Windows 10 Maps

Revolutionizing online maps

Redesigned Windows Maps for mobile, tablet, desktop and beyond. Created advanced search capabilities for trip-planning scenarios, improved usability, and ergonomics.

Designed in 2015, it pioneered features that are now common, and others that still have no equal.

UX/UI
Design systems
NUI

Learnings from previous design

Celebrate the map, not the chrome
The first version of the app was chrome heavy, with a persistent left panel that occupied space regardless of how much content it contained.

Improve reachability on mobile
Navigation on the mobile app was hard to reach when holding a phone with one hand—important when on the go.

Explorations

Option 1
Searches build to the right, and cards pop up proximally

Option 2
Searches build vertically, in a persistent position, height relative to amount of content

Revised model
Based on early UR studies, I created a hybrid model where searches build to the right, and populate content in a persistent position—which tested well. We went on to experiment with mobile and tablet layouts.