In 2015, at L4 Digitial, I had the opportunity to partner with TED. They were looking to bring their Android app up to par with their iOS app by feature parity and bringing the design in-line with Google’s new Material look and feel.
By working closely with TED, not just as a client but as an equal member in the design process, I was able to collaborate on implementing new features quickly and effectively.
We started with the navigation and worked our way out. Ditching an old drop down in favor of the fly out menu, made navigation easier and quicker.
We made it easier to find all contacts, organized under a more efficient layout with the ability to filter on key categories. More contacts could simply be added with just a tap via NFC.
I explored different flows a user might navigate through to find their network connections. With some venues with multiple locations we wanted to reduce the number of screens the user had to go through to get there.
We focused a lot of our attention on making it easier for users to get connected to one another and find each other. We brought the users network information front and center on venue locations.
By utilizing tabs we were able to surface more content regarding the venue like schedule, people and places within that venue, making it easier for the user to quickly find what they need.
Simplifying the user flow with android tabs made it easier for the user to find their network at a specific location. By utilizing attendee badges and location data, we were able to show the user where their fellow attendees were hanging out.
TEDConnect launched February 2016 at TED2016 conference in Vancouver, BC. The Android platform launched on-time and to rave reviews from conference attendees. App downloads for the Android version were up 10% at launch. By working closely with the client within the design process, I was able to quickly and effectly collaborate on ideas and interactions that brought the old Android version up-to-date, more intuitive, and clean.
