Jonah Jones, Google's Lead User Experience Designer on Google Maps and Sian Townsend, Google's User Experience Lead, put together a video a month ago about using research and design to make Google Maps better for users.
The funny thing, the video is so Apple-like. Watch it yourself:
Jonah Jones said on Google+ that in "preparation for a design-focused Google I/O event, we've kicked off a new "Google Design Minutes" series."
I love it when he pulls out that leaf.
Forum discussion at Google+.