Teo Connor, VP of Design at Airbnb, shares her insights into the company's innovative design processes. She discusses how Airbnb is breathing new life into its visual language and empowering designers to take charge. Key topics include the evolution of the checkout experience, the shift to a more interactive design incorporating 3D elements, and the importance of rapid prototyping. Teo also highlights the value of emotional user experiences and the collaborative spirit that drives creativity within the design team.
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Quick takeaways
Airbnb prioritizes emotional resonance in design, ensuring interactions are delightful and immersive through innovative features like haptic feedback.
The company's shift to a functional organization enhances collaboration and encourages designers to reclaim their roles in promoting design excellence.
Deep dives
Design Innovation at Airbnb
Design innovation at Airbnb emphasizes creating experiences that resonate emotionally with users. It aims to elevate how customers feel while using the app, making interactions not only functional but also delightful and immersive. Initiatives include implementing haptic feedback and interactive elements like celebratory confetti effects, ensuring the app communicates the brand essence. By enhancing design elements with tactility and playfulness, Airbnb seeks to foster a more engaging user experience that encourages return visits and deeper connections with the platform.
The Transition to a Functional Organization
Airbnb's shift from a divisional to a functional organization allows for more cohesive collaboration among teams. This restructuring enables designers to reclaim their primary role in pushing for design excellence rather than becoming confined to operational tasks. The functional model fosters alignment, allowing the company to work towards shared goals which ultimately enhances the quality of their output. This new approach enables more significant changes and invites innovative thinking at all organizational levels, impacting the overall product development lifecycle positively.
The Role of Personalization
Personalization has become a key focus for Airbnb's app upgrades, transforming how users interact with the platform. New features, such as tailored welcome tours for first-time users, have been developed to ensure a more intuitive introduction to the app’s functionalities. The organization is also implementing dynamic changes in the user interface to reflect individual preferences based on search history, using innovative design choices like 3D icons. This strategic focus on personalization demonstrates Airbnb's commitment to enhancing user experience and fostering meaningful connections with its customers.
Fostering a Collaborative Design Culture
Collaboration and trust are essential components of the design culture at Airbnb, distinguishing it from other organizations. Designers are encouraged to share their work and ideas openly, fostering an environment of collective creativity and support. Key traits among team members include optimism, courage, and a high regard for craftsmanship, which contribute to a thriving workplace culture. This proactive approach promotes an atmosphere where innovative ideas are welcomed, helping the company maintain its edge in design and user experience.
Airbnb is one of the truly iconic design-driven companies. They set the bar for design innovation in so many ways. So this week’s episode is a deep dive with their VP of Design, Teo Connor.
She gives us a behind-the-scenes look at how design operates at Airbnb including:
How Airbnb is bringing vitality to the visual language
How Airbnb is empowering designers to be designers
How to succeed in a design review with Brian Chesky
Why it’s not enough to think in terms of flows and screens
Why Airbnb is updating their design system to use more 3D
How they redesigned the checkout and welcome experience
Why Airbnb has prioritized prototyping in code earlier in the process
a lot more
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