Project Overview: USNR MillGenius Platform
Context and Background
From 2018 to 2020, I embarked on a transformative project with USNR, the world's largest and most comprehensive supplier of equipment and technologies for the wood processing industry. With operations spanning the globe, including countries like the United States, Canada, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Germany, the United Kingdom, Chile, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, and many more, USNR identified a crucial need to expand into the digital space. They sought to harness the potential of their online capabilities through the MillGenius platform, aiming to provide a seamless user experience for their diverse clientele.
Understanding the User Flow
Upon joining the project, I was tasked with comprehending the intricate log processing optimization software. To navigate this complex system, I developed a detailed user flow diagram. This tool was instrumental in understanding product logic and analytics, ultimately aiding in the creation of a unified platform for viewing and reporting progress across various user groups. The primary objective was to develop a multifunctional service with an intuitive interface that required minimal training.
Persona Development and Its Benefits
Personas played a crucial role in this project, guiding product development and ensuring focus on critical features. They were especially valuable in aligning multiple Product Owners with varying priorities. By highlighting common interactions, frustrations, and pain points, personas helped clarify actual user needs over the personal wish lists of the Product Owners.
Key Personas:
Jack: A versatile mill operator who monitors the logline from his chair. Jack, who is colorblind, constantly seeks to optimize machine performance.
Julep: A professional and grounded manager who oversees mill workers and ensures targets are met. She relies heavily on strategic dashboards to monitor key performance indicators.
Johnny: A dedicated service worker who travels frequently. He thrives on solving problems and enjoys the analytical approach to troubleshooting machines.
Hypothesis
Given the diverse user base, the primary challenge was to design a multifunctional UI that unified complex mill intelligence with its core users. The focus was on operational, analytical, and strategic dashboards, requiring an innovative approach to breathe life into the outdated UIs.
Hurdles & Considerations
The project's goal was to design a responsive web platform for a suite of wood processing applications. This involved:
Utilizing the latest web technologies for human factors and usability testing across various user types.
Updating old design practices to create user-centric interfaces.
Developing a branding guideline that included a color scheme (including options for the visually impaired), typography, logo, and style guide for a unified look and feel.
Implementation and Design
Prototyping
I unified the stages of prototyping through pen and paper sketches, presenting them to product owners, managers, engineers, and the service team. This collaborative process allowed for the finalization of dashboard layouts before moving on to high-fidelity mock-ups.
Typography
The typography aimed to balance modernism and clarity. The sans serif font Barlow was chosen for its harmonious and sensible appearance, ideal for dashboards with textual and numerical values. For titles and headings, the serif font Aleo was used, providing a bold contrast and ensuring easy differentiation between headings and body text.
Color Scheme
The color scheme centered around contrasting blue and orange hues, chosen for their complementary nature and strong contrast. Blue was selected as the primary color to aid users with visual disabilities, particularly color blindness.
Usability Testing and Iteration
Conducted extensive usability testing sessions with real users from different personas to gather feedback and identify pain points. This iterative process ensured the platform was user-friendly and met the diverse needs of all user groups. Feedback from these sessions was crucial in refining the UI/UX design and enhancing overall functionality.
Final Deliverables
The project culminated in a comprehensive suite of wood processing applications accessible through a responsive web platform. Key deliverables included:
User Flows and Wireframes: Detailed documentation of user interactions and low-fidelity prototypes.
High-Fidelity Mockups: Polished designs showcasing the final look and feel of the platform.
Style Guide: A complete branding guideline featuring color schemes, typography, and design principles to ensure consistency across all digital touchpoints.
Interactive Prototypes: Clickable prototypes for stakeholder presentations and usability testing.
Conclusion
The USNR MillGenius project was a comprehensive endeavor that required a deep understanding of user needs and advanced design practices. By leveraging user flows, personas, and modern design principles, we created a user-friendly, multifunctional platform that met the diverse needs of the wood processing industry. The project's success lies in its ability to harmonize complex data and user interactions into a seamless and intuitive digital experience.
