Ingenii
The Ingenii Team is on a mission to accelerate the adoption and integration of quantum data technologies into classical cloud data platforms. Ingenii wants to help you take ownership and control of your data ecosystem, leverage off-shelf infrastructure as code as well as provide access to an intelligent data engineering solution library that helps you keep pace with the rapid technological innovation.
THE CHALLENGE
Designing a data engineering platform for a startup presents unique user experience challenges. Ensuring seamless navigation and intuitive data flow are paramount, as users grapple with intricate data processes. Striking a balance between advanced functionalities and a simplified interface can be tough, often requiring clear visualizations to demystify complex data transformations.
THE OUTCOME
Complete branding, website design and development, data engineering platform wireframes and high-fidelity prototypes
YEAR
2021/2022
Challenge and
Problem Overview
Designing a data engineering platform for a startup presents unique user experience challenges. Ensuring seamless navigation and intuitive data flow are paramount, as users grapple with intricate data processes. Striking a balance between advanced functionalities and a simplified interface can be tough, often requiring clear visualizations to demystify complex data transformations.
Goals
Ease of Use: The platform should be easy to navigate and interact with, even for users who may not be highly technical. The interface should be intuitive and require minimal training for users to get started.
Efficiency: Data engineering tasks can be complex and time-consuming. The UX should focus on streamlining workflows and automating repetitive tasks to help users complete their work more efficiently.
Clear Information Hierarchy: Arrange information and options in a clear hierarchy. Important actions, tools, and information should be easily accessible and prominently displayed, while less frequently used features can be tucked away but still discoverable.
Consistency: Maintain a consistent design language and layout throughout the platform. This consistency helps users build familiarity and confidence in using the platform.
Feedback and Error Handling: Provide meaningful feedback to users when they perform actions, encounter errors, or complete tasks. Clear error messages and actionable information can help users troubleshoot issues effectively.
After setting clear goals, we defined the user flow.
User Flow
Design: Concepts & Sketching
At the early stages of product development I did quite a few sketches. The wireframes laid the groundwork for discussions about user workflows, feature placement, and overall user experience, guiding the platform's development towards a robust and intuitive solution for managing complex data pipelines.
Here is a sneak peak into some of those early designs.
Inital Low-Fidelity Wireframes
Design Decisions
The main design decisions were concerning the project progress. We needed a way to simplify the complex process of setting up a project and decided to do a stepper design. A stepper helps users to complete a task by breaking it down into smaller, more manageable steps. The stepper also provides a clear indication of the progress and provides instructions.
Project Creation Stepper
Other important design decisions included the projects listing as well as the dashboard design. It was necessary that the users can easily initiate project creation which was ensured by consistent and prominent placement of the buttons.
Dashboard and Project Listing Wireframe
Visual Style Direction
For this project I also did a complete branding which included logo design, brand guidelines and product style guide.
First, we needed a logo. The team wanted to have a compelling logo showing the personality and unique skillset of the team members. With 'Ingenii' meaning intelligent, the idea was to create a walrus logo mark because it stands for one of the most intelligent mammals on the planet. Walrus was also a memorable and recognisable mark and this was the result.
Primary logo version
Alternate logo version
App Icon
I also created avatars for the users to be used on the platform
Snippets of the brand guidelines
High-Fidelity Prototype
The prototype served as a crucial tool for stakeholders to validate design choices, gather feedback, and ensure that the platform meets the exact requirements and expectations of its users before development of the MVP begins. Some features were planned to be developed after the MVP was released.
A sneak peek into the High-Fidelity prototyping process
The Dashboard was the first screen that the user sees after the onboarding screens. On the Dashboard it was necessary to make sure the Project creation button prominent and intuitively positioned. The plan was also to have some statistical analysis of the projects on the dashboard in the future.
Dashboard before any projects were created
Dashboard after adding more projects
This is the project creation stepper after many iterations. Most certainly there will be more after the usability testing and due the the complex processes of setting up a project.
Project stepper UI screens
Each project created had to be configured. These are just some of the screens showing configuration settings for individual project.
Project configuration settings
Results and conclusion
In our UX case study for the Data Engineering Platform, we embarked on a journey to enhance user experiences, streamline workflows, and maximize efficiency for data engineers. Through a meticulous process of design, and iterations, we've achieved creating a platform that is focused on reducing the time and effort it takes for data engineers to complete common tasks and has streamlined workflows. We've successfully streamlined complex workflows, making it easier for data engineers to manage projects.
In conclusion, this UX case study for our data engineering platform highlights the transformative power of user-centered design. Through iterative prototyping we have successfully enhanced the platform's usability and efficiency. By prioritizing user needs and pain points, we have not only improved the overall user experience but also contributed to increased productivity and user satisfaction. This projects is still ongoing as we continue to improve the current features and add new ones.