Mahmood Zidan, a freelance graphic and brand designer with experience in UX/UI and a passion for 3D printing. His projects often span multiple languages and cultures. As part of the Arab minority in Israel, his daily communication and workday includes Arabic, Hebrew, and English — making clear, fast, and accurate transcription a core need in his workflow.
Mahmood Zidan
Graphic Designer, Multilingual Creative, and HiDock Power User
Inside the Designer's Setup
Mahmood's workspace is a typical setup for a graphic designer. His workflow involves a MacBook Pro, a HiDock, multiple screens, a TourBox, an iPad for sketching and developing concepts, and a mix of 3D-printed accessories. He always communicates with clients through WhatsApp, emails, and CMS platforms, while file management and brainstorming happen across multiple screens and devices.
Meetings are a regular part of his week, ranging from deep creative discussions to brief check-ins or price negotiations. "I record about two to three hours of meetings weekly," he says, noting that capturing the content without interrupting the flow of conversation is vital.
Why HiDock?
Mahmood first discovered HiDock through YouTube reviews. As a designer with a sharp eye for aesthetic and detail, he was instantly drawn to the HiDock design, especially the tactile knob and the ambient lighting. "I'm very picky about the features I want, so I try to find any hiccups or problems with devices I intend to buy beforehand." Mahmood says, "When I saw it, I thought it was awesome. The first thing that drew my attention was the knob. The whole design just clicked."
Before purchasing, he researched extensively about HiDock to ensure it would meet his needs. After getting the HiDock H1, he submitted feedback through the website and was surprised to hear back directly from the founder, Sean — a gesture that impressed him a lot and showed him the team's commitment to listening to users.
Working Across Languages
One of Mahmood's biggest challenges is navigating multilingual conversations. His meetings often consist of a mix between Arabic, Hebrew, and English. While he appreciates HiDock's simplicity for recording with a single button, the current AI transcription model struggles with language switching and dialect variation.
"In my case, it's complicated, even for AI or transcription. When we have a conversation here, we use slangs. It's not exactly the language that you study or find in books or in an online school. It's like going to New York and then you realize you don't speak the same," he explains.
Because of this, Mahmood currently uses HiDock primarily for audio features rather than full transcription. But the good news is that our software team is working hard to improve multilingual recognition. A major update on HiNotes is coming soon. This is especially meaningful for users like Mahmood, who operate in linguistically diverse environments.
On the Go with HiDock P1 & P1 mini
Mahmood is also an early backer of the HiDock P1 and P1 mini, our latest AI voice recorders for Bluetooth earphones, launched on Kickstarter this year. He hopes to use them for capturing voice notes or client calls on the move.
While he admits he hasn't used his phone shortcut for recording as much as expected, he sees transcription as the missing piece. "If I had transcription, I'd definitely use it more. Audio is just a file with no thumbnail — you don't know what's inside. But notes? You can skim, pick out what you need, and move on. That's why I ordered the P1 mini.”
He especially sees value in being able to record while driving or moving between locations, ensuring he doesn't lose track of ideas or conversations. "Being on the go in a car, I would love to have the same features as I have at a desk. I'm used to having everything recorded and ready for me when I need it. This is why I got the mini version. Same thing with the P1, I got it because I also sometimes work remotely with my laptop." Mahmood values having written notes over audio files for easier reference and organization.
Time Is the Real Asset
When asked about how he thinks HiDock would help ease the burden and show more potential for freelance workers, Mahmood says that time is the most precious asset. He values anything that saves him time. "Unlike being held on an hourly rate, I need to be efficient. Every task that takes less time means I can move faster through projects. You know, there's a quote that says, 'This meeting should have been an email.' I totally believe that most meetings are unnecessary, and could have been just a bullet point list with action items or notes." HiDock helps him stay focused during calls, giving him the luxury to review it later. Mahmood sees even more potential as transcription and summarization improve.
"I think it's a big help to freelancers to have an assistant that could summarize whatever the person in front of them is saying. You don't want to go over recordings or write notes during meetings. Having it happen automatically saves a lot of time that any freelancer would be happy to gain."
Expectations towards HiDock
Among his suggestions for improvement, Mahmood mentions Bluetooth connectivity range control and a more comfortable earpiece design. He suggests an adjustable Bluetooth range to prevent unwanted connections when moving away from the desk, similar to Wi-Fi signal adjustments — so audio only plays through HiDock when he's right at his desk.
Despite these minor friction points, Mahmood sees HiDock as a valuable part of his creative ecosystem. He appreciates the ease of recording meetings with a single button. For him, it's more than a productivity tool — it's a way to keep his attention where it matters most: on the work itself.
"HiDock is for people who value their time. I stay totally focused on the meeting so I can discuss things efficiently with my clients."
Mahmood envisions HiDock as a real asset to freelancers, especially those juggling many roles. He believes HiDock (with improved multi-language support) could greatly benefit professionals by reducing time spent on post-meeting note-taking and summarization. The future looks even brighter.
