The Zune desktop app was a media library management tool that was designed to feel like a full-fledged entertainment experience. With vivid colors, beautiful typography, and vibrant motion the UI was captivating in a way that Apple Music simply wasn't.

I wrote the majority of the front-end code for the desktop using both Iris, an internal purpose-built markup tool, and C#. In many cases, I also designed and implemented UI animations based on the motion language established by our motion designer. I collaborated closely with engineering, with engineering creating undesigned views that had been wired up with data, and my team adding styling, typography and motion. We were responsible for the overall fit and finish of the release, and also built numerous prototypes. I also created a very basic design system consisting of layout templates, simple code-based components for animation and reusable controls, and a code-based font ramp.

In addition to my responsibilities as Lead Design Engineer, I managed a team of 4 front-end devs on this project.

After about a year of working exclusively on the desktop app, I was given responsibility for the fit and finish of the Zune device UI as well. The larger Zune was the first PMP with video playback, and the smaller device came in multiple colors. The desktop app would change themes to match the color of the device.

My role on this project was much more about managing than about being an IC. I managed a team of very talented front-end devs who used an internal flash-like tool and collaborated closely with engineering during bug fixing and refinement. We were also responsible for prototyping during design phase for Zune HD.

Sharing your musical likes and plays with your friends was a big part of the Zune offering, as was the ability to have any music you wanted at your fingertips through a subscription model. This was about 2 years before Spotify and users weren't yet comfortable with the idea of not owning their music outright, so the service never took hold the way we'd hoped.

My team was responsible for flash/silverlight module prototyping, development, styling and fit/finish. We prototyped, developed and shipped flash versions of all content modules, and I oversaw initial prototypes of silverlight versions.