Scaling Google Lens across platforms & products
Role: UX design manager
Overview
Google Lens started as a camera-based visual search tool on mobile—great in theory, but hard to find and not widely used. I led the effort to bring Lens beyond mobile and into everyday moments across Search, Chrome, and Photos. This work helped shape how people search visually on Google today—meeting them where they are and making visual search feel less like a gimmick and more like a natural part of how we explore the world.
Lens in Google Photos
Lens in Google Translate
The Challenges
Lens had solid capabilities, but most people didn’t know it existed. It was tucked away as a standalone mobile app, and completely unavailable on desktop. We needed to:
- Make Lens easier to access—on both mobile and desktop
- Integrate Lens into other Google products without making it feel bolted on
- Design for a behavior (visual search) that was still new for most users
Approach
1. Bring Lens to where people already are
I worked with PMs, engineers, and leads across Search, Shopping, Chrome, and Photos to figure out the right entry points and use cases for each product. We didn’t want to force Lens in—we wanted it to feel like a natural part of the experience.
2. Build a consistent, cross-platform experience
Lens was originally built for mobile, so bringing it to desktop meant starting from scratch. I led the design for the first version of Lens for Web, working closely with the Search team to integrate it into the Google.com search bar. On mobile, we made sure Lens felt cohesive across Android, iOS, and partner devices like Samsung and Xiaomi.
3. Lead and grow the design team
I managed a team of 6 designers and supported their growth through regular 1:1s, design reviews, and strategy sessions. I also helped a senior IC transition into their first leadership role, mentoring them through managing a small team.
4. Focus on clarity and trust
Visual search was still new to a lot of people, so I worked with our researchers and writers to make the experience feel approachable. We tested prototypes, simplified onboarding, and paid close attention to how people understood what Lens could do.
Lens web from google.com
Lens in Chrome
Outcomes
- Lens now powers 20B+ visual searches every month across mobile and desktop
- We built the first version of Lens for Web, starting with Google Search and expanding to Chrome
- Lens became a core part of Google’s broader multi-modal search strategy
- Users can now access Lens from wherever they are—no need to download a separate app or learn something new
Looking Back
This work was about more than just scaling a product—it was about making a new behavior feel familiar. I’m proud of how we found the right balance between vision and practicality, helping Lens quietly become something people use without even thinking about it. It was also one of the most collaborative efforts I’ve been part of—spanning multiple teams, platforms, and product goals—and that made the impact even more meaningful.
Press
Davina Kim