the character became an exploration in itself.

The goal was to give Octodo a visual identity that felt friendly, playful and expressive, while still fitting naturally within the overall design language of Audio Action.

The character needed to work across different parts of the experience — from the main app to illustrations, animations and future interactions — while remaining recognisable as the same little companion.

That meant thinking about more than just the body.

The expressions, eyes, eyebrows, mouth, tentacles and supporting visual elements all needed to work together as a cohesive character.

And because Audio Action is built around interaction, I wanted Octodo to feel alive in a more psychological and emotional sense, rather than simply through physical animation. To bring that personality into the experience, Octodo adds a touch of humour and warmth through text messages that appear as you use the app, making the interaction feel more human, playful and personal.

The Emotional Side of Octodo

Perhaps the most important thing Octodo represents is something I didn't initially set out to design:

encouragement.

Productivity can easily become a measure of everything we haven't finished.

Another unchecked task.
Another thing on the list.
Another reminder that there's still more to do.

I wanted Audio Action to have a different side to it.

A reminder that every task represents something meaningful — a responsibility, an idea, a goal, or perhaps a small step towards something much bigger.

That's also where Mindstream connects beautifully with Octodo.

Mindstream allows you to step back and see your actions moving gently across the screen. Instead of focusing only on what's left, it gives you a moment to recognise what you've already taken on and accomplished.

Octodo becomes the friendly face of that philosophy.

Do what matters. Keep moving. And remember to appreciate how far you've come.

From an Idea to a Character

Looking back, Octodo is one of those parts of Audio Action that I didn't know I needed when I started.

The original idea was about audio.

Then came actions.

Then the wider product experience.

And somewhere along that journey, Audio Action gained a little personality of its own.

Octodo isn't just the mascot of Audio Action.

It's a representation of what I hope the app can feel like:

simple, approachable, encouraging and a little bit playful.

And perhaps that's the most fitting thing about an octopus with eight arms.

There will always be a lot going on.
There will always be another thought.
Another action.
Another dream.

But you don't have to hold everything in your head.

Just speak it. Capture it. And take the next step.

Eight arms. One little companion. One action at a time. 🐙

Meet Octodo — your little companion on the journey from thought to action.

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