BY Jack Thompson
Samsung, a global leader in technology, has been at the forefront of consumer electronics, semiconductors, and digital media for decades. Founded in South Korea, the company excels across sectors like smartphones, home appliances, and smart devices, with its Galaxy series dominating the smartphone market. Beyond consumer products, Samsung is a key player in semiconductors, AI, and IoT, supplying components for diverse industries. Its focus on research and development has established Samsung as a leader in AI and smart tech, consistently setting industry standards for quality and innovation.
Samsung has seen significant success in the Chinese market, largely due to the innovative contributions of Yongzun Wu, a designer who has been instrumental in several of the company’s key projects. By leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and focusing on user experience, Yongzun Wu has played a critical role in making Samsung’s products more competitive in an increasingly tech-driven landscape. This piece highlights Yongzun Wu’s impact on product innovation and his role in advancing user experience design in the AI era.
As one of Samsung’s key designers in China, Yongzun Wu has a track record of blending AI technology with UX design across multiple projects. From comprehensive UX overhauls to AI integration, his contributions have not only enhanced the technical capabilities of Samsung’s products but also improved everyday user interactions. Yongzun Wu’s projects span various applications, including search apps, browsers, personalized information interfaces, and earthquake warning systems.
In Samsung’s “Search” app, Yongzun Wu was responsible for a full redesign of the user experience. This app, customized for the Chinese market, enables users to easily input search terms from the desktop or the “-1page” and access results across different tabs. Yongzun Wu’s work included redesigning the toolbar, page layouts, function distribution, and tab content structure to better align with modern user preferences. This design overhaul allows users to navigate the app more seamlessly, resulting in a more intuitive experience.
On top of these changes, Yongzun Wu also led the development of a new AI-powered search module. Recognizing the potential of AI in search, he initiated the creation of this advanced feature and developed its interaction process. By closely collaborating with product managers, Yongzun Wu meticulously refined each design detail to ensure that the AI search feature would not only meet but exceed user expectations. This module, anticipated to launch later this year, is expected to be a highlight of Samsung’s “Search” app.
Notably, Yongzun Wu independently designed and led all four of these key projects, each featuring distinct functionalities tailored for Chinese users. His hands-on role in every aspect of these projects underscores his unique contribution to Samsung’s portfolio.
Yongzun Wu also made significant strides with Samsung’s “Internet” browser app. Given that this app is widely used for web searches in China, it required functionality that caters to both global and local needs. Yongzun Wu spearheaded the development of an AI search feature within the browser, integrating AI technology to deliver a smarter search experience. Unlike the “Search” app, the AI search in the browser necessitated different design and implementation techniques, which Yongzun Wu successfully defined and standardized.
In addition, Yongzun Wu introduced a short video feature to the browser, aimed at boosting user engagement. Short video content has become a popular source of information and entertainment, and Yongzun Wu designed the interaction guidelines for this feature, overseeing its development to offer more engaging content options for users.
Another standout project for Yongzun Wu has been the optimization of the -1page interface. This feature allows users to quickly access information and services through a single swipe. Yongzun Wu conducted a comprehensive research report on user needs, totaling nearly one hundred pages, to identify and propose improvements for various modules. He then guided the team in implementing these enhancements, which enable a smarter, more personalized -1page experience.
In addition to optimizing existing features, Yongzun Wu also introduced several AI-driven functionalities, including emotional support, AI suggestions, and schedule management. These enhancements make devices more user-friendly by incorporating a human element. Yongzun Wu established interaction guidelines for these features and oversaw the development of emotion recognition and suggestion functionalities. While some of these features are already live, others are set for gradual rollout.
Yongzun Wu’s independent role in developing these unique features—whether through redesign, functionality enhancement, or AI integration—highlights his significant contributions to Samsung’s innovation pipeline, bringing new levels of personalization and efficiency to users.
Yongzun Wu also designed a unique “Earthquake Warnings” feature for the Chinese market, which not only alerts users during earthquakes but also provides real-time updates on seismic activities in specific regions. He collaborated closely with product managers and technical teams to ensure a high-quality user experience that aligns with Samsung’s design standards. Starting from scratch, he crafted the interaction guidelines for this feature, ensuring that every detail met Samsung’s high standards of quality and stability.
This entirely independent work across four distinct projects demonstrates Yongzun Wu’s role as a key innovator at Samsung, continually advancing user experience with his pioneering approach to design and functionality.
In the realm of privacy and security, Yongzun Wu contributed to the development of the “App Lock” feature, which enables users to protect their apps with identity verification, ensuring their privacy is safeguarded. He also spearheaded the creation of the “CP App Redirect Interception” feature, designed to block intrusive ads that might redirect users to unwanted third-party apps. Yongzun Wu established the interaction standards for this feature, ensuring that users enjoy an uninterrupted and ad-free experience.
In recent years, Samsung has accelerated its technological advancements globally, particularly in AI and smart devices. Yongzun Wu’s design work has not only made Samsung’s products more competitive in China but has also provided new insights and directions for the company’s global strategy. By integrating AI with design, he is providing users with smarter, more interactive experiences. Yongzun Wu’s commitment reflects his passion for design and his vision for future technological developments.
Through his involvement in various design projects, Yongzun Wu has become a driving force behind Samsung’s innovation. His contributions have helped Samsung attract more users and inject new energy into a rapidly evolving tech landscape. Going forward, Yongzun Wu’s design philosophy and innovative spirit will continue to drive Samsung’s steady progress in the global market, helping the brand remain competitive in the AI-driven era.
This article, written by Jack Thompson, was published by August Roberts.