Android Design & Development
I was pivotal in bringing Material Design to DMA.
Disney Movies Anywhere (2014) allowed users to link Disney films purchased on iTunes Store and other digital services into a unified library.
My company was contracted to add Chromecast features into the soon-to-be-released Android app. We continued to work on features for the next two years.
Senior Android Developer, Product Designer
Contribution
Contribution
Contribution
Tools
Android Studio, Illustrator, Photoshop
Design Story
Material Design was introduced at at Google IO in 2014 as a massive design update that would reinvent the platform.
It was also scheduled to launch at the same time as DMA for Android.
Material Design examples introduced at Google IO, 2014
I was excited about Material Design and did my best to update the UI where I could. My designs include the Chromecast client & receiver, the video player, and native interfaces.
I also refactored the app to use XML styles (Android SDK’s built-in design system).
DMA for iOS vs. DMA for Android
Many high-profile companies were releasing Android apps that looked like iOS knockoffs. Android users were frustrated about being treated as “second class citizens”.
DMA's design was completed months before Google announced Material Design. The design & product teams were reluctant to make changes, despite the fact that their design was heavily influenced by iOS 6.
(They also were all iPhone users.)
Six weeks before our launch, Google released the full Material Design SDK for developers. They also updated the Play Store with a massive Material Design overhaul.
Disney’s VP of Technology called me aside and asked me if I could do something similar. Yes!
Google Play Store's first Material Design update, October 2014
Video Player: before & after slider
I spent the next two weeks updating the app to the new SDK and Material Design.
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.
Android 5.0 was released on Nov 3, 2014. DMA launched the next day.
As soon as the new SDK was released, I spent two weeks working on a proof of concept using the new Material Design component library.
My update caused some intense debates among the teams and stakeholders, but ultimately the redesign was implemented for the launch.
We received very positive reviews for the launch and the Android app ranked a full-star higher than the iOS release. In press reviews, the tech sites were overwhelmingly positive.
- The Verge
- Android Central
Featured page
Movie Collection
Details dialog
Selected works
Time JournalProductivity app for iPhone, iPad, & macOS
OmnicellDesign component library, responsive web design, & interactive kiosks
Starsky RoboticsUX research & design for a remote-driving system
Star Wars APIAndroid design & code exercise
Exercise GoalsProduct design exercise
Disney Movies AnywhereSenior Android Developer, Product Designer
DayframeAutomated photo frame for social media
HD WidgetsPopular widget app
App StatsPlay Store app tracking & metrics
CloudskipperFree music player
Flash2000 - 2011
Elemental Design1994 - 2003