Secure AI Labs
First Product Designer
Duration: 4 months
Scope: Design Research, Workshop Facilitation, User Experience Design, Prototyping, Branding
Challenge
Secure AI Labs (SAIL) is a MIT startup building a privacy-preserving data analytics platform that uses federated learning and blockchain technologies. I was brought on as the first Product Designer to design the Alpha release of their product with completely new ways to work with data.
Approach
Understand the core technology and how it will translate to the final user experience of the product.
Conduct research on the end users (data scientists, data owners, admins / IT) to understand their workflow and test the desirability of the UI.
Collaborate with strategy, development, and technology experts to refine features for alpha release.
Design a visually branded and scale-able prototype for user testing, funding demos, and alpha release.
Outcome
Prototype was used to inform the alpha release of the product with a design system that was used for future releases.
SAIL was able to engage and secure their first pilot customer.
Prototype was used for presentation pitches to investors, helping secure a $1.2M funding round.
User Research
Key Activities
Recruited computational biologists for discovery and evaluative research
Interviewed users to understand their processes and challenges working with sensitive health data
Tested prototypes with end-users to optimize the product experience
User groups/personas for the platform.
User Flows
User flows for Data Owners and Data Scientists for the platform.
Ideation
Key Activities
Facilitated an ideation workshop focusing on data visualization within the constraints of data privacy.
Organized solutions into tangible concepts that could be designed
Wireframed designs to quickly validate concepts for feasibility and desirability
Brainstorming session with team members on data analysis solutions.
Early exploration of a potential interface that did not get selected.
Branding
Key Activities
Workshopped brand identity with founders to identify the key attributes of their brand
Crafted a brand guide that outlined the visual identity of the brand that could be applied to brand assets
Set-uped a design system that aligned to the visual brand identity that could be leveraged within the product design
Brand guide for visual identity that helped inform design system.
Design System
Design system made with accessible components used for building the alpha version of the product.
Prototype
Key Activities
Designed a high-fidelity prototype combining the desired user flow, key technological considerations, and design system
Refined design with end users and technology team to ensure feasibility and usability
Worked with the development team for successful handoff and implimentation
