Carolyn Macaluso
Hi-Fidelity Wireframes
As previously mentioned, because of a robust symbol library system in Sketch, all our wires are pixel-perfect. Generally, Android first, then iOS.
Private Folder saw not only many iterations, but I needed to provide highly detailed interactions that maneuvered through all the possible scenarios of PIN setup and authentication and errors, but also seamless transitions between the app and the web-based authentication. This also involved email confirmation on the user's end so emails needed to be designed as well.
Once authenticated, the user was also logged out if they changed focus or did not have activity over 5 minutes. We also determined that for the benefit of user's security, screenshots would be disabled. Users could add content to the Private Folder either by entering it first and adding content, or navigating through their content and selecting items to make private. They can also choose to take photos directly from Private folder that will save directly to their Private Folder in Cloud, and not to their device. We even cared for the small details of permanently deleting items instead of going to an unsecured Trash section if a user chose to delete content directly from Private Folder.
Today, as was originally conceived, folder structures can now be set up to organize.
Research
In early support of this project, I researched user sentiment for both the concept of an opt-in Beta Lab program and the concept of a Private Folder. While some erroneously presumed this meant "encrypted" others understood the lock & key concept but were also open to the prospect of paying extra for encryption.
Verizon Cloud:
Private Folder
Date
Role
Lead Designer: UX, UI, Research, support PM, QA & Engineering, Dedicated Design Liason to Verizon
2019 - 2023
Project type
New Feature
(Beta › Commerical › Brand Redesign +Enhancements)
Introduction & Goal
Ahead of the competition, we created for Verizon a special section of an already secure application that would be locked behind PIN or biometric authentication. This flagship feature continues to be high-valued and has gone from beta access to commercial release, to implementation within the Desktop app for premium unlimited users. Enhancements once only envisioned have become a rich experience.
Process, Experience & Outcome
This project was a massive undertaking. Unique to the app was a new section called Beta Lab which allowed users to voluntarily access features to test the market. The process did not just involve the usual Agile development but required significant coordination with ID3, our authentication organization as well as Verizon's many IT teams as there was a secondary need to have users complete profile requirements. My job was to make these flaming hoops not only look good but be as quick and painless as possible while reassuring users that their content would indeed be safe from prying eyes. While my long term vision would not begin to see fruition until now, the original feature saw great success which has lead to other designers building on the foundation I started.
The Desktop App is a backup and sync utility that gives customers the ability to view and access their content from multiple sources. Private Folder is accessible from both the mobile app and desktop, enabling users to more conveniently store and access extra precious content.
My role in the below designs: As the founding designer for Private Folder, I continued to work closely with Verizon's in-house design teams to ensure the nuances of the feature received the appropriate attention. I routinely worked with engineering and product management to ensure development teams created precisely as designed. This required documenting deltas and offering UX-related work-arounds to accomplish goals. This effort also extended to the mobile app.
Feature Demo on the Desktop App
Start
A 6-digit PIN created by the user keeps nosey people out and personal content safe.
2
Once authenticated, users have access to their secured content. Any filetype can be housed here. Suggested Uploads offers a quick way to organize common items most likely to be stored privately.
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Clicking the large "Add" CTA, a user can either add new content or begin organizing it with a new folder.
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While auto-generated folders are created through the Suggested Uploads, users can also customize folders.
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Folders created at the root of Private Folder will appear on the Private Folder home. All folders are pinned to the top of the list.
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Clicking "See More" in the Suggested Uploads will push out a panel of all the possible preidentified categories of common uploads.
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Here, the category under Finances › Tax Returns was chosen. This enables the Finder/File Manager to launch where users can access content on their computers and upload directly to the app.
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Auto-generated structures are confirmed every step of the way.
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Recently uploaded content will appear in the panel under Uploads.
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Once upload is complete and the panel closed, the user is automatically taken to their newly created folder.
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Users can move content around or put it back into the library from where it came. Using the icons in the top right, users enter Select Mode to begin selecting items.
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Selected items can be moved to other folders within Private Folder, or back to the library where it will be viewable again in the normal feed.
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One of the innovations I was persistent on was the presence of a dotted box representing to where the content would actually be moved. This reduces confusion within nested folders.
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Within the move process, users can also create folders on the fly.
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Confirmation is key to assuring users their items will be placed where they really want them.
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Since the vast majority of content stored in Cloud are photos & videos, swapping to grid view makes finding content easier. List view is most helpful for documents because they are identified by their filenames.
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Proficient users may find the Suggested Uploads to be "in the way" of valuable viewport space when not in use. Simply closing it will free up visual real estate and is not actually required in order to add more items.
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Life happens. Private Folder security settings allow users to change their PIN or security questions if they feel they may have been compromised. Suggested Uploads can also easily be made viewable again.
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Outside of Private Folder Cloud users can select items to be made private without having to use the PIN authentication.
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Making content private simply moves those items to Private Folder and out of the regular timeline.
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The user stays where ever they were in Cloud instead of being pushed to authenticate. A toast message confirms the move has been made.