Road Labels

Google Maps’ road labeling code base had not been meaningfully updated in years, resulting in inconsistent behavior, unpredictable zoom-level transitions, and reduced wayfinding clarity. As part of a broader effort I led to create a UX strategy for the road labeling product area, I led the redesign of the road labels’ information architecture (IA), which allows users to see the most relevant labels at each zoom level with progressive disclosure from shallow to deep zoom levels. This improved IA makes the map behave more naturally and predictable, increasing users’ ability to wayfind and orient.