VISUAL & INTERACTION DESIGN (REMOTE) — MICROSOFT, 2018
Microsoft To-Do
Microsoft acquired Wunderlist in 2015 and created a team to ship a new app that would eventually replace it. To-do is a multi-platform app that builds on Wunderlist task features and integrates with other Microsoft services. I was tasked to help push new features and explore other design ideas.
Pushing To-Do’s new features.
My main task was to bring some extra design muscle to the team, helping to ship features that existed in Wunderlist (such a favouriting tasks), improving the recommendation of tasks for completion and taking the existing Windows desktop app chromeless.
Giving love to the new brand.
One of To-Do’s biggest selling points is its customisable branding. I explored a few ideas for bringing emojis into the app and created animations that could be easily integrated the the app.
Hackathon time.
Even though I was a remote worker, I tried to be part of the team as much as possible by engaging in most group activities such as feedback sessions, and Hackathons. I partnered with the person that was working on phasing Wunderlist out into making a makeover of To-Do that would feel very familiar to existing Wunderlist users. It was a project made for fun, but hoping to learn which design features could be ported to To-Do.
TEAM
Visual & Interaction design: Miguel Oliva Marquez, Julius Schäper, Bernd Plontsch
Lead: Jannes Peters
WHAT WORKMATES SAID
Jannes Peters
Principal Design Manager at Microsoft To-Do
Miguel is one of the most thoughtful and talented designers I worked with.
Miguel worked for my team as a remote designer in 2018 on features and design explorations for Microsoft To-Do and Wunderlist.
He came in with praise and recommendations from previous managers at Microsoft. And I can only echo what they said - it’s was a great experience working with Miguel. He is extremely talented and thoughtful product designer. I was impressed with the structure and user-centred thinking he showed while developing concepts for our app. Especially his visual UI explorations were an inspiration for the whole team and our product vision.
He was also very proactive in driving features and projects forward, taking initiative when part of the team was not responsive or got stuck in discussions.
Even though he was working only part time and remotely for us, I felt like Miguel was a full member of the team. He genuinely cared for the people here, tried to improve our processes & team culture and showed a lot of passion for our product & vision.
I can highly recommend working with Miguel if you ever look for a great product designer in your team!
