Android Design & Development
Disney Movies Anywhere launched in 2014 as an app that allows users to link Disney films purchased on iTunes Store and other digital services into a unified library.
My team was brought onboard to integrate Chromecast into the app, but we continued to work on features for over two years.
I focused mostly on interface development and was pivotal in bringing Material Design to DMA.
role
Senior Android Developer, Product Designer
Contribution
DMA for Android, Android TV, & Amazon Fire
Design system using Android styles
UI development, animations, & transitions
Chromecast client & receiver
Video player & accessibility features
Movies Anywhere prototype
Training & mentoring designers
Tools
Android Studio, Illustrator, Photoshop, Dreamweaver
Design Story
Google introduced Material Design at Google IO in 2014, less than six months before DMA was scheduled to launch on Android.
Material Design examples introduced at Google IO, 2014
DMA for iOS vs. Android
The design comps were approved months before Material Design was announced. The design & product teams were all iPhone users. They were reluctant to make changes, despite obvious iOS 6 influences.
Meanwhile, Android users were frustrated about being treated as “second class citizens” due to Android apps looking like quick knockoffs of the iOS version.
Two things happened in October 2014 to add pressure: the Play Store received a massive Material Design update and Google released the Lollipop SDK (with Material Design features) to developers.
Play Store update, October 2014
Video player: before & after
As soon as the new SDK was released, I spent two weeks updating the app to the new SDK and Material Design as a proof of concept.
My version caused some intense last-minute debates among the teams and stakeholders, but ultimately we implemented my redesign and used it for the launch.
We received mostly positive reviews for the launch. The sites that mention the design were overwhelmingly positive.
- The Verge
- Android Central
Featured: before & after
Movie Collection: before & after
Details dialog: before & after
Selected works
Time JournalProductivity app for iPhone, iPad, & macOS
OmnicellDesign library & interactive kiosks
Star Wars APIAndroid design & code exercise
Exercise goalsProduct design exercise
Starsky RoboticsUX research & design for autonomous trucks
Disney Movies AnywhereSenior Android Developer, Product Designer
DayframeAutomated photo frame for social media
HD WidgetsRanked #1 paid app in 2011
App StatsPlay Store tracking and updates
CloudskipperMusic player
Flash apps2000 - 2011
Elemental design1994 - 2003