Google Password Redesign
What started off as a passion project seeking justice for my grandpa, became a fun and learning-filled exploration of an otherwise small aspect of a large digital ecosystem.
The goal was to improve the visual indicators of Google's password creation and reset page so that there is constant feedback for users that need guidance.
Role
Interaction Designer
Timeline
2 Weeks
Spring 2024
Team
Solo
Tools
Figma
After Effects
How can we…
improve Google's password creation system for those who are unsure how complicated their password should be?
Overview
A visually clearer password creation system
With the addition of segmented progress bars, and a matching illustration to complement it, my proposed password screen creates visual clarity and live feedback to reduce frustration when changing or creating your password.
Idea
This all started when my 95 year-old grandpa forgot his Google password.
(He also lost the sticky-note with the password written out)
Problem
We wanted no password on his Chromebook, but we had to have one.
And so we attempted to make simple ones that way he could remember better, but we kept getting errors.
The worst part was there was no precise feedback.
Key Insights
There 4 main insights I wanted to focus the project on:
Process
Creating an evolving "metaphoric" lock illustration
Leveraging Google’s illustration style, I created representative status animations of different types of locks to assist user awareness to help them know how strong their password is.
Weak
Fair/Medium
Strong
Final Decision
Deciding between two versions
A single progress bar could be used to indicate your password strength status alongside the keyword now highlighted by colour. I chose the status bar segmented based on the 4 levels of password strength, because it allows users to more accurately know where their password strength lies relative to Google’s set baselines.
Final
A clearer way of viewing password strength while changing or creating a new password.
Retrospective
A small project can have big impacts
What started off as a passion project seeking justice for my grandpa, became a fun and learning-filled exploration of an otherwise small aspect of a large digital ecosystem. The time constraints along with the actual feature constraints pushed me to make something grounded and less speculative unlike my design classes at school.
Don't reinvent the wheel
Reference examples of other software SSOs, I was able create a slightly modified version of the existing password change menu without straying away from Google’s brand values and visual guidelines.