BirdTab

Overview

BirdTab is a personal project: a Chrome extension for bird enthusiasts where every new tab reveals a beautiful bird from your region. It's a small, joyful piece of software that turns the mundane act of opening a browser tab into a moment of discovery and connection with the natural world.

The Challenge

New tab extensions are a crowded space, but most focus on productivity or generic nature photography. The challenge was designing something specifically for bird lovers, with regional relevance, species information, and a visual experience that makes you pause and appreciate rather than immediately navigate away.

Process

1. Concept
2. Bird Data Research
3. Visual Design
4. Information Architecture
5. Prototyping
6. Beta Testing

Approach

I designed the experience around the moment of delight: the split second when a new tab opens and you see a bird you recognize (or one you've never seen before). The design is deliberately minimal: a full-bleed photograph, the bird's name, and a subtle region indicator. Everything else stays out of the way. The birds shown are species actually observed near the user.

Key Contributions

• Conceived and designed the product from idea to implementation
• Created a minimal, photography-first interface that prioritizes the bird
• Used regional bird sightings to show species relevant to the user's location
• Designed species information cards that educate without overwhelming
• Refined the new tab experience through beta testing

Outcome

A small, personal project that brings a moment of calm and curiosity to every new browser tab, turning a utility action into a chance to learn about the birds that share your environment.