Viv Labs at Samsung
Bixby on Galaxy S21 Ultra
Bixby on Galaxy Watch
Bixby VIV Labs Release
Weather, Spotify, and Yelp
Case Study
Conversations that save time
Bixby is Samsung’s advanced voice assistant technology, integrated across a range of devices including phones, televisions, smartwatches, and home appliances. By partnering with companies like Weather.com, Uber, Ticketmaster, and Yelp, Bixby enables users to interact through natural conversation rather than rigid command-based inputs. Its sophisticated AI technology learns and adapts to user preferences over time, offering increasingly relevant results and a seamless experience across all connected devices.
Most voice assistants lack a truly conversational and human-centric experience. Bixby stands out by learning user habits, customizing responses, and adapting to multiple voices, enhancing personalization and relevance.
The Bixby platform
I collaborated with partners like Yelp, Spotify, and Uber to integrate voice-enabled functionality into their products and services. By leveraging the Bixby Developer Kit and their APIs, these partners can harness Bixby’s advanced AI commands, achieving seamless integration and consistent user experiences across all Samsung devices. This collaboration enhances the overall functionality and effectiveness of voice interactions, driving innovation in AI-driven user engagement.
The Weather Channel, Spotify, and Yelp service implementations on Bixby
Cross-functional collaboration
Effective design must be demonstrated within the context of the user’s journey. I crafted design flows and worked closely with engineering and product teams to ensure consistency and clear communication. This cross-functional collaboration allowed the team to swiftly advance once we received approval from the VP of Product.
The Design System
I led the creation of the design system for Bixby, establishing templates, components, colors, materials, and type styles tailored for Samsung’s core hardware and systems. Additionally, I oversaw UI design and managed updates to Bixby’s source libraries, significantly influencing the consistency and effectiveness of the design system across Samsung’s products.
Speaking the same language
Aligning the design system with developer tools was crucial for creating an efficient workflow and a high-quality product. By synchronizing the visual design language with the Bixby developer software, designers and engineers could seamlessly share information and collaborate on problem-solving throughout the development process. This alignment was further enhanced by naming library components identically to those in the command-line code, which significantly accelerated deployment and streamlined our workflow.
Component Library
Design
The design library is essential for designers working on Samsung voice-assistant products. We focused on intentional naming and organization of symbols and components to ensure clarity and ease of use. Our design principles emphasized a balance between creativity and consistency. The design system includes dedicated libraries for TV, mobile, watches, and appliances, providing comprehensive resources for a cohesive product experience.
Developer Kit
Aligning component names in the Bixby design library with the developer environment’s syntax is essential for efficient collaboration. This consistency ensures that designers and engineers “speak the same language,” speeding up product creation and deployment. We carefully discuss and research any needed updates or new components, working together to address development challenges effectively.
Being flexible
Bixby faced the challenge of adapting through three major UI changes and updates to the design system library. Successfully addressing this, we aligned the current design with Samsung’s One UI interface. This involved creating modular and reusable design elements, providing clear documentation and guidelines, and establishing a robust process for gathering and incorporating feedback from stakeholders and users.
Different design, same results
The evolving design approach focused on creating systems and products that adapt and improve over time by incorporating feedback and learning. This method ensures that designs remain responsive to changing needs, enhancing efficiency and effectiveness.