udCloud

Overview

Goals and Objectives:

To design from the ground up a cloud storage solution that not only offers robust storage options but also integrates visualization tools, making it unique in the market.

Role:

Led the UX/UI design for udCloud, starting from initial concepts to full-scale user interface design and implementation, eventually overseeing the project as UX Team Lead.

Duration and Tools Used:

The project unfolded over 12 months, leveraging tools like Axure, Figma, and Adobe Suite.

Problem Statement and Challenge & Approach

Problem Statement:

Initially, udCloud suffered from a lack of intuitive design and coherent user experience, impacting user adoption and satisfaction.

Challenge and Approach:

Embarked on a mission to redefine the cloud storage experience by incorporating user-centred design principles, extensive market research, and iterative testing to craft a seamless, intuitive platform.

Design Process and Outcomes & Impact

Design Process:

Conducted in-depth user research to understand core needs, followed by iterative design phases that included wireframing, prototyping, and user testing. Collaborated closely with developers to ensure technical feasibility and maintain design integrity.

Outcomes & Impact:

The redesign dramatically improved user engagement and satisfaction, with an increase in new sign-ups and a notable reduction in user support queries. My leadership in the project solidified, guiding the design direction and team towards continuous improvement.

Design Evolution

Wireframes

Initial sketches defining udCloud’s basic structure and navigation, setting the design direction.

Mocksups

First detailed designs introducing a left-panel dashboard navigation, focusing on functional layout.

Enhanced designs refining navigation and spacing, informed by user feedback for optimal usability

UI Evolution: udCloud Before & After

Before Image:

Original udCloud interface, highlighting inefficiencies and user experience barriers." OR “Original udCloud Interface (Composite View): These images highlight key inefficiencies and user experience barriers present in the initial version developed without UX input.

After Image:

Revamped udCloud UI, showcasing a user-friendly interface, enhanced functionality, and modern aesthetics." OR “Revamped udCloud UI: This single, comprehensive screenshot showcases the user-friendly interface, enhanced functionality, and modern aesthetics achieved after the UX redesign.

UI Evolution: udCloud Analysis and Improvements

Before Analysis

Key Issues Identified:

1. Poor colour palette and outdated styling, reflecting a lack of design consideration.
2. Overly complex and confusing information display, overwhelming users.
3. Non-standard layout and structure, leading to a disjointed user experience.
4. Navigation difficulties, with essential features hard to locate, impacting usability significantly.

Intermediate StageInsights                        

Transitional Improvements:

1. Introduced an improved colour palette and a more coherent layout and structure.
2. Adopted a horizontal tab system for navigation, an unusual choice for cloud services, which while improving file display and sorting, still relied heavily on breadcrumb navigation—a method that fell short of ideal usability standards.

After Improvements

Implemented Solutions:

1. Revamped the UI with a modern colour palette and custom styling, aligning with contemporary design trends.
2. Overhauled layout and structure to adopt industry standards, significantly enhancing user experience.
3. Introduced a left-panel navigation for the Dashboard, establishing an intuitive and efficient user navigation system complemented by breadcrumb navigation for depth.
4. Refined information display to focus on relevance and clarity, incorporating an advanced sorting system that caters to user needs effectively.