The "Can You See My Screen?" Conundrum

A detailed look at my design process and results

Role

UX Designer

Tools

Sketch, UserTesting, In-Person Interviews

Overview

This project addressed a common frustration during online meetings: the uncertainty around screen visibility for presenters.

Banking app interface showing before and after redesign

The Challenge

As our product's user base grew, research revealed a recurring issue. Presenters frequently had to ask the age-old question, "Can you see my screen?" This highlighted a lack of clear feedback, a trend prevalent across many online meeting platforms.

Process

Research

To understand the nuances of this problem, I conducted contextual inquiries with both our users and those of competitors. The goal was to identify habits and frustrations related to screen sharing. The repeated question about screen visibility consistently surfaced as a key pain point.

Design Solutions

Collaborating with product management and the development lead, we explored various potential solutions. We considered proactively informing the presenter about viewer visibility and offering troubleshooting guidance. Ultimately, we implemented a simple "yes" or "no" indicator for the screen sharer, confirming if at least one attendee could view their screen.

Did it Work?

Through experimentation and validation, we ensured the feasibility and user impact of our solution. The implementation of clear visual confirmation aimed to reduce presenter uncertainty and contribute to smoother, more confident presentations.

Key Learnings

  • Sometimes the most "obvious" problems are hiding in plain sight (or sound!).
  • Meaningful improvements don't always require complex overhauls. A targeted solution can effectively address a major user pain point.
  • Teamwork makes the dream work (especially for less awkward meetings).