Windows Phone 7
Windows Phone 7 (WP7) the first release of the Windows Mobile operating system launched in 2010 at the Mobile World Congress, was a complete re-design of the Windows Phone and a radical departure from previous versions. It introduced a fresh approach to content organization and a different user experience based on Microsoft's Metro design language and principles.
About the project
Windows Phone 7 (WP7), built on Microsoft's Metro design language and principles, marked a significant shift in its target audience compared to previous versions. Rather than focusing primarily on business and technology professionals, WP7 was designed for dynamic individuals leading busy lives, both offline and online, who actively engage with social networks regardless of their background. This shift necessitated a comprehensive redesign and the collaboration of a large, diverse team of skilled designers.
My role
I came on board the Windows Phone design team in March 2009 as a Senior user experience designer to re-imagine and design the UX for communication and productivity apps (SMS/MMS, Calendar, Office Mobile), while adhering to the Metro vision and guidelines that were still being refined and formulated at the time. I provided input for hardware gestures and also contributed to future vision planning and strategy for "best for business" scenarios as part of the design team's engagement in planning initiatives.
Working within the confines of a fast paced project timeline where various aspects including product vision and design guidelines were being defined by multiple stakeholders and had a direct impact on the all areas of the product's design.
Project Timeline
Redesigning experiences for WP7
As part of the design team I was charged with ensuring that the productivity and communication experiences for WP7 fit within the prescribed framework and design. Given the ambiguity of working within an as yet evolving design system, it was imperative that I partner with and collaborate closely with stake holders and designers. In some cases these interactions were with teams across the company and sometimes across global time zones.
Using research data to prioritize scenarios and design for mobile experiences and consumption of information
While re-designing apps such as the Calendar to fit within the design framework, it was necessary to review research data and identify scenarios and pain points that reflected WP7 design tenets of accomplishing tasks "on the go" and mobile "consumption" of information. Scenarios had to be prioritized with care. Interaction flows were designed and went through multiple rounds of iteration to accomplish these goals. Multiple stakeholders (development, product planning, as well as other designers) were involved in the review process.
The final interaction flow along with suggestions for visual feedback and interaction response was handed over to the teams in charge of refining these details and ensuring consistency across all areas. At the implementation phase I worked closely with the development team and participated in testing these features before launch.
Calendar
User scenarios and interaction work flow, revisions and refinement
WP7 SMS and MMS
Interaction, revisions and refinements
Office Mobile for WP7
A fast-paced, collaborative and iterative process
The redesign of the Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, SharePoint, Office Hub) for the Windows Phone 7 involved close collaboration and partnership with multiple teams, across geographic locations: Office Mobile, design and product team (India Design center, India), Office Design Group, designers (ODG, Redmond) as well as Windows Mobile, user experience and program management.
Fierce Reduction (Word for Office Mobile)
In keeping with WP7 design guidelines, the user interface and experience for Office applications such as Word went though a process of fierce reduction. While detailed input was provided by Office program managers and designers I was responsible for ensuring that the experience adhered to WP7 requirements. The UX was optimized for touch and streamlined and simplified for mobile consumption scenarios.
Office Hub
Designed in keeping with the Windows Phone 7's design paradigm of central "hub" structures for different experiences, the Microsoft Office hub, provided a convenient central location on the phone for quickly accessing Office files and documents as well as for creating new ones. I helped drive the design of the Office hub in keeping with the rest of the hub experiences on the phone and worked closely with the Office program management and design teams who provided input on the overall experience and visual design in keeping with the Office brand. Including visual assets and branding.
Outcome
The design of the productivity applications for Windows Phone 7 aligned closely with the principles of its design system, ensuring a seamless end-to-end mobile experience that significantly enhanced the user journey—even if it did not fully translate into overall product success. As a strong advocate for Windows Phone 7's design philosophy, I played a pivotal role in creating a cohesive, touch-optimized experience across all Office Mobile applications. By establishing a unified UX for similar activities, I ensured consistency and usability. Furthermore, I worked to integrate Office Mobile experiences harmoniously with WP7 navigation and common controls, making Office Mobile a natural and seamless part of the WP7 ecosystem.