The Projects:

Collaborate with Intel's IoT UX team and Intel Labs to explore future product concepts and usages surrounding Internet of Things in three broad categories - In-Vehicle-Infotainment Systems, IoT Kits, and Intel Technology Access.

My Role:

As a User Experience designer, I was responsible for developing use cases, wireframes, and developing experiences around Intel's Internet of Things technology.

The outcome:

We successfully delivered the scenarios, prototypes, findings, analysis, and recommendations for multiple use cases to Intel.

Project 1:

➝ Project Requirements:

Design an IVI system with smartphone integration for Intel Labs’ Orion IoT project.

"The final deliverable should be a comprehensive, working, demo-able product for the CES show in Las Vegas." - Stakeholder

➝ Scenarios:

Several scenarios were developed surrounding smartphone integration with the IVI system, such as:

• Phone calendar and contacts
• Connecting multiple phones
• Playing media from different phones
• Integrate with phone sensors
• Integrate with mobile phone apps

Scenario: Sync with driver phone

➝ Interactive Prototype Demo:

Detailed wireframes and their visuals were then designed.

Finally, we developed an interactive prototype that featured integration between the IVI system, location sensors, steering wheel, different IVI apps, and up to four mobile phones.

Intel demoing the IVI system

Project 2:

➝ Project Requirements:

Design and develop software that shows users how to use the Intel IoT kits through a beginner demo interface and through different use case walkthroughs.

Each IoT use case concept needed to be completely detailed out, with user models, task models, interaction and visual design specifications, and fully functional prototypes/working programs.

➝ Interactive Web Apps:

'Demo experience kit' for Intel's Starter IoT Kit

Example use case - IoT integration with a delivery truck, to monitor temperature, vibration, location, door open/close status, etc.

Web apps for different IoT use cases

Project 3:

➝ Project Requirements:

Define experiences around Intel Technology Access, which lets devices connect and communicate with other devices and share resources.

➝ Wireframing:

• Wireframes exploring elements of the user experience for each concept were created and tested with users.

Intel Technology Access

The project:

Redesign and enhance Vialogues with a focus on self-directed learning. With thousands of users around the world still using its first incarnation (launched in 2010), there has been a desperate need for an upgrade and constant demand for additional features and an easier to use interface.

Old Vialogues Homepage

My role:

I was the lead designer on this project and was responsible for its complete creative execution. I worked closely with a UX researcher for the initial analysis and later testing parts, and with a visual designer to create the high-fidelity designs.

The outcome:

• Vialogues was launched on 10th August 2017 to rave reviews and feedback!
• There is now better discoverability of people and content.
• There is an increased emphasis on groups of related content.
• The new design fixed a lot of the usability and findability issues of the previous version.
• The site is now less "busy" and the design allows the content to have breathing room.

STRATEGY:

➝ Determining Areas of Improvement:

Through multiple stakeholder meetings, ideation/brainstorming sessions, and review of site feedback data, we decided that the following areas needed improvement:

• Create a more robust discussion environment

How do we help create the rich, active discussions we set out to support and provide users the sense of community they feel across similar discussion sites?

• Provide moderators with data and analytics about their vialogues
• Improve assessment methods

How can we improve our polling and question feature to better serve learners?

• Improve the search and recommendation

"How can we improve discoverability of people and content?"

• General update of the UI
  • Update overall style / icons / fonts / visual elements
  • Reduce clutter / Update page layouts / Give breathing room
  • Expose hard to find features (Ex: video settings)
  • Simplify complicated functionality (Ex: create process)

➝ Determining Project Scope:

For our first phase, we will be focusing on general UI updates and improve the search & recommendations system.

RESEARCH:

➝ Evaluation of old website:

• We analyzed traffic data to determine popular pages and paths.
• Created a sitemap, functionality map, and permissions/roles of the old site.
• Being EdLab's most used product with users across the world we had a whole lot of feedback and support questions to analyze -
  • Users regularly submit feedback through the UserVoice integration on the site.

  "How do I change the closed-captions?"

  • Feedback from EdLab staff and our premium users acquired via emails or direct interactions.

  "How will I know if my students watched the video?"

  • Feedback from Usability tests.

