GlobalMeet Desktop
Enabling 360º team communication, protecting user focus
2018–2020
UX/UI Design
Electron desktop app
GlobalMeet Desktop
Enabling 360º team communication, protecting user focus
2018–2020
UX/UI Design
Electron desktop app
GlobalMeet Desktop
Enabling 360º team communication, protecting user focus
2018–2020
UX/UI Design
Electron desktop app
Overview—
I shaped the GlobalMeet desktop experience from the ground up, replacing a legacy meeting room application with a unified calls, chat and meeting platform. I owned each stage of the design process from discovery research to MVP delivery.
Overview—
I shaped the GlobalMeet desktop experience from the ground up, replacing a legacy meeting room application with a unified calls, chat and meeting platform. I owned each stage of the design process from discovery research to MVP delivery.
Overview—
I shaped the GlobalMeet desktop experience from the ground up, replacing a legacy meeting room application with a unified calls, chat and meeting platform. I owned each stage of the design process from discovery research to MVP delivery.
Overview—
I shaped the GlobalMeet desktop experience from the ground up, replacing a legacy meeting room application with a unified calls, chat and meeting platform. I owned each stage of the design process from discovery research to MVP delivery.
Framing the problem—
What exactly should “unified” look like?
As entrants into the unified communication (UC) space, our business requirements dictated the inclusion of calls, chat, and meetings. However, questions remained about how these modes should be presented in relation to one another. For example, should a “call log” also include a record of recent chat messages and meeting recordings—or, would it be better to keep the streams separate? Almost immediately, two competing visions emerged: Team A felt that calls, chat and messages should be presented as separate, parallel channels, while Team B (including myself) advocated for combining the three modes into a single 360º view for maximum transparency.
Framing the problem—
What exactly should “unified” look like?
As entrants into the unified communication (UC) space, our business requirements dictated the inclusion of calls, chat, and meetings. However, questions remained about how these modes should be presented in relation to one another. For example, should a “call log” also include a record of recent chat messages and meeting recordings—or, would it be better to keep the streams separate? Almost immediately, two competing visions emerged: Team A felt that calls, chat and messages should be presented as separate, parallel channels, while Team B (including myself) advocated for combining the three modes into a single 360º view for maximum transparency.
Framing the problem—
What exactly should “unified” look like?
As entrants into the unified communication (UC) space, our business requirements dictated the inclusion of calls, chat, and meetings. However, questions remained about how these modes should be presented in relation to one another. For example, should a “call log” also include a record of recent chat messages and meeting recordings—or, would it be better to keep the streams separate? Almost immediately, two competing visions emerged: Team A felt that calls, chat and messages should be presented as separate, parallel channels, while Team B (including myself) advocated for combining the three modes into a single 360º view for maximum transparency.
Hypothesis A: Separate channels for chat, calls and meetings will support a more organized, focused experience
Hypothesis A: Separate channels for chat, calls and meetings will support a more organized, focused experience
Hypothesis A: Separate channels for chat, calls and meetings will support a more organized, focused experience
Hypothesis B: Combining chat, calls and meeting artifacts into a single stream will improve awareness of full communication context
Hypothesis B: Combining chat, calls and meeting artifacts into a single stream will improve awareness of full communication context
Hypothesis B: Combining chat, calls and meeting artifacts into a single stream will improve awareness of full communication context
Interviews with potential users revealed a spectrum of personas. While some balanced their time across calls, chat, and meetings, most gravitated toward one primary communication mode. Nearly everyone reported feeling distracted by some aspect of their current communication stack. Taken together, these findings supported the idea of dedicated channels for chat, calls, and meetings—allowing users to focus on the mode most useful to them without secondary distractions. At the same time, early A/B preference tests showed that big-picture communication context mattered—but was likely most valuable at specific moments in the workday. The experience needed to flex between focus mode and “catch-me-up” mode.
Interviews with potential users revealed a spectrum of personas. While some balanced their time across calls, chat, and meetings, most gravitated toward one primary communication mode. Nearly everyone reported feeling distracted by some aspect of their current communication stack. Taken together, these findings supported the idea of dedicated channels for chat, calls, and meetings—allowing users to focus on the mode most useful to them without secondary distractions. At the same time, early A/B preference tests showed that big-picture communication context mattered—but was likely most valuable at specific moments in the workday. The experience needed to flex between focus mode and “catch-me-up” mode.
Interviews with potential users revealed a spectrum of personas. While some balanced their time across calls, chat, and meetings, most gravitated toward one primary communication mode. Nearly everyone reported feeling distracted by some aspect of their current communication stack. Taken together, these findings supported the idea of dedicated channels for chat, calls, and meetings—allowing users to focus on the mode most useful to them without secondary distractions. At the same time, early A/B preference tests showed that big-picture communication context mattered—but was likely most valuable at specific moments in the workday. The experience needed to flex between focus mode and “catch-me-up” mode.
