Design lead

product definition

research

ui design & Prototyping

Project: Enhance messaging experience on Android auto. Press link

Problem statement: Android Auto integration with messaging apps have been through notifications. This meant users were interacting with all their messages (from various apps) on the Notification center. This was a different content and interaction model than users’ app-based mental model. We needed to enhance our messaging integration to support drivers better.

My role and responsibilities: I led the design track from definition to first phase of implementation. Collaborated with product manager on product definition; and with a small team of designers, researchers, engineers on design direction and execution. 

I designed and prototyped several UI patterns and flows. Collaborated with researchers to run concept evaluation and usability testing, which helped team confirm that the app-based model was the right direction.

We used research as input for major decisions we were unsure about. For example, we uncovered that users were not interested in accessing older messages in the car. This eliminated the need for deeper level app views we were debating.

I observed that the messaging UI pattern needed to be optimized for frequent use. I proposed the current flat design (no buttons) that simplified the list pattern by featuring large tap targets that enhanced usability while driving.