3Data

UX Design and Research Intern - Remote Work

A 1 pound battle bot, a robot made of plastic designed for combat with other plastic robots.

Overview

During my internship at 3Data, a startup focused on 3D Collaboration and Visualization Platforms, I undertook several pivotal projects as part of my undergraduate degree from the Milwaukee School of Engineering. At the time, the company targeted business and data science researchers as its primary market. My contributions encompassed a variety of areas including persona development, website evaluation, VR interface mockups, and UI design for the data presentations platform.

Role

UX Design & Research Intern
Product Design, VR/AR/XR Design, Prototyping, UX Design/Research

Process

When working on projects at 3Data, I followed a straightforward and collaborative process. First, I analyzed the problem and identified the relevant stakeholders. This initial step was important to establish a game plan for the project.

Problem Analysis and Stakeholder Identification:

I analyzed the problem to understand its scope and impact.
I identified and listed all the relevant stakeholders, like customers, prospects, and internal teams, to ensure we covered all bases.

Research and Collaboration:

I conducted initial research, using existing company data and industry standards to gather necessary information.
I worked closely with my supervisor to align on project goals and strategies, which helped refine the approach and ensure it fit with the company's objectives.

Stakeholder Engagement:

I engaged with stakeholders through meetings, interviews, and surveys to gather their inputs. I kept them informed and involved throughout the project with continuous communication.

Informed Design Decisions:

I made design decisions based on comprehensive research and stakeholder inputs, making sure they aligned with both company goals and user needs.

By following these steps, I ensured my projects were well-researched, stakeholder-focused, and aligned with the company's objectives, leading to successful outcomes. This approach not only made the project execution smoother but also encouraged collaboration and utilized the strengths of various stakeholders.

Creating Business-Centric Personas

Understanding our users is crucial for designing effective solutions. I created business-centric personas to represent different user types interacting with 3Data's platform. These personas helped uncover unique needs, pain points, and motivations, guiding our design decisions to ensure we addressed diverse user requirements effectively.

Business-Centric Personas

The Customer: Someone who had bought into the product and sought to utilize the data visualization capabilities extensively.
The Ghost: Individuals who had initially engaged with the business but subsequently ceased contact, helping to identify reasons for disengagement.
The Trial User: Typically, a student researcher or academic interested in exploring the product without committing fully.
The Upfront Customer: Emerging tech enthusiasts looking to adopt new technologies quickly to solve pressing problems.

Persona: Scott. Age: 27. Archetype: Customer. Primary goal: Support customers. Secondary goal: Make the work day more efficient/easier. Frustrations: Too many program options for data visualization. Most are too complex.

Persona: Michael. Age: 34. Archetype: Ghost. Primary goal: Learn about new solution to visualize data. Secondary goal: Find a cost effective solution for data visualization. Frustrations: Don't want to spend time or money setting up an account for a demo. Never used AR/VR equipment. Unsure of how this company is different from others. Note: This persona represents customers/clients that initialize communication, but then disappear.

Persona: Jacob. Age: 22. Archetype: Trial User. Primary goal: Find a reliable program for their senior design project at their University. Frustrations: Most programs are out of budget. Hard to find the right progam that can integrate with what they know. Can't find companies willing to work with students.

Persona: David. Age: 44. Archetype: Upfront customer. Primary goal: Discover a new way to manage data that's easy to use and integrate. Frustrations: Deals with a lot of IT issues day-to-day. A lot of programs they use is hard to fix quickly. Day slows down when they have to use new programs (so they can learn them). Note: This persona focuses on customers who have the budget and have made up their mind to work with 3Data, no demo needed.

Projects

Website Evaluation and Redesign

Challenge: To update the website in preparation for new users including investors, potential users, and tech researchers.
Solution: Utilized research findings and stakeholder feedback to reorganize information and enhance user engagement.
Outcome: Successfully redesigned the website with simplified navigation and modern aesthetics, focusing on the capabilities of the 3Data platform.

Original Website

Wireframe of Patrick Swanson's design changes to the homepage of 3Data's website.

Redesigned Website

A screenshot of 3Data's website from 2020, before the company pivoted.

3Data (2020)

A screenshot of the 3D interface made by Patrick Swanson in VR to show data, control cameras, and send information to the VR room.

A second screenshot of the 3D interface made by Patrick Swanson in VR to show data, control cameras, and send information to the VR room.

A third screenshot of the 3D interface made by Patrick Swanson in VR to show data, control cameras, and send information to the VR room.

A fourth screenshot of the 3D interface made by Patrick Swanson in VR to show data, control cameras, and send information to the VR room.

A 2D wireframe of the workstation's interface, displaying buttons, labels, and videos to be used by the operator.

VR Interface for Command Center

Challenge: Develop a VR interface ("Command Center") for users to visualize network data, monitor for breaches, and access facility webcams.
Solution: Created mockups using Adobe XD, integrating user feedback to refine interface usability and visual appeal.
Outcome: Designed an intuitive VR interface that enhanced user experience and facilitated comprehensive data visualization tasks.

UI Design for Data Presentations

Challenge: Improve the front-end and back-end UI for creating/viewing data presentations on the 3Data platform.
Solution: Collaborated with senior software engineers and designers to streamline the UI, focusing on user-friendly functionality.
Outcome: Implemented UI enhancements that simplified the creation process for data presentations, improving user efficiency and satisfaction.

A 2d view of the 3Data dashboard mockup, showing screens on the left, the 3D/VR environment in the center, and webcams with users on the right.

Front-end Mockups

A 2d view of the 3Data dashboard mockup, showing screens on the left, a selected screen from the left showing in the center (enlarged), and webcams with users on the right.

A 2d view of the 3Data dashboard mockup, showing screens on the left, a selected webcam from the right showing in the center (enlarged), and other webcams with users on the right.

A mockup of the graph page of the 3Data presentation creator platform

Back-end Mockups

A mockup of the graph page of the 3Data presentation creator platform with additional layer options for the visualizations.

A mockup of the presentation page of the 3Data presentation creator platform

Flowchart for the mockups, showing the various screens and interactions that needed to be incorporated into the design.

Final Design

Reflection

My internship at 3Data provided invaluable insights into consulting, inclusive design, and UX methodologies. I honed my skills in high-fidelity prototyping and learned to navigate the complexities of designing for diverse user personas. The experience reinforced the importance of leveraging existing research to drive design decisions and iteratively refining designs based on stakeholder feedback.

Let's Connect

I'm quick to respond, get in touch for opportunities or to say hi!