July 2006 - Aug 2007 / User Experience Design
A tool that allows both novice users and advanced developers to create their own search engines.

Working within Google's style standards
As the sole designer on this project from July 2006 to August 2007, I worked closely with the engineering team to develop usable interfaces that conformed to the Google style standards. Deliverables included: storyboards, screen designs, information architecture recommendations, interactive HTML, CSS, and Javascript prototypes, and contribution to production code.

A tool for novice and advanced users
A major challenge in the design was balancing the WYSIWYG functionality of the easy creation wizard with access to more advanced features, like developer APIs. In the final design, advanced features are progressively revealed as users move left to right through the tabbed navigation of the control panel. Expandable inline help offers novices access to additional tips and information without having to navigate away from a page.

Responding to users
The design underwent several rounds of usability testing prior to its initial launch in Fall 2006, and we were able to improve the design based on insights that emerged during testing. We continued to improve the interface post-launch in response to user feedback and additional usability testing. In Spring 2007 the product was awarded “Most improved user interface” by Google’s Customer Operations Team.

Moving forward
The product launched Custom Search Business Edition prior to my departure in Spring 2007, and continues to evolve today at http://www.google.com/cse.