Personal App Launcher
Design a customizable launcher that brings a person's most important actions into one accessible home screen.
The brief
Understand the problem
Background
People frequently move between communication, calendar, travel, and media apps to perform a handful of recurring actions. A launcher can reduce navigation, but it must not become a crowded replacement for every product.
User context
Nadia wants one screen for calling family, opening her commute pass, checking the next meeting, and starting a favorite playlist.
Product problem
Users need fast access to chosen actions while retaining control over permissions, layout, and failures in connected apps.
Objective
Design setup, customization, daily use, and connection recovery for a focused personal launcher.
What to design
Define the experience
Required experience
- Choose apps and specific actions
- Arrange and resize launcher modules
- Use a quick action from the home view
- Repair or remove a broken connection
Screens and states
- Action setup
- Layout editor
- Launcher home
- Connection error
Core user flow
Follow the critical path
- 01
Nadia selects four actions from installed apps
- 02
She gives each integration only the permission it needs
- 03
She arranges the commute pass as the largest module
- 04
When calendar access expires, she reconnects without losing the layout
Product rules
Requirements and constraints
Requirements
- Request permissions at the moment an action is added
- Support keyboard, voice control, and large touch targets
- Keep layout editing reversible
- Explain when an action opens another app
Constraints
- Only selected actions appear
- Connected services can change or revoke access
- Private previews must respect device lock state
Reality check
States worth considering
Finish line
What to deliver
- Four mobile or tablet screens including a failed integration state
Optional direction
Visual resources
Use these as a starting constraint if you want one. They are not part of the required solution.
Playfair Display & Open Sans
Clear interface writing gives people the confidence to understand what changed and decide what to do next.
Playfair Display & Open Sans
Clear interface writing gives people the confidence to understand what changed and decide what to do next.