Visualizing the Invisible:
Designing 3D Experiences for Robotics.
Visualizing the Invisible:
Designing 3D Experiences for Robotics.
Visualizing the Invisible:
Designing 3D
Experiences for Robotics.
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Lead designer.
I led the end to end design process in close collaboration with MY TEAM.
THE CHALLENGE
Designing the 3D Scene Module required balancing technical complexity with user accessibility across a diverse user base. The primary challenge was creating an interface that could handle multiple data types and coordinate systems while remaining intuitive for non-technical stakeholders. Additionally, I needed to ensure smooth performance with large datasets like point clouds while maintaining real-time responsiveness, all while designing a flexible system that could serve everyone from robotics engineers needing precise control to business users wanting simple operational insights.
THE OUTCOME
The 3D Scene Module successfully transformed how Formant's customers visualized and interacted with their robotics data, creating a unified platform that addressed the core challenges of fragmented workflows and technical complexity. The solution delivered measurable improvements in operational efficiency while expanding accessibility across different user types and industries.
UNIFIED DATA VISUALIZATION PLATFORM
Successfully created a single interface where users could layer multiple data streams (point clouds, GPS, URDF models) eliminating the need to switch between disconnected tools.
IMPROVED ACCESSIBLITY ACROSS SKILL LEVELS
Designed intuitive mouse-based controls and clear visual hierarchies that enabled both technical engineers and non-technical stakeholders to access critical robotics data.
ENHANCED REAL-TIME OPERATION EFFICIENCY
Operators could now quickly assess their robots' spatial understanding and environmental context during live operations, improving decision-making speed and accuracy.
SCALABLE SOLUTION ACROSS INDUSTRIES
Delivered a flexible platform that successfully served diverse customer needs from delivery robots to industrial automation, supporting Formant's growth across multiple robotics sectors.
PROCESS
DISCOVER
Conducted interviews with customers, CS team, and watched hours of gong videos of internal meeting with customers to understand spatial data pain points, workflow challenges, and diverse use case requirements.
DEFINE
Analyzed research findings to identify key user needs, defined the core challenge of fragmented data visualization, and established design principles for an integrated 3D interface accessible to all skill levels.
DEVELOP
Generated multiple concepts for data layering systems, interaction patterns, and navigation controls, exploring various approaches to transform complex spatial data into intuitive visual experiences.
DELIVER
Built interactive prototypes testing different visualization approaches, refined the interface through user feedback, and delivered a comprehensive 3D Scene Module with intuitive mouse controls and flexible layer management.
PATH PLANNER
Intuitive waypoint interface that simplifies autonomous robot navigation for businesses, transforming complex path planning into simple point-and-
click interactions.
COLLAB
Worked with Midori to validate data flows, edge cases, and system constraints, ensuring that what we designed could be built accurately and perform reliably inreal-world scenarios.
BACKGROUND
Formant’s customers needed a better way to visualize real-time robotics data. Existing tools were either too technical or too limited. As Lead Visual Designer, I created a 3D Scene Module that layered point clouds, GPS, and robot models into an intuitive interface for both engineers and stakeholders.
PROBLEM
Robotics operators faced delays and inefficiencies due to disconnected tools and complex interfaces. Without a unified visualization solution, critical spatial data remained inaccessible to many users.
FRAGMENTED DATA VISUALIZATION
Users had to switch between multiple tools to view different data types like point clouds, GPS coordinates, and robot models, creating workflow inefficiencies.
TECHNICAL COMPLEXITY BARRIERS
Existing 3D visualization tools required specialized knowledge, excluding non-technical stakeholders from accessing critical operational data.
REAL-TIME DECISION MAKING CHALLENGES
Operators couldn't quickly assess their robots' spatial understanding and environmental context during live operations or troubleshooting.
LIMITED SCALABILITY ACROSS USE CASES
Current solutions were built for specific robotics applications, making it difficult to serve Formant's
diverse customer base from delivery robots to
industrial automation.
BACKGROUND
Formant’s customers needed a better way to visualize real-time robotics data. Existing tools were either too technical or too limited. As Lead Visual Designer, I created a 3D Scene Module that layered point clouds, GPS, and robot models into an intuitive interface for both engineers and stakeholders.
Formant’s customers needed a better way to visualize real-time robotics data. Existing tools were either too technical or too limited. As Lead Visual Designer, I created a 3D Scene Module that layered point clouds, GPS, and robot models into an intuitive interface for both engineers and stakeholders.
Formant’s customers needed a better way to visualize real-time robotics data. Existing tools were either too technical or too limited. As Lead Visual Designer, I created a 3D Scene Module that layered point clouds, GPS, and robot models into an intuitive interface for both engineers and stakeholders.
PROBLEM
Robotics operators faced
delays and inefficiencies due to disconnected tools and complex interfaces. Without a unified visualization solution, critical spatial data remained inaccessible to many users.
Robotics operators faced delays and inefficiencies due to disconnected tools and complex interfaces. Without a unified visualization solution, critical spatial data remained inaccessible to many users.
Robotics operators faced
delays and inefficiencies due to disconnected tools and complex interfaces. Without a unified visualization solution, critical spatial data remained inaccessible to many users.
FRAGMENTED DATA VISUALIZATION
Users had to switch between multiple tools to view different data types like point clouds, GPS coordinates, and robot models, creating workflow inefficiencies.
TECHNICAL COMPLEXITY BARRIERS
Existing 3D visualization tools required specialized knowledge, excluding non-technical stakeholders from accessing critical operational data.
