Key Challenges
Cisco’s legacy device patterns were not built for the complexity of modern hybrid work. As collaboration moved between personal desks, shared rooms, and multi-platform conferencing environments, the experience lacked a unified interaction model. The challenge was to evolve an aging UI into a modern system while aligning the new device with updated platform patterns.
Designing for a large 4K touch display added another layer of complexity, requiring an interaction model that bridged hardware and software cleanly. At the same time, the system needed to support advanced collaboration features without losing first-use simplicity. The device had to work equally well as a personal workstation and in shared huddle-room environments.
Approach
My approach centered on creating cross-functional alignment between design, product, and engineering. We established a clear UX direction and a validation framework based on real-world workflows.
To achieve this, we focused on:
- Iterative, high-fidelity prototyping to explore and resolve complex interaction challenges like multi-display setups and content sharing.
- Frequent user testing sessions to validate our assumptions about hybrid work patterns.
- Close collaboration with industrial design to ensure the hardware and software felt like a single, cohesive product.
- A commitment to a unified design language that could extend beyond the Desk Pro and inform other devices in the Webex portfolio.
Outcome and Strategic Impact
The Webex Desk Pro launched as a high-performance, all-in-one collaboration device and became a flagship desktop solution within Cisco’s enterprise portfolio. With a 27-inch 4K touch display, intelligent 12 MP camera, advanced microphone array, whiteboarding, content sharing, USB-C passthrough, and support across Webex, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams, it set a new standard for executive and hybrid work setups.
Launching just before COVID-19, the product positioned Cisco well as demand for high-quality personal collaboration hardware surged. It modernized Cisco’s personal collaboration category, replaced the DX80 with a future-ready device, and laid the foundation for the broader Desk series. The Desk Pro received industry recognition, including a Red Dot Award for product design.
Stepping into the project mid-cycle, I helped unify hardware, firmware, software, and research efforts into a cohesive end-to-end experience. The UX direction established clear and consistent interaction patterns across the device.
Beyond the Desk Pro, I also helped strengthen the broader ecosystem by aligning experiences across multiple initiatives. I worked on interaction patterns for Room Kit Mini, shaped onboarding for Webex Share, and redesigned the IX5000 interface. That period strengthened my understanding of how consistency across a complex portfolio drives more reliable customer solutions at enterprise scale.
