Overview
In the summer of 2021, I interned in UX design at Google and joined the YouTube Creator Studio team in Zurich, Switzerland. I led the design of an AI-powered feature that supports video creators with metadata suggestions. Within my 12 weeks there, I accomplished pushing the feature until the global launch and developed a framework to approach similar design challenges at Creator Studio.
Please note: due to an NDA, I can't share detailed insights into my work at Google.
Design Process
My task was to design the user experience of AI-generated metadata suggestions for videos, firstly chapter name suggestions, within YouTube Creator Studio. At the start of the project, I familiarized myself with the product and its users' needs and workflows. Then, I aligned with the other stakeholder of the project (Eng & PM) on objectives and technical constraints and gathered all critical information to construct a precise user journey.
I developed numerous concepts and later built high-fidelity interactive prototypes of the user flow. During the process, I regularly presented my progress in design crits and refined the prototypes based on feedback. In addition, I had exchanges with people who worked on similar projects to learn from their experience, for instance, engineers at Deep Mind and other designers who worked on Google Mail Smart Compose.
I handed off the most-promising prototype to the engineering team for technical implementation. Then, in collaboration with a UX researcher, we ran quantitative user research live-testing the feature on random users. Finally, as the tests were successful, I could present the feature to the launch committee – which approved it.
UX flow for video chapter suggestions
Results & takeaways
I accomplish to bring the feature I designed to the global launch for all English-speaking Creators at YouTube Studio. Moreover, I developed a framework of principles for approaching similar automation challenges and created more prototypes for similar features within the YouTube Studio for desktop and mobile devices.
Besides my project work, I engaged in multiple workshops, events, and activities at Google. Furthermore, I had numerous inspiring and insightful conversations with people from various departments and built lasting connections.
Intern group visit of the Google Office Berlin, Germany
Testimonial from Mark Breneman, who was my internship host and direct manager
"Johannes is a talented designer with the ability to plan work in a user centered way, and execute on the design, which is not something you see often with younger designers.
Johannes interned for our YouTube Team in the summer of 2021, and helped launch one of our more future focused features for Creators. From the start Johannes came in and immersed himself in the Creator Studio Space, gaining context for our Creators and their journeys within the product. Shortly there after he put forth a plan for design and research around the feature and began executing on it. He iterated on concepts and was open to taking feedback and responding to it. When timelines accelerated the launch, Johannes adapted his plan and worked with engineering to refine his design within the constraints. He delivered a final design that considered Creators needs while balancing capacity of engineering in a very short timeline, and rather than just end on the launch Johannes went further and ideated future improvements to the experience.
Johannes has a real passion for UX, and is incredibly flexible as a designer. He's a great collaborator cross functionally and is an asset to any product team."
Johannes interned for our YouTube Team in the summer of 2021, and helped launch one of our more future focused features for Creators. From the start Johannes came in and immersed himself in the Creator Studio Space, gaining context for our Creators and their journeys within the product. Shortly there after he put forth a plan for design and research around the feature and began executing on it. He iterated on concepts and was open to taking feedback and responding to it. When timelines accelerated the launch, Johannes adapted his plan and worked with engineering to refine his design within the constraints. He delivered a final design that considered Creators needs while balancing capacity of engineering in a very short timeline, and rather than just end on the launch Johannes went further and ideated future improvements to the experience.
Johannes has a real passion for UX, and is incredibly flexible as a designer. He's a great collaborator cross functionally and is an asset to any product team."