REAL-TIME DECISION MAKING CHALLENGES
Operators couldn't quickly assess their robots' spatial understanding and environmental context during live operations or troubleshooting.
LIMITED SCALABILITY ACROSS USE CASES
Current solutions were built for specific robotics applications, making it difficult to serve Formant's
diverse customer base from delivery robots to
industrial automation.
PROCESS
DISCOVER
Conducted interviews with customers, CS team, and watched hours of gong videos of internal meeting with customers to understand spatial data pain points, workflow challenges, and diverse use case requirements.
DEFINE
Analyzed research findings to identify key user needs, defined the core challenge of fragmented data visualization, and established design principles for an integrated 3D interface accessible to all skill levels.
DEVELOP
Generated multiple concepts for data layering systems, interaction patterns, and navigation controls, exploring various approaches to transform complex spatial data into intuitive visual experiences.
DELIVER
Built interactive prototypes testing different visualization approaches, refined the interface through user feedback, and delivered a comprehensive 3D Scene Module with intuitive mouse controls and flexible layer management.
THE OUTCOME
The 3D Scene Module successfully transformed how Formant's customers visualized and interacted with their robotics data, creating a unified platform that addressed the core challenges of fragmented workflows and technical complexity. The solution delivered measurable improvements in operational efficiency while expanding accessibility across different user types and industries.
The 3D Scene Module successfully transformed how Formant's customers visualized and interacted with their robotics data, creating a unified platform that addressed the core challenges of fragmented workflows and technical complexity. The solution delivered measurable improvements in operational efficiency while expanding accessibility across different user types and industries.
The 3D Scene Module successfully transformed how Formant's customers visualized and interacted with their robotics data, creating a unified platform that addressed the core challenges of fragmented workflows and technical complexity. The solution delivered measurable improvements in operational efficiency while expanding accessibility across different user types and industries.
UNIFIED DATA VISUALIZATION PLATFORM
Successfully created a single interface where users could layer multiple data streams (point clouds, GPS, URDF models) eliminating the need to switch between disconnected tools.
IMPROVED ACCESSIBLITY ACROSS SKILL LEVELS
Designed intuitive mouse-based controls and clear visual hierarchies that enabled both technical engineers and non-technical stakeholders to access critical robotics data.
ENHACNED REAL-TIME OPERATION EFFICIENCY
Operators could now quickly assess their robots'
spatial understanding and environmental context
during live operations, improving decision-making
speed and accuracy.
SCALABLE SOLUTION ACROSS INDUSTRIES
Delivered a flexible platform that successfully served diverse customer needs from delivery robots to industrial automation, supporting Formant's growth across multiple robotics sectors.
THE CHALLENGE
Designing the 3D Scene Module required balancing technical complexity with user accessibility across a diverse user base. The primary challenge was creating an interface that could handle multiple data types and coordinate systems while remaining intuitive for non-technical stakeholders. Additionally, I needed to ensure smooth performance with large datasets like point clouds while maintaining real-time responsiveness, all while designing a flexible system that could serve everyone from robotics engineers needing precise control to business users wanting simple operational insights.
Designing the 3D Scene Module required balancing technical complexity with user accessibility across a diverse user base. The primary challenge was creating an interface that could handle multiple data types and coordinate systems while remaining intuitive for non-technical stakeholders. Additionally, I needed to ensure smooth performance with large datasets like point clouds while maintaining real-time responsiveness, all while designing a flexible system that could serve everyone from robotics engineers needing precise control to business users wanting simple operational insights.
Designing the 3D Scene Module required balancing technical complexity with user accessibility across a diverse user base. The primary challenge was creating an interface that could handle multiple data types and coordinate systems while remaining intuitive for non-technical stakeholders. Additionally, I needed to ensure smooth performance with large datasets like point clouds while maintaining real-time responsiveness, all while designing a flexible system that could serve everyone from robotics engineers needing precise control to business users wanting simple operational insights.
DISCOVER
Conducted interviews with customers, CS team,
and watched hours of gong videos of internal meeting with customers to understand spatial data pain points, workflow challenges, and diverse use case requirements.
DEFINE
Analyzed research findings to identify key user needs, defined the core challenge of fragmented data visualization, and established design principles for an integrated 3D interface accessible to all skill levels.
DEVELOP
Generated multiple concepts for data layering systems, interaction patterns, and navigation controls, exploring various approaches to transform complex spatial data into intuitive
DELIVER
Built interactive prototypes testing different visualization approaches, refined the interface through user feedback, and delivered a comprehensive 3D Scene Module with intuitive mouse controls and flexible
layer management.
COLLAB
Worked with Midori to validate data flows, edge cases, and system constraints, ensuring that what we designed could be built accurately and perform reliably inreal-world scenarios.
PROCESS
PROCESS
DISCOVER
Conducted interviews with customers, CS team, and watched hours of gong videos of internal meeting with customers to understand spatial data pain points, workflow challenges, and diverse use case requirements.
DEFINE
Analyzed research findings to identify key user needs, defined the core challenge of fragmented data visualization, and established design principles for an integrated 3D interface accessible to all skill levels.
DEVELOP
Generated multiple concepts for data layering systems, interaction patterns, and navigation controls, exploring various approaches to transform complex spatial data into intuitive visual experiences.
DELIVER
Built interactive prototypes testing different visualization approaches, refined the interface through user feedback, and delivered a comprehensive 3D Scene Module with intuitive mouse controls and flexible layer management.