A method is implemented at an electronic device for visually indicating a voice processing state. The electronic device includes an array of visual indicators and one or more microphones. The electronic device collects via the one or more microphones audio inputs from an environment in proximity to the electronic device and initializes processing of the audio inputs. A state of the processing is then determined from among a plurality of predefined voice processing states, and for each of the visual indicators, a respective predetermined illumination specification is determined in association with the determined voice processing state. In accordance with the identified illumination specifications of the visual indicators, the electronic device synchronizes illumination of the array of visual indicators to provide a visual pattern indicating the determined voice processing state. The visual pattern is displayed on the surface of the electronic device and includes one or more discrete illumination elements.