Xbox One SmartGlass

Designing a universal TV remote experience for Xbox One - simultaneously across iOS and Android - as part of the Xbox R&D group.

• Role: UX Designer
• Company: Xbox / Microsoft R&D
• Timeline: 2014
• Platform: iOS, Android, Windows Phone
• Tools: Photoshop, Illustrator
• Status: Shipped as part of Xbox One SmartGlass

SmartGlass was Microsoft's second-screen strategy for Xbox One - a companion app that turned your phone or tablet into a controller for your TV experience. The TV Guide app was the universal remote piece: browse the channel grid, control playback, and navigate your Xbox from the couch without picking up a controller.

The Design Problem #

The challenge was platform-parity without platform-sameness. iOS, Android, and Windows Phone had different interaction models, different navigation conventions, and different hardware assumptions. The 10-foot controller experience - designed to be used from across a room - had to translate to a 4-inch screen held in your hand.

Simultaneous development across three platforms with meaningful design differences between them meant decisions made for one had to be pressure-tested against the others before committing. The Kinect and voice layers added another input model on top of touch.