System Design and User Research Projects

Peregrine: Social walking through interest matching

Aim: To develop a social walking system with web and phone components.

We developed a social walking system that uses blind-yet-intelligent matching for walking groups, walking paths, and destinations, taking the interests of the involved walkers into account- thereby creating small, local, communal adventures. The goal was to utilize the knowledge of frequent walkers to motivate the other segment. An iPhone application was delivered.

Conceptualization of an Instant Craft Transaction network using Mobile Technology

Aim: To link remote craftsmen directly to the market.

After understanding the present business cycle of craft items, a system which takes care of the profit made by underpaid (in the existing system) craftsmen was proposed. The system was designed considering the literacy and remote habitat of the user. Field testing of the prototype was also conducted.

Mobile as a Futuristic Advertising Medium in India

Aim: To explore the potential of mobile advertising in India.

After analyzing the present advertising scenario and mobile reach in India, a new mobile advertising system was developed that will be profitable and effective for new market investors. Small screen advertisements for 28 companies were developed along with heuristics for the small screen advertisements.

System Design of a Futuristic Wardrobe

Aim: To conceptualize, design and prototype a smart wardrobe.

Through this project, aim was to understand the practical application of System Design. We tried to get insights into retail clothes shopping and working of retail cloth shops. We tried to make the garment shopping more interactive & responsive. We came up with a concept of a wardrobe that was smart enough to suggest its user which dress to wear, when and how he/she will look in it.

Analyzing and streamlining acknowledgement process at Ozone House

Aim: To reduce the turn around time of ‘Thank you’ letter from 15 days to 5-7 days.

Ozone House is a nonprofit agency that provides shelter and counseling for local, high-risk youth and their families. To streamline in-house communication and Information flows to expedite the process of sending acknowledgment letters to Donors. Currently, the process by which these letters are generated takes around fifteen days; Ozone would like to reduce the time to five days or less.

User eXperience and User Interaction Design projects

User Experience Engineer at FICO (formerly Fair Isaac)

Aim: To excel Fair Isaac Product's Usability and User Experience.

As Usability founder at India location, assisted in compilation of UI patterns library, UI specifications and usability heuristics for a new product development. I worked for the redesign of an Application Suite, which brings all major Fair Isaac legacy products under a common architecture and common look and feel.

Older adults’ user experiences with mobile phones

Aim: To develop guidelines for GUI of mobile screen for geriatric users.

This research addressed how older adults interact with mobile phones in their everyday lives and how mobile phones could be designed to best meet their needs. Two studies were conducted using a mixed-research method to identify representative user clusters and to understand user experiences. An application was developed based on the findings.

Developing, Testing and analyzing an accessible website

Aim: To develop an accessible web portal for UE-Management.

Collaborated with consultants on the concepts of Web Accessibility, Validation, Visual Architecture and Implementation, which involved user testing, prototyping, data management and Brand-analysis. Project achieved AAA conformation from W3C

User Experience impacting the Retail Revolution in India

Aim: To analyze role of retail design in this revolution.

Developed case studies of some major market players like Reliance, Planet M, Amul. The design strategies that were being offered by them with respect to experience and services were analyzed and compared. An important aspect of retail i.e. rural retail was also focused.

Designing control panel for Xerox machine

Aim: To design, build and test digital UI of a photocopier machine.

After analyzing the current interface of a photo copier machine, we incorporated a linear design methodology of design-build-test. As it was a touch interface, it was important to understand constrains and requirements of our target user. Personas and Scenarios were created for testing our concepts.

Papers and Presentations

Research paper titled‘Evaluating Interface of website for east and west’ in Indo-Danish Research Symposium, May 2006.

Aim: To understand the cross cultural issues in GUI.

In this paper we presented various factors and features of website, software and operating system interfaces that make them well-suited to the users belonging primarily to eastern (Indian Subcontinent) and western culture (Europe & US) have been studied.

Comparing navigation pattern prevalent in Asian Countries

Aim: To understand the cultural impact on user interaction.

It started with analyzing the primary and secondary factors that forms an important aspect of site navigation. To make this study more focused, only sites offering free email service to their users were evaluated. The study evolved some important issues like navigation style, menu pattern, and color palette and task flow.

Communication Structure in a Group

Aim: To understand the psychology of an individual in a group.

We used sociometric methods to find out the structure and conducted personal interviews to plot the effective links between all the members. It was important to find out who communicates with whom officially and unofficially in a group. Channel of communication in a group often reflects its structure.

Communication Design Work

Graphic Design and Communication Design

My interest in graphics design always motivated me to work in this field. As a designer and coordinator for my college newsletter, website and magazines, I did a lot of work in this field. I worked freelance for companies to conceptualize their brand identity.

Product Design Work

Developing prototypes, dealing with materials and processes.

To improve my prototyping skills, I enthusiastically worked on some product design projects. I applied Ergonomics/Human Factors in real life products to make them more usable. I have showcased some of my products like lamp, corn removal tool, redesigned table and headlight for a cycle rickshaw.