Summary

I'm currently designing the experience of controlling third party smart home devices in the Google Home app. Most recently, Google announced enhanced controls on the Home app. I designed new components and interactions for controlling fan speed and rotation, as well as viewing and charging battery. See announcements here and here

In the summer of 2022, I worked as a UX Design intern with the Google Nest team where I designed a new feature for the Google Home app. I started with audits and sketches to high-fidelity mockups and prototypes. I worked closely with my intern hosts, a product manager, engineers, and a UX researcher. I actively worked with the UX researcher to plan, observe, take notes on two UX research studies, and incorporate user feedback into new designs. I also participated in a 3-day design sprint with the app and design system team and explored various design patterns.

Process

Takeaways

1. Handle the complexity and ambiguity of a small yet text-heavy project.
2. Collaborate closely with the XFN team by onboarding engineering partners early, having weekly meetings, and aligning on project requirements, milestones, and technical feasibility.
3. Learn a lot from working with the UX researcher about planning research study and analyzing user feedback.
4. Pay more attention to details on copy and use the right components from the design system.
5. Consider consistency, accessibility, and adaptability when design a new feature. (See how it fits into the entire app and larger roadmap)
6. Try wild explorations to the point of failure.

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