VUSAR
An application to view, share, and collaborate on CAD models and projects.
THE APPLICATION
Vusar is an augmented reality app and a collaboration tool where users can edit and share 3D files in a real-time space.
Vusar is a design visualization platform where users can manage and share 3D files with different stakeholders. Users can upload CAD objects into the studio and place the object into an augmented reality space. They are also able to manipulate the objects by changing the scale, color, changing the position, and more. They are able to save the placement of objects in an augmented reality space by saving it as a scene.
HIGH LEVEL TIMELINE
1.5 years
MAKE OF THE TEAM
computer scientists, engineers, web developers, designers, entrepreneurs
KEY GOAL
build an AR application from the ground up for CAD users worldwide
MY ROLE
I spend the majority of my time as a UI/UX designer for the app and website. I also took roles as a CAD creator and data informatics management.
Throughout my time at Vusar, I took on a variety of roles. I started off being a CAD creator where I would create CAD objects on OnShape and SolidWorks. I created CAD objects that would be used for mechanical engineers.
Later on, I took the role as a UI/UX designer. I was a designer on the team during the alpha and beta phases. There were many versions during both phases. I was able to come up with new ideas and also spent time altering old designs to make them better. I helped create the look and feel of the application. This included the typography, color palette, icons, layouts, and the flow of both the website and the application.
I spent the last couple months working on data informatics management. I would take the data about where users were clicking on most, what users found most confusing, and what users enjoyed/disliked the most. I took this information and used it to further improve the application.
UNDERSTANDING THE USER
Vusar aims to serve many different stakeholders such as engineers, designers, and business persons.
The engineers and designers would create CAD objects and use Vusar to visualize their work in real space. Vusar would be used to make any edits on the CAD objects if needed. In order to support them, we wanted to allow them to make edits to their objects such as placement, color, and more.
They would also use Vusar to show business persons and other stakeholders their objects and to present their idea to them. We made a scene feature where they can place all their objects on a plane and save them, so they don't have to rearrange it right before a stakeholder meeting.
BREAKING DOWN THE PROCESS
The process was a circle of researching, making low-fidelity designs, discussing with designers, making a full design, and presenting designs to the rest of the team.
I worked at Vusar during the alpha and beta phases, so many iterations were made of each idea. There would be two week sprints and weekly stand-ups in order to keep us in track. Each sprint, the designers would have different tasks since we had to research and design for both the website and application. We decided on which features to include as we went along, so each sprint required very different designs.
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I included three designs I created for Vusar below. The first design is an information card that shows the different supported file types for the application. It shows the different file types in pictures to emphasize what the information card is focused on. I also allowed the user to choose not to show the information card again if they are an experienced user or no longer need the information. The second design is a web design for a subscriber. It includes information about which subscription they currently have, buttons to change their subscription or payment information, FAQs, other subscription information, and freezing a subscription. The third design is what a new user signing up for a trial subscription will see. It includes information about each subscription, sign up information, and a confirmation page for signing up.
TITLE OF THE CALLOUT BLOCK
LESSONS LEARNED
Understanding the WHY in design.
UI/UX design is not just about being creating and using tools to create aesthetic ideas. UI/UX is more about designing for humans and to make human lives better through technology. It is important to understand the "why" in each design because you want to know exactly why you choose a feature over another. There has to be a reasoning behind every decision in design. I learned that not only does this make your design better, but it also makes presenting your design to your team more impactful and easier.
Always be ready to learn.
This was my first internship at a start-up company. I was still a student at the time, so there was always new knowledge about designing, using applications. I learned about the human-computer interaction aspect of designing in school, but I learned Adobe XD, Invision, OnShape, and other applications on my own. I also learned about how to design for an augmented reality / virtual reality application.
Communication. Communication. Communication.
Communication is important in all aspects of work, whether it's asking for feedback on a design, asking for help, if you need more time on a project, letting workers know if you can't make it into the office (I was a student and finals week gets stressful). This makes working with others easier and more efficient. It gets rid of any uncertainty, saves time on designs, and makes the work environment a lot less stressful.
Managing Time
At the time I was working for Vusar, I was also a full-time student and had another part-time campus job. At times, it would be difficult to juggle all three at the same time. It helped to create a schedule. I wrote down my class schedules, when exams and assignments were due, when projects were due, and when I would be working. Being organized and managing my time on paper before the week started was very helpful.