Phone Customization

Starting in 2014, I led the user experience for initial and early releases of HTC Themes, a way to personalize the look and feel of HTC phones – by applying designs from others or by creating your own.

First, I worked closely with executive leadership on business goals, design strategy, and product roadmap. Next, I galvanized a cross-continent v-team of UX, visual, and sound designers to collectively propose experience ideas that would standout in the market. Then, I seized prototyping and usability testing opportunities to inform direction. Meanwhile, I mentored junior UX designers and guided wireframe spec deliveries. Finally, I partnered with engineering to make the dream a reality, resulting in a robust Android app, engaging companion website and rich content creation tools.

Slides from various presentations to drive product roadmap and communicate progress

HTC Themes was a top software selling point for two of the company’s flagship phones, and the highlight of many industry reviews (CNET, Phandroid, Wired Magazine, etc.)

On the software side, there are some really clever new personalization features. HTC’s new Themes app lets you visually tweak every iota of your phone, from icons to menu colors, based on a color, a wallpaper, or even a photo. You can take a picture and convert it automatically, or download a theme from HTC’s store.

Wired Magazine, 2015