Translating Technical Constraints into Human-Centered Experiences — Google Nest Hub Max

Product storytelling · Accessible technical language

For this project, I wrote narrative content explaining how the motion designers at Hobbes (now Duolingo) approached the out-of-box experience for Google Nest Hub Max. This project reflects a challenge common to many enterprise platforms: explaining sophisticated systems in ways that build trust and understanding, without oversimplifying the details. The work required translating complex animation challenges—timing, responsiveness, and environmental context—into language that a non-technical audience could understand and appreciate.

Working in close partnership with Hobbes’ design team, I developed a narrative that positioned motion design as a practical bridge between new users and unfamiliar technology. Together, we demonstrated how the team translated hardware and interaction constraints into purposeful animation that clarified product functionality and fostered trust and a sense of welcome from the very first interaction.

The case study balances technical explanation with experiential storytelling, illustrating how thoughtful system design enables clarity, warmth, and usability in everyday consumer interactions.