Project Snapshot
Designed the Android-to-Chrome Browser leg of Nearby Share — Google’s cross-platform answer to Apple’s AirDrop. Focused on making peer-to-peer file sharing feel invisible, effortless, and reliable across devices.
Problem & Opportunity
While Apple users enjoyed seamless file sharing via AirDrop, Android users lacked a unified experience. The opportunity was to bridge Android and Chrome browsers, enabling millions of devices to share files instantly without third-party apps or clunky workarounds.
My Role
I led UX for the Android-to-Chrome flow, collaborating across product surfaces and teams. Acted as a design liaison between Android and Chrome to ensure consistency, feasibility, and quality. Much of the work involved “product diplomacy” — aligning teams and advocating for users in a highly fragmented system.
Key Activities & Process
- Navigated ownership across design systems and platforms
- Facilitated cross-team alignment between Android and Chrome
- Prototyped and validated seamless flows for initiating and receiving file shares
- Worked on internal builds (“dogfood”) for usability and integration testing
Design Highlights
The experience felt nearly invisible — no complex setup, no interruptions. Just a simple send → receive flow that “just worked.” The UX faded into the background, letting users focus entirely on their task.
Impact
- Built and tested internal prototypes of Android-to-Chrome Nearby Share
- Generated valuable learnings on feasibility, trust, and simplicity in emerging tech
- Though never publicly launched, the work informed future cross-device thinking at Google
What I Learned
Product diplomacy is hard — and crucial. I learned the importance of clearly defining asks, aligning expectations, and advocating for UX across multiple platform boundaries. Innovation isn’t just about new features — it’s also about building bridges.