Watch Later on YouTube

Reimagining the saving and collections experience for casual viewers and power users.

INTERACTION DESIGNPRODUCT DESIGNPROTOTYPINGINTERNSHIP

Role

User Experience Design Intern

Team

1 Designer, 1 UXR, 1 PM

Timeline

14 weeks

Context & Impact

This summer, I had the most inspiring summer with the YouTube Core Experiences team as a User Experience Design intern. Over my 14-week internship, I explored design concepts related to the YouTube saving and collections experience, particularly related to the Watch Later playlist. Ultimately, I was able to present to UX leadership and gain UX approval for my proposal.

Watch Later on YouTube concept shown on an iPhone
🔗go/laurenjun

If you’re a Googler, learn more about my work internally at the link above!

> PROBLEM

Watch Later triggers millions of engaged users daily. Though useful for quick saves, it often becomes a “save-and-forget” archive, making it challenging for users to organize and rediscover saved content.

My intern project scope was centered around saving experiences, which was an incredibly rewarding space to think about. I was able to consider both casual viewer, power user, and creator experiences on YouTube, and work with a design org that guided me to dive deep on complex systems-level problems.

I collaborated with stakeholders across Visual Design, UXR, and PM, and even had the opportunity to consult other teams like Podcasts to review future concepts of my project.

Competitive audit of saving experiences

> IMPACT

I was able to present my proposed design solutions and future vision concepts to UX leadership at YouTube, and gain UX approval from the team.

I conducted a thorough competitive audit, analyzing areas of opportunity that would improve rediscovery and management of saved content. I was also able to collaborate with PMs and other cross-functional partners to obtain data to back up my design rationale, and get insight on the best way to scale improvements.

Thanks to my manager, I also had the amazing opportunity to user test my ideas with 6 remote participants and gain real-time feedback that was crucial in the days before my final presentation to UX leadership!

> HIGHLIGHTS

From a productive summer!

I can confidently say that I became a better storyteller by the end of my internship! Presenting my work in UX crits and syncs was super helpful to get feedback from the team, convince stakeholders of the value in my work, and communicate my vision.
I’m so grateful for all the connections I built and people I met during my time at YouTube! It was extremely formative in helping me learn what kind of designer I hope to be in the future.
My time at Google was incredibly inspiring, not just as a designer, but also as an individual. I’m so grateful for all the growth I cultivated during the brief time I spent in San Francisco!
A productive summer at Google
⚠️Want to learn more?

The nature of my work is confidential and NDA protected, but please reach out to me at lj295@cornell.edu if you’d like to learn more about my process!

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