Product Design

Engineering remote collaboration

Challenge Identify and pitch an opportunity, then apply the design thinking process to develop a solution.

Solution WEAV, the smart screen for UX designers to improve remote collaboration.

Impact Evolve UX designers’ remote toolkit to improve collaboration, screen real estate, and streamline workflow.

 
 

Time 12 weeks

Team 5 people

Tools CAD, Figma, Miro, Illustrator, InDesign

Role user research, prototype, test, brand strategist and designer

How might we improve visual communication and remote collaboration for UX designers?

 

Product demo

Why UX designers?

UX is highly collaborative. It doesn’t matter how talented or experienced a UX designer is, getting people involved is critical to making successful products.

Mitigating risk

Why remote collaboration?

In a world where being far away has become the norm, our goal was to bring people closer together through collaboration.

How did we get here?

 

Step 1

Empathize

12 interviews with UX designers to understand their current toolkit, workflows, goals, and pain points.

“Limited screen real estate hinders collaboration.”

— Kierstyn

“I either have to sacrifice who I’m seeing or what I’m working on while on video calls.”

— Sarah

“I feel anxious during remote collaboration when I can’t see people’s expressions.”

— Maryam

 
 

Step 2

 

Synthesize

We synthesized what a positive workflow experience looks like for UX designers from our research

 

  1. Simple

  2. Portable

  3. Compatible with Zoom

  4. Adaptable to a variety of workflows

  5. Function with a pen or stylus

  6. Integrate with existing software

 

Step 3

Ideate

Concept 1 Collapsable, portable projector

Concept 2 Projector clip board

Concept 3 Simplified tablet with case

Concept 4 Digital whiteboard

 

Step 4

Prototype

We built an extra screen that moderated feedback and live chats with colleagues during ideation

 

Step 5

Test + refine

Our testers wanted better solutions for live chatting tools

100% of our test users wanted the extra screen to be used for Zoom meetings, so they don’t have to limit their digital workspace or sacrifice seeing their collaborators

“The second screen would get in the way while drawing.”

— Kedar

“Real-time sketch reviews might not be as useful at this phase of the design process.”

— Matt

“It needs to be a company-wide tool, and the screen is too small for most applications.”

— Kierstyn

 
 

Meet the team

  • Emily Phelan

    BRAND STRATEGIST

  • David Gruba

    VERIFICATION ENGINEER

  • Chris Thompson

    PRODUCT ENGINEER

  • Sadeq Hashemi Nejad

    UX / UI ENGINEER

  • Caitlyn Neider

    UX / UI DESIGNER

Previous

Design Strategy
Next

Brand Strategy