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What I learned in designing a billboard, Google's Gemini Redesign

What I learned in designing a billboard, Google's Gemini Redesign

Marisa C
October 13, 2024

Hi friends ✿

So…something amazing just happened.

If you’ve been following along my journey, you may have seen that I got the incredible opportunity to design a billboard at Times Square! ✩ I’m still in awe.

I worked with Figma to showcase unconventional ways of using Figma outside of product or UI design. So I created an outfit generator and a pixel game!

I had so much fun making these, and I even vlogged everything to take you all with me. More on that later.

I just got back from New York, and I’m still processing the experience. Seeing the billboard come to life was one of those pinch-me moments. It felt absolutely unreal to stand there with my family and witness something I created on such a massive platform.

This is such a core memory. -`♡´- Thank you to the Figma team for trusting me, and to my parents who flew all the way from Thailand to be by my side. My younger self would never have believed this was possible!

It’s times like these that get me to look back on my journey and see how far I’ve come. Feeling grateful 😌

my takeaways:

Designing for scale: Creating for a massive billboard means paying extra attention to typography readability — everything has to be bold and clear, even from a distance.
15 seconds to tell a story: With only 15 seconds per rotation, every second counts. That means scaling down and being as concise as possible.
Animation: With so much visual competition at Times Square, using the right type of animation can help grab attention and keep viewers engaged, even in a short time frame.

Onto design updates! Let's take a moment to explore some of the latest news and trends in product design. From AI-powered tools to design inspiration, there are a lot of exciting developments brewing to help us with our creativity, like:

〰 Really pretty screen recordings
〰 AI-powered video editing
〰 Hassle-free pattern customization

So, grab your drink, settle in a cozy spot, relax, and let's dive in.

☁️ news & trends

edit videos using AI in Google Photos
Video editing can get 😵 But Google Photos just rolled out some AI-powered tools that make editing feel like a breeze. With just a tap, you can adjust lighting, speed, and even add cool effects. It’s a game changer for anyone looking to level up their content creation without the hassle. Let’s get those videos looking stunning!✨

nostalgia 🤝furniture design 🤝80’s arcade
Okay, this is super cool! Herman Miller just dropped a collection inspired by ‘80s arcade games. Think playful joystick sculptures and funky gaming chairs that bring a pop of nostalgia to your space — perfect for adding a pop of color and fun in your workspace

Google’s Gemini redesign is sleek and simple
Have you seen the new Gemini homescreen on Android? Everything’s condensed into a single line, creating a super chat-like experience that feels both fresh and inviting. Perfect for those of us who appreciate clean design and smooth functionality.

🪐 launches & tools

add a sprinkle of magic to your screen recordings with Phia
Whether you're demoing your latest UI/UX creations or sharing a walkthrough on Figma, Phia lets you add fancy effects and animations to your demos and tutorials, giving your work a more polished and aesthetic finish.

buttery smooth icons with Butter
Icons are everything in tech design. Butter gives you these sleek, customizable icons that make your interfaces shine without needing attribution. Plus, they're updated weekly, so you'll always have fresh options to choose from.

patterns instantly generated for you
If you love creating unique patterns for wall art, websites, or merch, Tabbied is your playground. Instantly generate designs for any project. It's an effortless way to blend creativity with aesthetic visuals in your design workflow!

✨ As promised, here are some behind the scenes of designing the billboard: