Product Design Leader
Seamless Integration of Web Features into Desktop App
As the Product Design Manager at McAfee, I led a team of four designers and one researcher in integrating web-based Identity & Privacy features into our legacy desktop app, the company’s biggest revenue driver. The desktop app primarily supported traditional security features (e.g., Antivirus, VPN), while privacy and identity protections were only available on the web, causing high drop-off rates due to forced context switching.
While I set the strategic vision, helped to align stakeholders, and guided execution, this was a true team effort. My lead designer played a pivotal role, taking on significant ownership in execution and demonstrating remarkable growth over the course of the project.
Problem
Users abandoned key Identity & Privacy features due to forced switching from desktop to web, creating friction and drop-offs.
Solution
Integrated web features seamlessly into the desktop app, reducing context switching and improving engagement.
Impact
✔️ 23% reduction in user drop-offs
✔️ Increased adoption of Identity & Privacy features
✔️ Higher desktop install rates
My Role
Led the product design team in defining strategy, aligning stakeholders, and executing UX solutions for seamless integration.
Key Objectives:
Reduce user drop-offs by eliminating friction between desktop and web experiences.Increase adoption of Identity & Privacy features by integrating them into the desktop app.Balance business goals and user needs, aligning cross-functional stakeholders.
The Challenge: Bridging Desktop & Web Experiences
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User Experience Fragmentation: Users had to switch from desktop to a web browser to access identity protection features, leading to drop-offs and frustration.
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Technical Limitations: The desktop app’s Chromium-based container made it difficult to integrate dynamic web features.
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Conflicting Priorities: Different teams had competing business goals—some prioritized desktop install rates, while others focused on web feature adoption.
User problem in cartoon format
Journey mapping to understand current pain points
Strategic Approach: Crafting a Seamless Experience
Aligning Stakeholders
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Conducted discovery workshops to align cross-functional teams on shared goals.
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Mapped business objectives with user needs using stakeholder priority charts.
User Research & Proof of Concept (POC)
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Conducted context-switching studies to quantify friction and improve user experience.
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Created interactive prototypes to validate seamless integration strategies before full rollout.
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Collaborated with the engineering team to develop a functional Proof of Concept (POC), ensuring feasibility and alignment with technical constraints.
One of the stakeholder alignment workshops we held
The Solution: UX & Technical Execution
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UX/UI Enhancements: Standardized navigation between desktop and web.
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Technical Adaptation: Modified desktop app container to support dynamic web UI components.
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Authentication Flow Optimization: Allowed frictionless sign-in for better feature adoption.
Final designs
Impact & Key Takeaways
Results & Business Impact
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23% drop-off reduction when accessing Identity & Privacy features
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Boosted engagement & adoption for Identity & Privacy protection features.
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Aligned business goals with user-centric improvements
Lessons Learned
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Stakeholder Engagement Early On: Aligning early reduces conflicts and accelerates decisions.
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User Testing Before Execution: Validating assumptions ensures high adoption rates.
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Cross-Functional Collaboration: Strong teamwork leads to seamless product experiences.
Ideal experience explained in cartoon format
Final Thoughts
This project highlights how strategic UX leadership and stakeholder collaboration transformed a fragmented experience into a cohesive, high-adoption feature set. By seamlessly integrating web features into the McAfee desktop app, we eliminated user friction, increased engagement, and aligned business priorities with user needs.