IG DESIGN

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IG DESIGN

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Datacom
live project: The living wall

Datacom
live project: The living wall

Project Overview

Project Overview

In today's hybrid working environment, social connectedness has emerged as a formidable challenge. The spatial distance created by this new model has intensified the obstacles in cultivating meaningful interactions among team members.

In today's hybrid working environment, social connectedness has emerged as a formidable challenge.

Our task…

Our task…

Design an interactive digital experience to promote connectivity within Datacom, and prompt organic conversation and talkability

Platform & specs

Platform & specs

  • 85" Display

  • Webcam & speaker

  • Browser friendly

85" Display

Webcam & speaker

Browser friendly

Core features

Core features

  1. Interactive display

  2. Datacom culture & values

  3. Generative AI music

Interactive display

Datacom culture & values

Generative AI music

The Space

The Space

  • Cafeteria

  • Multipurpose

  • Focus on new Wellington office, but potential to implement in all branches

Cafeteria

Multipurpose

Wellington office

Datacom branches

Success Metrics

Increased cross-team collaboration, product awareness, and the number of interactions & repeat interactions


Timeline

10 weeks, four sprints

Success Metrics

Increased cross-team collaboration, product awareness, number of interactions & repeat interactions

Behind the scenes:
A short preview

Behind the scenes:
A short preview

We created two videos as part of our product pitch, which aided in our final presentation at Datacom.

Step 1:
Stakeholder Alignment

We quickly found our stakeholders were significantly misaligned as we tried to narrow down our scope.

It was a crucial issue that we needed to address asap, and a daunting one as we were barely acquainted.

We proceeded to lock down virtual stakeholder interviews, and analysed each individually before synthesising them into an empathy map.

Step 1:
Stakeholder Alignment

Step 2:
Discover & Define

Step 2:
Discover & Define

User Story

As a Datacom employee, ​

I want to have more in-person interactions with others

So I can feel a sense of connection and collaboration in the workplace

User Interviews

We conducted virtual interviews with Datacom employees in the Wellington office, which we analysed and used to create our User Persona and User Story.

Issues

Aside from navigating the new hybrid working environment, there are two additional main issues we found:

Issues

Aside from navigating the new hybrid working environment, there are two additional main issues we found:

1. The Wellington office was originally two separate buildings (and social groups), which have now been merged into a brand new office building.

2. There is an underlying silo mentality within Datacom that is particularly strong in the Wellington office.

1. The Wellington office was originally two separate buildings (and social groups), which have now been merged into a brand new office building.

2. There is an underlying silo mentality within Datacom that is particularly strong in the Wellington office.

User Story

As a Datacom employee, ​

I want to have more in-person interactions with others

So I can feel a sense of connection and collaboration in the workplace

JBTD Statement

Help me connect with people outside of my team while in a shared space, so that I can expand my network

Help me connect with people outside of my team while in a shared space, so that I can expand my network



Step 3:
Develop

Step 3:
Develop

Ideation Session

We had a general ideation session quite early on, where we bounced ideas as a collective. We then had our own individual brainstorm and came together to conduct a formal Crazy Eights session including our developers.

Top Ideas

  1. Welly Lines : An artistic map display or their area, where they could interact with streets to AI generate music based on the area.


  1. Da-moji : An interactive Datacom mascot that you could ask questions/play with & would dream about up & coming events in it's idle state.


  1. The Living Wall : a forrest scene that would grow as you watered it.

The Decision

The Decision

The Decision

After storyboarding and pitching our top ideas to stakeholders and various UX designers for feedback, we landed on our 'Living Wall' concept.

This was influenced by development feasibility, time constraints, and security issues.

Click on the scene ->

First Iteration:
The Interactive Art Piece

First Iteration:
The Interactive Art Piece

Existing research into workplace environments as well as our own user research suggested we look at creating a 'simple water cooler moment' by creating an interactive art piece.

The Concept

The Concept

The screen would display a barren landscape, and there would be a real physical watering can on the table next to the screen. An on-screen prompt would entice users to pick up the watering can and water the screen. The more users water the scene, the more it would grow into a lush New Zealand forest, and the more native birds and critters would appear in the scene.

AI would be utilised to generate green noise that reflects the scene and this alongside the depiction of the time of day in the scene would incorporate the circadian rhythm into our design.

If the scene is not watered the forest will begin to die back, ensuring repeat interactions and creating a sense of wonder at what the scene may look like that day.

Style

Style

We opted for a 3D low-poly style. as our stakeholder's were keen on a 3D project as they had little experience in this area, and being on the Emerging Tech team, it was important we continued to push these boundaries and challenge ourselves.

We opted for a 3D low-poly style. as our stakeholder's were keen on a 3D project as they had little experience in this area, and being on the Emerging Tech team, it was important we continued to push these boundaries and challenge ourselves.

Software

Our dev lead/ stakeholder was keen on trying out Spline, and initial research presented Spline as a beginner friendly option. We had no experience in 3D design - but were keen on the challenge.

Software

Our dev lead/ stakeholder was keen on trying out Spline, and initial research presented Spline as a beginner friendly option. We had no experience in 3D design - but were keen on the challenge.

User flow
Version 1:

User flow

Version 1:

Second Iteration:
Gamification

Second Iteration:
Gamification

There was some stakeholder concern around the 'stickiness' of the product, and an emphasis was put on adding a competitive aspect to our product.

A 'streak' aspect was something we knew worked and could be implemented (from a developers perspective) within our timeframe.

There was some stakeholder concern around the 'stickiness' of the product, and an emphasis was put on adding a competitive aspect to our product.

