Google — Digital, Web & Augmented Reality
Google — Digital, Web & Augmented Reality
The Insight
60 million queries for "Qibla" or "orientation to Mecca" every Ramadan — and the existing tools frustrated more than they helped.
The Idea
Help millions of Muslims find the exact direction to pray, anywhere in the world, using Google Maps and Augmented Reality.
The Approach
An in-browser app — no download required — with both AR and non-AR versions, designed to degrade gracefully for every device.
The challenge
During Ramadan there are 60 million queries for "orientation to Mecca" or "Qibla". Within Muslim culture it can be a hotly debated subject — exactly where Qibla is. Adding to this, the existing products available either frustrate the user with inaccurate results, have a poor user experience, or both.
Visit g.co/qiblafinder
The idea
Google wanted to help millions of Muslims find the right direction to pray towards during Ramadan and beyond. Using Google Maps and Augmented Reality, Qibla Finder — an in-browser app — was born.
Simple & accessible
"We wanted to make a sophisticated yet simple tool that enables practicing Muslims to find Qibla quickly and accurately."
As a web app it increased the potential outreach to millions, avoiding any barriers to entry like downloading a native app. We carefully considered how it could degrade gracefully — ensuring everyone could utilise the tool by providing both AR and non-AR versions.
Craft
Similar to most Google products, the beauty of the app is its simplicity and impact. We wanted to make it beautiful and a joy to use — sweating the details at every stage, from onboarding, to micro interactions, to language.
We even changed the colour scheme of the app depending upon the time of day. Since praying during Ramadan is determined by time, making the app feel more in-tune with the user wasn't just a nice touch — it was essential.
Qibla Finder 2.0
Off the back of the initial release, we listened to user feedback and implemented the most requested features for year two. This included turning Qibla Finder into a Progressive Web App — enabling offline use, homescreen placement, and real-time notifications.
We also added a satellite layer toggle to Map Views, letting users switch between default and satellite styles, and ran an end-to-end user study to improve messaging throughout the app.
Awards