ted conference

2019-2021
senior product designer

I had the incredible opportunity to work as a senior product designer on the redesign of the TED Talk page in collaboration with engineers, product manager, and ux designer and the TED Design System which I had spearheaded. During that time, I also got to contribute to the mini player feature for the TED mobile app, helping to bring TED’s inspiring content to life in new and engaging ways.

01. ted talk page redesign

The goal of the TED Talk page redesign was to transform it from a one-time viewing experience into an engaging platform where users return regularly to participate and share ideas. We wanted TED.com to stand out from other video platforms like YouTube by encouraging meaningful conversations and active community involvement.

To achieve this, we focused on enhancing interactivity—highlighting user discussions, thoughts, and recommendations—to inspire more participation and idea exchange. We also prioritized performance improvements, ensuring faster load times and efficiency by adopting newer technologies and meeting standards like the Google Lighthouse Score. Lastly, we created an updated guide for the talk page’s functionality to make future updates and management smoother.

The result was a more dynamic, interactive hub that reflects TED’s mission of spreading and exchanging ideas.

01. TED Talk Page Redesign

design system in place

In redesigning TED.com, we blended old features with new, like user-driven discussions, under a modern design system I led. Data-driven decision-making refined essential elements and removed outdated ones, enhancing the site's interactivity and appeal.We also had conducted user testing our prototypes throughout our iterations.

01. TED Talk Page Redesign

user flows

Our UX Designer (Elizabeth) was responsible for creating user flows, while our Product Manager focused on scoping requirements and features. My primary responsibilities involved wireframing these user flows and creating semi-high fidelity designs for user testing. After receiving several pieces of helpful feedback from user testers, we iterated on the UI nuances to eliminate any friction and confusion, ultimately making it more user-friendly.

01. TED Talk Page Redesign

more than just a face lift

We ran over 20 user tests to make sure our designs were as intuitive as we hoped. I iterated and refined the UI multiple times, using insights from these tests to guide each improvement. Along the way, I incorporated new design system components to keep everything consistent and seamless.

The result? A more user-friendly experience that not only meets our goals for ease of use but also feels cohesive and polished — making sure users stay engaged and find real value in what we’ve built.

02. ted mobile ios mini player

There has been a significant demand to enhance the browsing and video-watching experience for viewers on the TED mobile iOS app.

In order to align with the current YouTube viewership standards, it has been crucial for us to deliver what our users truly need — a miniplayer for videos, audio-only functionality, and podcasts.

Throughout this 3-month project, my responsibilities included analyzing the scope and requirements, designing the flow and UI, conducting user testing, and gathering valuable feedback.

final thoughts

Working as a senior product designer at TED was a true privilege. I learned so much from our users by gathering their feedback during testing of the new Talk page, Homepage redesign concepts (built with the design system I had spearheaded), and the mobile mini player. While there were mixed reactions on whether these changes would boost user engagement on the site, every step of the process was a valuable learning experience.