A 'streak' aspect was something we knew worked and could be implemented (from a developers perspective) within our timeframe.






After doing a little more research, we became acquainted with flow theory to create that 'optimised experience' for our users. Whilst providing a quick and effective pivot for our stakeholders, we needed to optimise our product to ensure it was a little more engaging.

Flow Theory

Optimisations:

Flow Theory

After doing a little more research, we became acquainted with flow theory to create that 'optimised experience' for our users. Whilst providing a quick and effective pivot for our stakeholders, we needed to optimise our product to ensure it was a little more engaging.


The Water Meter

The Water Meter

We did this by introducing daily watering targets which would be displayed as 'Maui's Challenge'. If you did not meet the target that day, Maui would destroy your plant and you would lose your streak. The higher the streak, the harder the challenge each day.

The Mini Game (future development)

The Mini Game (future development)

For an increased challenge and the instant dopamine hit of a high score.

This required users to fill up the watering can first in order to water the plant. Users had to move the physical watering can in order to catch water droplets that fell from the top of the screen.

User flow

Version 2:

User flow
Version 2:

User flow
Version 2:

User Testing

User Testing

A formidable challenge for us, as given the nature of our product we had limited avenues when it came to testing an interactive wall that wasn't even slightly usable until the final sprint.

A challenge for us, given the nature of our product meant we had limited avenues when it came to prototyping & testing.

The interactive wall only became functional/ testable during our final sprint.

Animatics

Animatics

We did manage to conduct some limited user testing of the actual product during our final sprint.

Up until that point however, we utilised short animated videos - 'animatics' I created in order to test users.

We would pause an ask questions, and for feedback at key points in the Userflow. We also found it helpful to ask them to explain what they thought was happening.

User Test Report

Initially our stakeholders requested the competitive aspect to be between the 'service lines' in the company - whereupon each service line would have their own plant & streak to maintain.

User testing revealed many users do not know their service lines, which convinced our stakeholders to move away from this idea and towards each office having their own plant. This provided a competitive aspect between branches, as well as a collaborative effort within the office.

Some users also suggested one of our deforestation scenes (the fire engulfing the scene) could be triggering due to the forest fires in Australia. Given the project may be implemented internationally, it was a crucial consideration for us moving forward.

Incorporating Company Values & Culture:
The Narrative

Incorporating Company Values & Culture:
The Narrative

As a core requirement, we knew we needed to illustrate the company values in a creative way.

We also wanted to enhance the space in Wellington specifically, as it had a beautiful Māori theme.

A quick pivot

A quick pivot

I wrote the narrative for our product, which incorporated the Datacom values. I then drafted up an animatic to share with our stakeholders.

I wrote the narrative for our product, which incorporated the Datacom values. I then drafted up an animatic to share with our stakeholders.

Asset Design

Asset Design

We found Spline to be quite limiting when it came to animation & also utilised Blender.

We found Spline to be quite limiting when it came to animation & also utilised Blender.

The Forest Scene

The Forest Scene

Generated in Spline using polygons and textures, as well as importing free nature assets from Sketchfab

Generated in Spline using polygons and textures, as well as importing free nature assets from Sketchfab

The Hero Plant: Mānuka

The Hero Plant: Mānuka

Designed and generated in Blender from scratch, then exported & assimilated into Spline

Designed & generated in Blender from scratch

The Watering Can

The Watering Can

Followed tutorials in Blender, making small adaptations and importing into spline.

Followed tutorials in Blender, & made small adaptations

Māui's Wrath

Sourced suitable assets in Sketchfab, imported & modified in Blender & Spline

The Deforestation Scene: Maui's Wrath

Sourced suitable assets in Sketchfab & imported into Blender to edit, before exporting & integrating into Spline

UI Design

UI Design

Lottie Animation - CTA

Lottie Animation - CTA

Created in After Effects & Figma alongside UI Components such as the fire streak icon and water quantifier

Created in After Effects & Figma alongside UI Components such as the fire streak icon and water quantifier

Leaderboard

Leaderboard

Created in Figma

Created in Figma

Final user flow:
Timings

We needed a detailed diagram to articulate the timings & event triggers for our developers.

Future Development…

Future Development

Future Development…

The mini game

Filling up the watering can.

Incorporating cultures

Ideally we want to create different scenes that reflect the environment of our international offices

Weather & day/night cycle

We would like the time of day reflected in the scene, as well as the weather.

Future Development…

The mini game

Filling up the watering can.

Incorporating cultures

Ideally we want to create different scenes that reflect the environment of our international offices

Weather & day/night cycle

We would like the time of day reflected in the scene, as well as the weather.

The mini game

Filling up the watering can.

Incorporating cultures

Ideally we want to create different scenes that reflect the environment of our international offices

Weather & day/night cycle

We would like the time of day reflected in the scene, as well as the weather.

The mini game

Filling up the watering can.

Incorporating cultures

Ideally we want to create different scenes that reflect the environment of our international offices

Weather & day/night cycle

We would like the time of day reflected in the scene, as well as the weather.

The Hype Reel

The Hype Reel

Results, Reflections & Outcomes

Results, Reflections & Outcomes

Valuable learning regarding stakeholder management and pivoting quickly was key to the success of this project. There were many developmental constraints and hiccups along the way as well, which was overcome by our close relationships with the developers and scrum mentality. This ensured we could support them and augment our designs appropriately.

Focussing on our MVP solution was crucial as well, and constant referral to our JBTD statement kept us on track when we got bogged down in requests and suggestions.

The result meant we were able to produce an operational beta project, with well researched pathways for development.

Explore my other projects:

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Turner's Insurance - case study

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