User Journey • Annotated Overview

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Jason Spielman
I led design for NotebookLM, shaping the product’s core user experience, brand identity, and visual system from concept to launch.
This remains one of my proudest projects, and I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to design something entirely new from the ground up. It was a chance to explore fresh paradigms, invent new patterns, and bring a product to life that hadn’t existed before. None of it would’ve been possible without the tight-knit, cross-functional team I was fortunate to collaborate with.
Podcast • Sequoia
Raiza and I discuss the journey building NotebookLM.
NotebookLM • Winner!
Recognized as one of TIME’s Best Inventions of 2024.
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Architecture
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3 Panel
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Visual Assets
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Architecture
UI Evolution
The default layout, offering a balanced view of sources, chat, and notes.
Optimized for referencing sources and generating responses with citations.
A popular request, designed for users focused on drafting and iteration.
Ideal for composing while keeping source material in view.
Source Panel
Studio Panel
Chat Panel
Here’s what that looks like:
User Journey • Annotated Overview
Home
Next
Jason Spielman
I led design for NotebookLM, shaping the product’s core user experience, brand identity, and visual system from concept to launch.
This remains one of my proudest projects, and I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to design something entirely new from the ground up. It was a chance to explore fresh paradigms, invent new patterns, and bring a product to life that hadn’t existed before. None of it would’ve been possible without the tight-knit, cross-functional team I was fortunate to collaborate with.
Podcast • Sequoia
Raiza and I discuss the journey building NotebookLM.
NotebookLM • Winner!
Recognized as one of TIME’s Best Inventions of 2024.
|
Architecture
|
3 Panel
|
Brand Identity
|
Visual Assets
|
Takeaways
Architecture
UI Evolution
Early Prototype
This is what the UI looked like when I first joined the early project.
Notes driven UI
Introduced chat UI as an overlay above a freeform note canvas.
3-Panel Structure
Synthesizes learnings into a scalable and adaptive layout.
Standard
The default layout, offering a balanced view of sources, chat, and notes.
Reading + Chat
Optimized for referencing sources and generating responses with citations.
Chat + Writing
A popular request, designed for users focused on drafting and iteration.
Reading + Writing
Ideal for composing while keeping source material in view.
User Journey • Annotated Overview
Home
Next
Jason Spielman
I led design for NotebookLM, shaping the product’s core user experience, brand identity, and visual system from concept to launch.
This remains one of my proudest projects, and I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to design something entirely new from the ground up. It was a chance to explore fresh paradigms, invent new patterns, and bring a product to life that hadn’t existed before. None of it would’ve been possible without the tight-knit, cross-functional team I was fortunate to collaborate with.
Podcast • Seqouia Training Data
Raiza and I discuss the journey building NotebookLM.
NotebookLM • Winner!
Recognized as one of TIME’s Best Inventions of 2024.
|
Architecture
|
3 Panel
|
Brand Identity
|
Visual Assets
|
Takeaways
Architecture
Design Evolution
Standard
The default layout, offering a balanced view of sources, chat, and notes.
Reading + Chat
Optimized for referencing sources and generating responses with citations.
Chat + Writing
A popular request, designed for users focused on drafting and iteration.
Reading + Writing
Ideal for composing while keeping source material in view.
Source Panel
Studio Panel
Chat Panel
Here’s what that looks like:
User Journey • Annotated Overview