Souvlaki, Playful Puns, and Logging Off
We ask Googlers what they’d pack in their virtual carry-ons to the destinations of their dreams
In our new interview series, UXers across Google push the limits of their imaginations, exploring their dream destinations, and what they'd pack for the virtual ride. Interaction Designers, Chris Grant opts for Tokyo, while Tara Hosseinipour heads to Iran, and UX Research Manager, Julie Schiller takes us into the future. Read on to join the journey.
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Chris Grant Interaction Designer, Travel UX
Choose your destination. Where would you like to go? I’ve been wanting to go to Tokyo!
You need to plan your trip. Where do you start? What’s a go-to method / tool of choice to help you get something done? I’ll start by Googling ‘fun bars,’ ‘nightlife,’ and ‘best food’ alongside the destination. Then from what’s popular on social media, I’ll bookmark on Google Maps as ‘want to go.’ This makes it easy when I reach a city, because I’ll see what's near and where I want to venture.
You sneak one person in your backpack and take them with you. Who do you choose, and what role might they play? Hmm, this is hard! I’d invite Frank Ocean to this trip. He’d be great at absorbing the stories from people we’d meet, turning that into something relatable to all.
What piece of the internet do you love so much you couldn't leave it behind? The Woman Yelling At Cat memes are everything! I’ve seen it applied to so many things; so versatile, so funny!
You’ve got to eat! You can bring one meal with you, and nobody’s there to judge. What will it be? Souvlaki all day!
You take a shortcut, but encounter a problem on your way. What’s your secret skill to help you get out of it? First, I’d breathe, and calm down. I’d retrace my steps, and see if that solves the problem. If not, I’d go down a few other paths, search, and even reach out to a friend or possibly an expert.
You pause for a rest. How do you spend your downtime? If I’m not down for a nap, I’m usually a busy body. I’ll go for a drive or a walk, maybe write music, make some beats, design T-Shirts, or even play a round of video games. Lately, I’m cooking regularly, too.
Finally, you make it! How do you like to celebrate? I’d celebrate reaching Tokyo with a plate of karaage and a bottle of ramune.
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Tara Hosseinipour Interaction Designer, Jigsaw
Choose your destination. Where would you like to go? I’ve been dreaming about a road trip around Iran. Starting in Tehran, I’d have a home-cooked meal with my massive family (with over 35 cousins), and later stop off in the Old Bazaar. Then visit Namak Salt Lake, the Pink Mosque’s tile work, and end it with Hormuz Island’s rainbow caves and red beach.
You need to plan your trip. Where do you start? What’s a go-to method / tool of choice to help you get something done? Methodical planning gets me excited for my trips. I’ll brainstorm fun options in a shared Google Doc, while trying to balance relaxing and spontaneous activities. I’ll then spend way too much time color coding my Google travel map to reference throughout the trip.
You sneak one person in your backpack and take them with you. Who do you choose, and what role might they play? I’d bring someone who embodies Dora the Explorer meets Anthony Bourdain. Dora because she always packs light on adventures, reads a map well, and doesn’t get defeated by obstacles along the way. Maybe she has a Farsi-to-English dictionary in her backpack, too. Anthony Bourdain for interesting conversations and delicious food recommendations.
What piece of the internet do you love so much you couldn't leave it behind? Honestly, I travel to disconnect, but if I must bring a piece of the internet with me, it would be something to help me find the best meal. I’d use Google Maps to learn from other people’s cuisine triumphs and defeats.
You’ve got to eat! You can bring one meal with you, and nobody’s there to judge. What will it be? Instead of a meal, I’d pack my go-to unhealthy snacks like Trolli Sour Crawlers, Reese's Cups, Chex Mix, Cheetos, and Takdis Lavashak to hold me over until I reach a home-cooked Persian meal.
You take a shortcut, but encounter a problem on your way. What’s your secret skill to help you get out of it? It’s important to be flexible and open to change to effectively problem solve. I’ll listen and collaborate to come up with solutions and think of those blips as learning opportunities. If that fails, I always have those snacks to help make friends and sustain us through the stress.
You pause for a rest. How do you spend your downtime? I’d create doodles in my sketchbook, inspired by the trip, for my playful project where I illustrate puns for fun. Recently, I needed a creative outlet to balance my UX work addressing online harassment at Jigsaw, creating tools to increase access to reproductive healthcare outside of work, and just existing in 2020.
Finally, you make it! How do you like to celebrate? I would find the nearest outdoor tea house to unwind before crossing things off my list. I’d lay on the large rug-covered benches, slowly drink cardamom and saffron black tea, eat rosewater-flavored sweets, chat with the locals, and plan the next meal and place to visit.
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Julie Schiller UX Research Manager, Next Billion Users and UX Community & Culture
Choose your destination. Where would you like to go? 50 years into the future! I want to see what the world will look like for my children, and if that future is beautiful. I’m very interested in futurecasting and enjoy sci-fi—the next fifty years are going to be a legacy for generations to come.
You need to plan your trip. Where do you start? What’s a go-to method / tool of choice to help you get something done? First, I pick up the technology that breaks known laws of science, as we’re going to the future. Then, I find the geniuses who made this physically impossible thing actually possible. Once I figure out why we want to go to the future, I’ll explore what we could do there.
You sneak one person in your backpack and take them with you. Who do you choose and what role might they play? Eleanor Roosevelt, please. I’d want someone who isn’t afraid of hard situations, of facing suffering, and holding people accountable. Someone who can dream of a humanitarian future and figure out how to build it. Whatever happens, her ability to inspire would be a powerful force!
What piece of the internet do you love so much you couldn't leave it behind? Mashups or duets are my everything. I’m really interested in how accessible creation tools enable so many people to creatively tell their story. It brings a lot of empathy and inclusion to public discourse. And what the world needs now (and probably in 50 years) is love, sweet, sweet love.
You’ve got to eat! You can bring one meal with you, and nobody’s there to judge. What will it be? Don’t tell the other vegetarians, but I love spaghetti & meatballs. It's my comfort food. Plus, it always gets messy, so I’m glad no one is there to judge. Maybe in the future, there will be spaghetti and meat-alternative-balls.
You take a shortcut, but encounter a problem on your way. What’s your secret skill to help you get out of it? Thriving in chaos. I grew up with three siblings and honestly enjoy a messy, noisy environment. Working at Google, I often find myself in a dynamic environment; appreciating the change and new opportunities it brings is critical to enjoying the job.
You pause for a rest. How do you spend your downtime? I am a big believer in digital wellbeing and taking a break each week to reconnect with my family and community. Whether that’s reading books, resting, or reaching out to others, it helps me connect to my values and remember analog life. Digital breaks put life into perspective.
Finally, you make it! How do you like to celebrate? I love a good party. I enjoy music, dancing, and deep conversations. It's really important to celebrate success and reflect. Hopefully, I’ll come back from my trip to the future with good news and a peaceful heart.