Redesigning a mobile tool for tracking RTK receivers.

Duration

12 weeks
‍

My role

UX Designer: Collaborated with the engineers and stakeholders to workshop and redesign the mobile RTK solution.

UX Researcher: Conducted SME interviews and field investigation at 2 construction sites.

What I delivered

Investigation

○ Fieldwork and SME interviews

○ On-site workshopping with construction teams

○ Research report with design recommendations

Design

○ Fully detailed information architecture

○ From wireframes to high-fidelity interfaces

○ Interactive prototypes for usability testing

Outcomes

○ I led the team to create a prototype demo that successfully received stakeholder approval.

○ Collaborating closely with engineers throughout the development process, we launched the redesigned app alongside the RTK devices.

Background

Alibaba developed an advanced RTK (real-time kinetic positioning) technology for surveying and location tracking. However, the repurposed mobile app from an earlier version had usability issues. My team was tasked with collaborating with construction companies to redesign the application.

Under a non-disclosure agreement: Details in this case study are intentionally left vague.

Understanding the Problem

Contextual Inquiries

After studying the user flow of the existing app repurposed from an older RTK product, we went to construction sites to observe how the technology fits into real-life workflows of surveying and tracking.

SME Interviews

I conducted interviews with the RTK engineer to understand the technical aspects and limitations of the technology, and a construction manager to learn about practical requirements and contingencies on-site.

Mapping out the Journey

Mapping the Points of Friction

After the fieldwork and interviews, I conducted a workshop to map out the points of friction in the user flow across various touchpoints between the construction team and the RTK devices. The existing UX, designed for an older version of the technology, contained many makeshift decisions, complicating the interface with the additional functionalities. The map revealed pain points associated with the installation process, the challenges navigating different screens to find relevant features, and the potential to eliminate redundant steps in the user flow.

Designing the Solution

Simplifying the Pre-survey Flow

The client already had a mental model of the user flow in mind. I wireframed a new user flow for RTK installation and point selection accordingly, prioritizing the sequence of inputs to streamline the process and eliminate unnecessary dependent steps.

Developing the UI

When redesigning the interface, I focused on foregrounding commonly used features and enhancing the visibility of call-to-action elements. I worked with the client to flesh out the UX copy and the information architecture of the dashboards.

Reflection

In this project, the boundaries between research and design were fluid, particularly given the collaborative nature of the work. I was in constant communication with the client to understand their mental model of the user flow and their vision of an ideal, efficient system.

A key challenge was designing an app that could function in outdoor environments, such as construction sites or uneven terrain for surveying tasks. The dashboard needed to present information in a scannable format, while also being optimized for one-handed use. This meant considering the holistic user experience beyond just the interface.

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Contact.

peterlin.atelier@gmail.com

646-203-3270