Google Go
2017 — 2019
Overview
Google Go is a lightweight search app built for first-time smartphone users in regions like India and Sub-Saharan Africa. I led the design of key features that made Google Search more accessible for users with low literacy and digital fluency.
Role
UX designer for Onboarding and User education
Team
I was in a group of 6 UXers, 2 PMs, and a team of engineers.
Results
- Karaoke mode reached X% of Google Go Search DAU with 1X% weekly retention, and earned a UK patent for its invention.
- Mini Learning videos drove a measurable lift, increasing feature usage by up to 1X%.
Challenge
Traditional Google Search was too text-heavy and minimalist for users unfamiliar with digital interfaces.
Make Google Go intuitive for new internet users in the emerging markets
Karaoke mode reads out the page aloud to help people read
A language onboarding I designed to help Indian users to set the the app at the first go
Mini learnings are a series of short videos to help users learn about what to do in the app.
A sample mini-learning video
Process
Ground the design in real user needs
Partnered with researchers on in-home visits across India and Nigeria. We observed how first-time smartphone users navigated digital content, revealing critical gaps in literacy, confidence, and comprehension.
Prototype solutions
Collaborated with PMs and engineers to ideate and prototype audio-first interactions and simplified UI patterns.
I created high-fidelity, interactive prototypes to test with low-literacy users in a rapid research sessions.
Launch, learn, and scale
Post-launch, we monitored DAU, retention, and feature adoption weekly. These insights directly informed design iterations, content strategy, and future onboarding flows.
Impact
DAU & retention
Karaoke mode reached X% of Google Go Search DAU with 1X% weekly retention
Feature Usage
Mini Learning videos increased feature usage by up to 1X%
Patent
Earned a UK patent for the Karaoke mode design
© 2025 Annie Zhou.
Images © Annie Zhou & respective companies.
Made by Figma Site
Google Go
2017 — 2019
Overview
Google Go is a lightweight search app built for first-time smartphone users in regions like India and Sub-Saharan Africa. I led the design of key features that made Google Search more accessible for users with low literacy and digital fluency.
Role
UX designer for Onboarding and User education
Team
I was in a group of 6 UXers, 2 PMs, and a team of engineers.
Results
- Karaoke mode reached X% of Google Go Search DAU with 1X% weekly retention, and earned a UK patent for its invention.
- Mini Learning videos drove a measurable lift, increasing feature usage by up to 1X%.
Challenge
Traditional Google Search was too text-heavy and minimalist for users unfamiliar with digital interfaces.
Make Google Go intuitive for new internet users in the emerging markets
Karaoke mode reads out the page aloud to help people read
A language onboarding I designed to help Indian users to set the the app at the first go
Mini learnings are a series of short videos to help users learn about what to do in the app.
A sample mini-learning video
Process
Ground the design in real user needs
Partnered with researchers on in-home visits across India and Nigeria. We observed how first-time smartphone users navigated digital content, revealing critical gaps in literacy, confidence, and comprehension.
Prototype solutions
Collaborated with PMs and engineers to ideate and prototype audio-first interactions and simplified UI patterns.
I created high-fidelity, interactive prototypes to test with low-literacy users in a rapid research sessions.
Launch, learn, and scale
Post-launch, we monitored DAU, retention, and feature adoption weekly. These insights directly informed design iterations, content strategy, and future onboarding flows.
Impact
DAU & retention
Karaoke mode reached X% of Google Go Search DAU with 1X% weekly retention
Feature Usage
Mini Learning videos increased feature usage by up to 1X%
Patent
Earned a UK patent for the Karaoke mode design
© 2025 Annie Zhou. Images © Annie Zhou & respective companies.
Made by Figma Site
