Google Profiles
Description
Project Date: Q2 2008 - Q2 2009
Initially developed as a simple card to accompany reviews in Google Maps, Google profiles have slowly grown to serve a wider purpose. They are now incorporated into a number of user generated content applications at Google, including Google Maps, Reader, and Books. The Google profile serves as an open container which users can use to represent themselves on the Web and on Google properties, as well as offering a platform from which they can link to all of their other profiles and content. This is facilitated through the integration of the Social Graph API to perform auto-discovery of other profiles.
Additional features include a photo bar for streaming from a photo service, a map of places important to the user, a method of name verification, and the ability to share your contact information with your friends.
The profiles project at Google is made possible by a small, passionate team that makes profiles a little bit better every two weeks.
Role
I am the lead designer for Google profiles and I am also a primary contributor to related social efforts at Google. I defined a set of guiding principles for the design of Google profiles that address fundamental user needs and concerns when it comes to privacy and self-representation. My role spans everything from writing XHTML/CSS to contributing to broad strategic work on the future of identity.
Google profiles have been designed in accordance with the visual and UI design guidelines for Google products.