Next generation restaurant point of sale
Square prioritized speed by allowing each vertical to build independently. Later as the company scaled that created silos and slowed growth long term. A lead on each team came together to build a single unified backend for all orders that shared features, improved seller experiences, and unlocked more complex partnerships. This was the company’s number one priority.
Design lead for : 4 restaurant designers, 4 cross functional designers
Teams : 5 restaurant teams, 8 vertical teams
Number of features : 15
Timeline : ~1.5 years to complete
Contributed : Strategy, research, designs, marketing, success metrics, beta planning, management
The problem
Users were confused by inconsistent functionality across business types. For example, Square offered reservations and scheduling features for appointment-based businesses but not for restaurants. This led to frustration among Square business owners.
The solution
We addressed this by building a unified ordering platform that serves as a shared foundation across teams and verticals—replacing redundant efforts with one core system built collaboratively.
Why it matters
When sellers noticed features were inconsistent across business types, it created confusion and eroded their trust in Square. They’re should not be exposed to our internal structure. Offering the same core features across the board helps teams scale faster and delivers a more reliable experience, no matter what kind of business sellers run.
My role
I led design for this project, partnering closely with design leads and cross-functional teams to define a unified vision for the platform. As the only designer at the time, I focused on restaurant-specific features while setting the broader strategy by outlining key milestones, communicating the path forward, and painting a clear picture of how we’d bring it to life. I balanced hands-on design work with stakeholder alignment, helping teams stay focused and move forward together.
How my role evolved
As the team grew, I stepped into a broader leadership role by mentoring designers, setting standards, and guiding strategy. While I still designed key features for the diners team, my focus shifted to ensuring the work was cohesive, clear, and aligned across teams.
Target audience
Restaurant next gen projects
How did it go?
To be transparent, this took Square longer than expected as the scope expanded and they ended up rebuilding much of the product. Although the public rollout happened after I left, we were testing it internally in beta before my departure. You can find the full overview on Square’s website here.
Positive feedback
“The name pulled from card is super helpful during the morning service as they don’t run drinks to tables then, they will call out the customers name when the order is ready.”
“The beta screen design is more intuitive.”
“We appreciate being included in your beta test of the pre-auth functionality, it’s been a HUGE improvement in our ability to serve our customers with Square.”
“Swiping to start a check works great and is a great feature. Love the new order manager, nice clean look with great details.”