  "I’ve always wondered how the recommended Vialogues are determined? I feel like some SiNY or Voice episodes always have the same suggestions!" - Video Team Member

  • We interviewed several existing users of Vialogues, including -
    • EdLab staff, who use it for video hosting/streaming
    • Professors, who use it for student instruction
    • Students, who use it for professional development
    • Researchers, who use it for informal learning and research
  • This feedback was categorized into different problem areas (like Vialogue Management, User Setting, Access, Commenting, etc.)

Old Vialogues Play Page

The project:

Design a new website for EdLab highlighting EdLab's network of apps by enabling users to easily interact with the enormous amount of content that users create using these apps.

My role:

I was the lead designer on this project and was responsible for its complete creative execution. I worked closely with a UX researcher for the initial analysis and later testing parts, and supervised a visual designer to create the high-fidelity designs. I then worked closely with the developers during the implementation stage, including help polish some functionality and styles by diving into the code.

The Outcome:

• The new site was launched in March 2017.
• We revised the IA, simplified the navigation, came up with a simple and clean design aesthetic.
• The eventual final design and layout was liked enough by our stakeholders to make it "our look" and became the start of unifying the design across our different websites and apps.
• This project also led to the creation of other related projects, like EdLab Global Search, the EdLab CMS project, integrated EdLab authentication system.

RESEARCH:

➝ Project scope and requirements:

• Our initial focus and assignment was to simply 're-skin' the old website to make it look nicer and cleaner.
• As we went down the path of a 're-skin', we realized there were several things about the site that didn't work.
• Eventually, the scope expanded to build a completely new website with new requirements and features.

The Old Homepage

➝ Evaluation of old website:

• The main user base for the website is the EdLab staff, who use it to write blog posts for internal/external audiences, create events, advertise new job positions, update people information, and highlight projects and work.
• Several visitors to the EdLab website originate from one of our different apps, trying to create new EdLab app accounts.

Since the old EdLab website had a different account system compared to other EdLab apps, confused users created EdLab 'website accounts' instead of an EdLab 'apps account'.

• Analyzed traffic data to determine popular pages and paths.
• Created a sitemap and explored the source repository to map the hundreds of pages and sub-pages within the old website.

➝ High Fidelity Designs / Pixel Perfection:

• When we initially worked on re-skinning the site, it was a period of management and the design team understanding each other's processes and design sensibilities and aesthetic sense.
• Some of our initial designs were very visceral and visually bright and attractive -- while our stakeholders liked them, they felt it did not convey their feelings towards EdLab.
• Our later design iterations were more simple and clean.

Early visual design option

➝ Prototyping:

• We used InVision app to create, share, and test our prototypes.
• Constantly tested our designs with members of the Teachers College community and iterated based on their feedback.

Users feel the new design does a good job of informing them of what EdLab does and can do. They like seeing our latest posts and events.

The Project:

Redesign the standard power outlet considering advancements in technology, increased user demand, and new user requirements.

My Role:

Our team was a multi-disciplinary team, consisting of a mechanical engineer (Cole), an electrical engineer (Karthik), a business major (Dan), and a user experience designer (me). As the user experience lead, I was actively involved in the research and design phases.

The Outcome:

We designed an award-winning outlet, with multiple sockets, USB charging ports, and an extension cord -- all built into a standard size gang-box with an unobtrusive design.

➝ Prototypes and Testing:

• We initially created cardboard and paper prototypes of some of these designs and tested them out.
• We got the idea to enhance the design to include an extension cord inside during this testing phase.

➝ Final Design:

The 'Evolve Outlet' had the following features-

• 4 Standard Power Outlets
• 2 USB Charging Ports
• Self-contained, auto-retracting 48" extension cord.
• Fits in the standard 2-Panel wall box

Final Design of the Evolve Outlet

A 3D print version of the evolve outlet was displayed at the Design Expo at The University of Michigan and won the Best Project Award! The project was also displayed at UMSI's "expoSItion '13" and got an honorable mention under the overall best project category.

3D print of our solution

Interactive Learning Game Design with Intel

Interactive environment to explore, discover, and learn about. Shown above is the interaction of clicking on a fish and getting contextual actions and information.

Healthcare Taxonomy Management Software

A software application to view, add and manage the complex taxonomy in healthcare.

 View project presentation

Support Portal Redesign

Complete redesign of Symantec's Support portal website.

Dell Pattern Design Library

File Upload Pattern

Pagination Pattern

Dell Design Library patterns are used by the developers of Dell.com

PayPal India Mock Ups

A POC to create a new application for PayPal in the Indian market.