Youtube Player for Google Messages

“For millions of Android users who rely on Messages to juggle conversations, this is one of those small updates that could make things feel a bit more effortless”

“Part of a handful of new features for Messages today to make the core experience more convenient”

“Users won't have to leave the application when someone sends them a link to a video on the platform”

“This was designed specifically to avoid the hassle of switching back and forth”

“This removes the friction of having to open the YouTube app every time your friend sends you a clip. A quality of life feature“

Also featured in Google’s blog as part of 10 New Reasons To Love Google Messages

As seen at the 38s mark

Deeper Dive

Core User Journeys

First Time User Education

Although I stuck to generally known picture in picture patterns, especially Android’s drag to delete pattern, I, my team, and stakeholders felt it was good to invest in a first time user education flow.

Future Thinking

While designing this feature, I was also designing in consideration of a possible North Star and Roadmap for Google Messages that would be heavily multi-media and video centric. Part of the success of this effort was to make it easier to have reusable components and design systems for video.

Process

One future idea that stakeholders were enthusiastic about was the idea that the picture in picture experience could continue when leaving the app, to enable multi-tasking further in the conversation around the video.

The design process here was end to end and involved a lot of communication and quality measures.

  • I worked as both the product manager and designer

    • Drafted the PRD / product requirements and business alignments, and success measurements

    • Got greenlight for the project and was primary contact for team to stakeholders

    • Worked with engineers to align on prioritizations, timeline, and noted dependencies

    • Setup communications between the Youtube org and our Messages org to align on product rules and brand guidelines, as well as engineering alignments

  • I would fly to Seattle and Bay area campuses to meet with engineers and stakeholders to collaborate

  • Some quality assurances could only be done in person and on specialized test devices.

    • One example is the transitions and delays were best polished with me in person working with an engineer live coding to get the right level of precision.

  • In addition to vp and group level product, eng, design, leadership stakeholders, I was also in communication with our privacy and legal teams for sign off or possible adjustments.

  • Handoff included redlining and greenlining for accessibility and screen readers via Android’s Talkback feature for disabled users

  • I worked with our marketing teams in prep for press and media releases as well as launch to have mocks and materials