Connected Spaces
Platform
A platform that connects the digital and physical worlds.
Overview: At Magnopus, a pioneering design and product studio celebrated for its groundbreaking work in XR (extended reality), I had the privilege of leading the UX architecture for the "Connected Spaces Platform". Our ambitious mission was to seamlessly blend physical and digital realms, facilitating interactions that transcended traditional spatial boundaries. This innovative endeavor earned us the distinction of TIME’s 2022 Most Innovative Platform, a testament to our commitment to pushing the boundaries of digital engagement. Our first case study using the platform was World Expo Xplorer.
Design Problem: The advent of spatial computing introduced complexities in interoperability and user navigation across different devices and platforms. My role was multifaceted: to architect an intuitive and cohesive user experience that spanned mobile, web, and Unreal Engine platforms. This included spearheading pivotal aspects like onboarding and space scanning processes, ensuring they were not just functional, but also engaging and accessible.
Solution: I was fortunate to lead onboarding of our first customers and the UX and customer discovery that narrowed down on our first customers.
Our approach harnessed the potential of advanced technologies to forge a platform that was not just about immersion, but also about connection. The "Connected Spaces Platform" was designed to be a global nexus, enabling users to craft, share, and inhabit both virtual and physical spaces. This cross-reality ecosystem was engineered to dissolve the barriers between the physical and the digital, fostering a sense of presence and community that was hitherto unattainable.
Organization: Magnopus
Role: UX Architect - Web, iOS, Unreal Engine
Team: Head of Product, C-Level, Director of Engineering, Product Managers, Product Designers, Front-End and Back-End Engineers, Program Manager, Product Marketing Manager.
Timeline: 2021-2023
Connected Spaces Platform allow people to connect physical and digital worlds - it’s creating the building blocks of the next internet.
The Challenge
Having successfully launched World Expo Dubai, the first use case of Connected Spaces Platform, I was tasked to build out the user experience architecture of the platform, primarily focused on a digital XR creator tool.
Goals
Develop a cohesive Information Architecture for iOS/Web platforms.
Define Product Requirements and UX Industry Analysis.
Design Userflows and Wireframes.
Cross-functional collaboration between design, product management, marketing and engineering as well studio with product teams.
Establish Design Principles and Guidelines.
Conduct comprehensive User Experience Analysis & Research.
Facilitate Customer Discovery and UX Testing.
Guide the product from ideation to final production with a focus on Human-Centered Design.
Enhance Onboarding Experience and Customer Solutions across platforms.
Product Evangelism
UX Research
To prepare for our Alpha and Beta launches, we conducted extensive research across various industries, focusing on those aligned with Magnopus’s mission. This involved both primary research, through interviews and demos, and secondary research, through market analysis. This phase was crucial for identifying potential revenue streams and less crowded markets, setting a clear direction for our product.
An example of a user’s generative design research where we worked with the user to bring an experience to life is demonstrated here. This process directed the designers to test assumptions.
Expo Archetypes for Guests. In order to socialize the archetypes, we simplified them and focused on primary targeted users. We dove into a sea of user data, gathering insights from interviews and usability tests. The goal was to understand our diverse user base and enhance their experience.
Developing a scalable process for creators to join our platform using human-centered design principles.
5 Principles
In order to achieve a holistic plan, I led an effort between product managers, research, engineering, and design to develop concrete design principles, the goals were to create consistency in decision-making between cross-functional teams, build confidence in the decisions and eliminate fruitless debates
5 principles of our product
Here I am
Our products enable connected spaces; breaking the walls between digital and physical experiences.
We aim to facilitate sense of presence through various methods including real-world metaphors, immersion, and a compelling wayfinding system.
We empower creators
Our product makes connected spaces accessible to everyone, and makes users feel supported and more confident in their ability to build with autonomy.
Make it comfortably familiar
We foster fluency by being consistent with past heuristics, metaphors, and industry standards, in order to make it easy for people quickly understand the language of spatial experiences.
Keep it lean
We aim to learn fast, and act fast. Both our process and our product focus on the pursuit of simpler and faster solutions; for our teams and our users.
Be reliable
No matter the complexity and scale, we prevent errors from happening. Our user experience is predictable and robust. We prioritize our efforts to ensure a there are appropriate constraints that will create a positive user experience.
Interaction Design
I spearheaded the development of user flows, information architecture, and various interaction design elements across the platform, ensuring a seamless and intuitive experience for users and blueprint of the platform.
Outcomes
The Connected Spaces Platform has been a resounding success, evidenced by its recognition as one of TIME's Best Inventions of 2022. The platform has not only set new standards in immersive experiences but has also become a learning ground for continuous improvement. We are now looking forward to expanding its impact by making it open-sourced on Github, inviting more developers to build upon our foundation.
Limited Beta release:
Learn more about the web and mobile applications of the platform.
Currently, the platform is invite-only. For more detailed insights or inquiries about the platform, I am always open to sharing our experiences and learnings on a more personal basis.
