"A user interface is like a joke. If you have to explain it, it’s not that good.”
“People ignore design that ignores people.”
(two quotes for two projects)
Both the DOMINIC project for Thales Group and the ARUP urban revitalization initiative demonstrate how rigorous UX methodologies can reimagine complex systems through intentional, research-driven design. By merging passenger needs analysis with technical innovation and urban sociology with community engagement, these projects showcase the power of interdisciplinary UX strategy. As one of the UX Research Leads, I was responsible for orchestrating a multi-faceted research strategy that bridged the needs of both corporate stakeholders while maintaining their distinct brand identities and operational requirements, and honoring both respective environments.
Taking what you know, flipping it on its head, and making it better than ever.
Everyone's got something going on in their world. So, how might we authentically serve not just a customer, but a real person going through life?
Taaking inspiration and direction from established UX research frameworks and contemporary digital transformation practices, we implemented a robust research methodology that combined both qualitative and quantitative approaches:
- Stakeholder Interviews: Conducted in-depth interviews with key decision-makers from both Arup and Thales to align project objectives with organizational goals
- Iterative Design Process: Implemented multiple design sprints with continuous feedback loops from both stakeholder groups
- Data-Driven Decision Making: Leveraged industry analytics and user behavior data to inform design decisions and validate assumptions
Research Implementation
The project execution focused on creating seamless experiences while respecting each organization's unique requirements:
Key Research Components
- Comprehensive stakeholder mapping and analysis
- User journey documentation and optimization
- A/B testing of proposed solutions
- Wireframe development and iteration
- Brand strategy alignment for both organizations
Measurable Outcomes
- Developed unified UX research framework applicable across both organizations
- Established clear metrics for measuring user engagement and satisfaction
- Created scalable templates for future research initiatives
- Implemented cross-organizational feedback mechanisms
Collaborative Achievement
Working alongside both Arup and Thales teams provided invaluable insights into:
- Enterprise-level UX research methodology
- Cross-organizational collaboration techniques
- Balancing competing stakeholder priorities
- Implementing research findings at scale
Impact & Future Applications
The research findings have laid groundwork for:
- Standardized UX research practices across both organizations
- Enhanced user engagement metrics
- Improved cross-team collaboration frameworks
- Scalable design systems that respect both brand identities
Knowledge Transfer
This project has contributed significantly to both organizations' understanding of:
- User-centered design principles in corporate environments
- Effective research methodology implementation
- Cross-organizational collaboration best practices
- Data-driven decision making in UX design
The combined personal and educational findings from these project initiatives continue to inform my work within these spaces, and, hopefully, is able to do the same for both organizations' approaches to user experience research and design implementation.
