Google Lists

 Before 2017 users of Google Maps and Search were able to “star” places, and save them to their “starred places” list. In this sense “saving” and “list creation” in Google Local ecosystem was more of a utility - a tool for saving & recall.

Since then, Google has enhanced the local discovery experience of it’s products with exploratory features which help curious users find great options. This has evolved Google Maps beyond a tool for navigation towards a powerful discovery app with a community of local experts - our Local Guides community. As design lead on Lists in Google, I worked to shift the feature from a mere tool for recall towards an editorial creation platform for publishing list content. Users can now save and organize places into an array of list types including; 

Starred - A place you want to remember
Favorites - A user’s most cherished spots
Want to go - A checklist for places you mean to visit
Custom list - A bespoke user list (ie. “Best Coffee in Williamsburg BK”)

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My role

As design lead for list features in Google, I shifted the feature perception from a mere utility for recall, towards and publishing platform for customization, collaboration and sharing. I drove design for the enhanced list view, editing tools, and discovery entry points - driving a +63.73% boost in created lists and 2.5x growth in lists published.

I worked to reinvigorate this consumer facing list experience with a more editorial-style design framework, boosting feature awareness with discovery entry points, and enabled personalization of lists via contribution flows for customizable list UI; including hero image, list description, and place photos & notes. Users can now share their lists with friends, collaborate in it’s making, follow other people’s lists, publish their custom lists on Google, and even see published lists in results on Search & Google Maps.

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Overview

The Constellations framework allows users of GMM & LU to save and organize places into lists. Users can also follow other people’s lists, share or publish their own lists, and most recently collaborate with friends.

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Lists are a cross product feature

Saving a place as a personal function exists cross-product in both Search and Google Maps. Meaning users can save a place on either surface, and users can retrieve the place/list on either as well.

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List Consumption

In the Google Lists ecosystem we also support 3P lists from external sources like Infatuation, TimeOut, Fodor’s, and Culture Trip. We also generated algorithmic lists from top ranked spots from common Google queries.