Redesigning one of the world’s most-used apps is no small feat, especially when that app is also the second largest search engine in the world: YouTube. Over the last four years, Nate Koechly, UX Director at YouTube, and Matthew Darby, Director of Product Management, have been leading an ambitious effort to balance Google’s metrics-driven culture with the subjective challenge of making an app feel “modern.”
In our conversation, Nate and Matt share how they developed predictive measurement tools to gauge user perception, why they pair visual updates with quality-of-life features like comment threading and improved video controls, and how their research process has evolved from measuring clicks to understanding satisfied watch time.
We also dig into one of YouTube’s most complex challenges: the algorithm. As Nate and Matt explain, what users say they want doesn’t always match what actually makes them happy on the platform. They also discuss their work exploring ways to give viewers more agency and control, including the possibility of using natural language to tune your feed.
Both guests have a genuine passion for how YouTube enables deep expertise and niche interests to find their audiences—from 3D models of the Golden Gate Bridge to forest fire education from Northern California lookouts. Behind the algorithms and design updates is a platform where, as Nate puts it, “when you give people a voice, the things they say are just inspiring.”
Bios
Nate Koechley, UX Director at YouTube
Nate Koechley leads the user experience team for Core and Viewer Experiences at YouTube, where he helps shape the product and design strategy for more than 2 billion users and the future of creativity and media.
His 25-year career working on large-scale consumer products has given him a profound appreciation for the rigors of building for a global audience, the nuances of evolving digital ecosystems, and the intricate interplay of design and technology that defines them. This background, along with a passion for the intersection of design and technology, informs his leadership style, providing a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities of creating a seamless experience on a platform as dynamic as YouTube.
Matthew Darby, Director of Product Management at YouTube
Matthew Darby leads the product team responsible for the YouTube Main App where he helps shape the viewer experience for more than 2 billion users. He’s had the privilege of working on a consumer product he loves from its early days, helping advance its evolution into the vibrant creative ecosystem it is today.
Originally from East London, Matt studied in Manchester, Belfast and London before moving to California 20 years ago. His career has spanned a diverse range of industries—including finance, telecom, software, and media—and he has reveled in mastering the intricacies of each.
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