Industry
Cloud Computing
Client
Google Cloud
Project Type
Interactive Installation
Building an Interactive Conference Session
Challenge & Approach
Google Cloud tasked our team with designing an interactive, multi-device experience for an executive session at the Google Cloud Next conference. We had three months to go from concept to deployment. The core design challenge centered on orchestrating seamless communication across 230+ connected devices while maintaining participant focus and enabling real-time data visualization. I anchored the entire system architecture to a global timeline that programmatically controlled what each user could access at any given moment, creating natural transition points while preventing connectivity issues from breaking the experience. This temporal structure became the foundational design decision that enabled everything else (from moderator controls to participant flows) to scale reliably.
System Design & Interaction Model
Working cross-functionally, I established the interaction paradigm across five device types: participant tablets, moderator controls, group leader panels, large-screen visualizations, and backup systems. I mapped four distinct screen states to manage attentional hierarchy, directing focus between personal devices, the moderator, and ambient displays depending on session needs. The moderator interface balanced extensive functionality with minimal cognitive load through clear hierarchical controls, integrated presentation tools, and an emergency override. For content iteration, we instrumented Google Sheets as a lightweight CMS, enabling the client team to rapidly test and refine survey questions, discussion prompts, and session flows without engineering dependencies.
Outcomes & Impact
The system executed flawlessly at launch, enabling seamless real-time data visualization and adaptive facilitation that drove productive executive conversations around data privacy and cloud strategy. Beyond the immediate success, the temporal architecture and modular CMS created a reusable platform. The client began regionalizing it for Japan within weeks of the initial deployment. The project validated that thoughtful systems thinking and interaction design can transform complex logistical constraints into elegant, scalable experiences: we delivered instantaneous show control, configurable analytics, and a swappable content system that reduced future setup from months to minutes.