Discovery research exposed 6 key personas. Most gravitated toward a primary communication mode.
Discovery research exposed 6 key personas. Most gravitated toward a primary communication mode.
Discovery research exposed 6 key personas. Most gravitated toward a primary communication mode.
MVP Design
Protecting focus, exposing context
Foundational research and prototype testing informed my attempt to balance user focus with user awareness: I designed separate channels for messaging, calls, and meetings, complemented by a summary of high-priority communications and upcoming events.
MVP Design
Protecting focus, exposing context
Foundational research and prototype testing informed my attempt to balance user focus with user awareness: I designed separate channels for messaging, calls, and meetings, complemented by a summary of high-priority communications and upcoming events.
MVP Design
Protecting focus, exposing context
Foundational research and prototype testing informed my attempt to balance user focus with user awareness: I designed separate channels for messaging, calls, and meetings, complemented by a summary of high-priority communications and upcoming events.
Home—envisioned as a space where users might start their day, or catch up when returning to work—presented users with an actionable summary of recent communication and imminent meetings.
Home—envisioned as a space where users might start their day, or catch up when returning to work—presented users with an actionable summary of recent communication and imminent meetings.
Home—envisioned as a space where users might start their day, or catch up when returning to work—presented users with an actionable summary of recent communication and imminent meetings.
Messages enabled users to conduct solo or group chats with other GlobalMeet users—or chat via SMS with external parties.
Messages enabled users to conduct solo or group chats with other GlobalMeet users—or chat via SMS with external parties.
Messages enabled users to conduct solo or group chats with other GlobalMeet users—or chat via SMS with external parties.
A full-featured Calls channel included video and N-way audio calls with hold, merge, and call forwarding.
A full-featured Calls channel included video and N-way audio calls with hold, merge, and call forwarding.
A full-featured Calls channel included video and N-way audio calls with hold, merge, and call forwarding.
The Meetings channel provided a directory of team meeting rooms in addition to a schedule of team meetings.
The Meetings channel provided a directory of team meeting rooms in addition to a schedule of team meetings.
The Meetings channel provided a directory of team meeting rooms in addition to a schedule of team meetings.
Multitaskers welcome
I intentionally designed Calls, Messages, and Meetings as distinct channels to promote and protect user focus. At the same time, I designed key features and flows to support multitasking when needed—both inside and outside the app.
Multitaskers welcome
I intentionally designed Calls, Messages, and Meetings as distinct channels to promote and protect user focus. At the same time, I designed key features and flows to support multitasking when needed—both inside and outside the app.
Multitaskers welcome
I intentionally designed Calls, Messages, and Meetings as distinct channels to promote and protect user focus. At the same time, I designed key features and flows to support multitasking when needed—both inside and outside the app.
Simultaneous call and chat controls allowed users to share files while talking—or simply respond to other contacts mid-call.
Simultaneous call and chat controls allowed users to share files while talking—or simply respond to other contacts mid-call.
Simultaneous call and chat controls allowed users to share files while talking—or simply respond to other contacts mid-call.
A minimized call window allowed users to preserve call context while interacting with other desktop tools.
A minimized call window allowed users to preserve call context while interacting with other desktop tools.
A minimized call window allowed users to preserve call context while interacting with other desktop tools.
A responsive design meant the app could remain fully functional while sharing the screen with other applications.
A responsive design meant the app could remain fully functional while sharing the screen with other applications.
A responsive design meant the app could remain fully functional while sharing the screen with other applications.
A responsive design meant the app could remain fully functional while sharing the screen with other applications.
Unforeseen challenges and lessons learned
GlobalMeet Desktop was released in 2020 for both Mac and Windows. Regrettably, the UC product was shut down later that same year due in part to changing market conditions resulting from the Covid pandemic. Still, I’m proud of what the team accomplished and the many valuable lessons learned along the way. Above all, I took with me the importance planning tactful, incremental steps towards ambitious goals.
Unforeseen challenges and lessons learned
GlobalMeet Desktop was released in 2020 for both Mac and Windows. Regrettably, the UC product was shut down later that same year due in part to changing market conditions resulting from the Covid pandemic. Still, I’m proud of what the team accomplished and the many valuable lessons learned along the way. Above all, I took with me the importance planning tactful, incremental steps towards ambitious goals.
Unforeseen challenges and lessons learned
GlobalMeet Desktop was released in 2020 for both Mac and Windows. Regrettably, the UC product was shut down later that same year due in part to changing market conditions resulting from the Covid pandemic. Still, I’m proud of what the team accomplished and the many valuable lessons learned along the way. Above all, I took with me the importance planning tactful, incremental steps towards ambitious goals.