AI-Powered Virtual Backgrounds

Problem

Changing backgrounds is a key feature for enhancing the meeting experience, but Zoom’s current process is cumbersome and lacks creative options, putting it at a disadvantage in the market.

Solution

Leverage AI to create an intuitive, easy-to-use feature that offers limitless options of unique and tailored backgrounds.

Responsibilities

Lead product designer

Team members

2 product managers

10+ engineers

Status / Duration

Launched / 3 months

Why do people change virtual backgrounds in Zoom?

Bill, who works remotely at home

Virtual backgrounds ensure my children or pets aren't visible during video calls."

Amy, who manages numerous meetings

Unique virtual backgrounds enhance engagement and interaction."

Teng, who travels a lot for work

I like office-themed virtual backgrounds for a professional appearance."

Helena, a creative brand designer

I like fun backgrounds that reflect my personality; people often ask about them."

Business impacts

High engagement of virtual backgrounds
Ranked as the #1 feature in Zoom Settings

Popular Virtual Background app among all apps
Ranked as the #2 app based on usage

Number of users who opened an App by Month.png

User problems

Problem of changing backgrounds in Settings

1. Only 3 - 5 default background options, and there's no search or generate features.

2. A long process to add my own images in Settings.

Discover online

Save backgrounds shared by others
Find backgrounds on web
etc...

Save on computer

Save backgrounds on my computer

Apply in Zoom

Click “+” to add background
Upload backgrounds from computer
Apply backgrounds

Problem of changing backgrounds in Virtual Background app

1. Users can search and explore backgrounds in the app, but the options are limited.

2. Changing backgrounds in the app also requires many steps.

Find the app

Click "Apps" in the meeting toolbar
Find the Virtual Background app

Discover backgrounds

See backgrounds with preset styles
Search for specific backgrounds

Apply backgrounds

Click "Set background"
Background is successfully changed

How might we...

Enhance backgrounds feature in Settings

How might we enable users to easily change backgrounds without manual uploads?

Integrate Settings with Virtual Backgrounds app

How might we integrate the Virtual Background app with Settings for a unified user experience in meetings?

Make the user experience easy and engaging

How might we make it fun and easy to change virtual backgrounds?

Have a sustainable engineering solution

How might we create a sustainable solution that minimizes technical debt?

Persona & JTBD

Lindsay

A hybrid worker

Goal

Easily change virtual backgrounds based on the meeting context
Easily generate unique meeting backgrounds with AI
Express personality and make meeting engaging

When changing backgrounds,

I need to know where to start so I can quickly select or generate a background.

When generating backgrounds,

I want prompt suggestions so I can save time.
I want to choose from various artistic styles so I can create unique designs.
I want to see options for the same prompt so I can choose my favorite.

When applying backgrounds,

I want to easily apply backgrounds so I can see how it looks.

Design explorations

Exploration 1 - Expand access to & integrate AI to the app

Pros

The app offers greater UI design flexibility.

Cons

Difficult to change users’ behavior, low impact.

1 New entry point for the app on video tile

Choose Background

2 New entry point on meeting toolbar

Choose Background

3 Promote the app on the pop-up menu

Virtual Background

Clicking the menu item opens Virtual Backgrounds app in-meeting

1 Add the text-to-image feature to the app - option 1

2 Add the text-to-image feature to the app - option 2

Click

Exploration 2 - Open the app in a right-side panel

Pros
Easy to discover entry point.
Discover or generate in app.

Cons

Uncommon and confusing.

Exploration 3 - Combine “Generate” and “Search”

Pros
See everything in a single view.

Cons

Unclear about the main JTBD.
Too many options.

Final design

Generate image with text prompt

Choose a preset prompt or enter your own.

Choose artistic styles

Generate an image in a chosen style, with easy style switching.

Integrate with apps in meetings

Generate or explore backgrounds in first-party and third-party apps.

Technical innovation

Implement a Virtual Backgrounds app web view within the Zoom Settings.
This optimizes development by avoiding redundant native features in Settings and in the Virtual Backgrounds app.
The web view provides a native-like experience powered by the Virtual Backgrounds app.