The Brief
Many men silently navigate the weight of corporate life, partnership, and fatherhood, often without the language to express how it feels. Andy Syms recognised this quiet struggle, and he decided to create something that offered reflection without judgement; a space to pause, to be seen, and to begin the work of reconnection.
Vanishing Man, at its heart, has a simple, powerful belief: that clarity begins with being understood. Andy came to us with a deeply personal mission, to reach the men who'd lost touch with themselves under the pressure of doing and providing. Together, we shaped that into a digital experience grounded in empathy, emotional insight, and thoughtful design. Vanishing Man is a beginning. A place for men to gently explore their inner landscape and move, step by step, toward clarity.
Creating Space for Self-Awareness
Vanishing Man Level 1 is a free, 50-question self-assessment that helps users surface patterns (coping behaviours, thought loops, emerging burnout risks). Designed for accessibility, this entry point invites reflection without pressure. It doesn't tell users who they are, it helps them ask the right questions.
For those ready to go deeper, Level 2 builds on that foundation. It's here that the platform becomes more personalised, more emotionally nuanced. Users are guided through a series of deeper questions exploring emotional disconnection, inner struggle, and relational withdrawal. Behind the scenes, a custom AI architecture powers the custom report generation, with the aim of making the output feel deeply human.
We designed a structured content system that adapts to the emotional state and cognitive profile of each user. The result? Reports that don't just inform, but resonate. They help users name what's been hard to articulate and offer clear, compassionate suggestions for moving forward.
A Tool That Feels Human
Our design approach was rooted in emotional intelligence. We built out the entire UX using Figma, carefully mapping flows that reduce friction, preserve attention, and feel emotionally safe. From the calm palette and clear typography to the layout of the questionnaire, every detail was intentionally quiet and spacious, designed to support reflection rather than demand attention.
On the technical side, we kept the product seamless and scalable. Stripe's API enabled quick, account-free purchasing for Level 2. Post-purchase email automation ensured users received personalised content links with no added friction. Behind the warmth of the copy sits a robust, scalable system.
The tone of voice was key. Working closely with Andy and we created a custom GPT, developing a reflective, grounded narrative style that was calm and insightful, never clinical. It was vital that users felt spoken to, not spoken at.
Designing with Emotional Intent
Vanishing Man isn't just a product, it's a quiet turning point. For many, it marks the first time they've slowed down enough to ask, "What's really going on inside me?" It doesn't diagnose or label. It listens. It reflects. And it invites users to begin untangling what's often felt too complex or too heavy to name.
From day one, this project was personal. Andy's vision was rooted in lived experience, and every decision we made, how the questions were shaped, how the results were delivered, how the tone felt, was designed to honour that. Our role was to help turn that emotional insight into something that could meet others where they are.
By blending AI logic with emotionally intelligent content design, we created a digital tool that doesn't feel like a funnel, it feels like a conversation. The technology works quietly in the background, letting the user's experience take centre stage. It's there to spark reflection, start conversations, and help men move from disconnection to clarity.
This project reminded us what good digital design can do. It can hold space. It can offer understanding. And it can give people the tools to reconnect with themselves, and with what really matters.
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