By
Phuong Nguyen is a young talented designer and our latest partner at Pro-Vision. She has lived in Finland since 2017, and has recently graduated. Her passion is improving user experience and interface development. She has set up her career in Finland with a desire to develop her skills in UX and UI design.
We at Pro-Vision had a challenging project with a need of a fresh vision for our EasyTouch AV-controller's UI. We were lucky to have joint friends who referred that Phuong was looking for projects. The rest is history.
Over the last few months, Phuong has collaborated with Pro-Vision in development project to enhance her skills and knowledge to our top of the line product.
We had a coffee meeting with her to ask her to review her experiences and insights gained from the development project regarding the user interface of the EasyTouch AV controller.
This is what Phuong shared with us. ☕☕☕
What was the mission of our project?
To put it simply, the mission of this project was to make using EasyTouch, the AV-controller, more comfortable and effortless for the user. We achieved this by creating interactive buttons with improved visualizations and relevancy, and designing a more efficient way for users to use AV-devices in the space or room they use.
The goal was to make the device more user-friendly for everyone, not just the users but also the admin person who may want to enhance the system in the future.
What was the starting point of the project?
At the start of this project, we focused on developing the core of our project: the interface users see and use. In the beginning I was unsure , how I could manage to balance the project culture, client requirements, and my own knowledge. However, very quickly I learned to manage all of these elements with the help of feedback and constructive reviews.
We worked in short sprints and in the beginning balancing everything felt a bit of a challenge, but I was able to overcome it with the help of my team and their feedback. From the very first feedback session, I learned a lot what I what to prioritize. Through that I gained better understanding of the basic requirements I was expected. Understanding that enabled me to enhance the ideas and project goals into real-life functionalities in a surprisingly short time.
Which factors were key elements to the success?
One of my biggest accomplishments in this project was gaining the trust of the team at Pro-Vision, especially with the people I mainly worked with. It's not just about technical skills, but also about building trust, which is crucial when working with Finnish organizations.
In the first stage of the project, which lasted for a month, we narrowed it down to three stages: the basic elements of design, prototyping, and user testing. Through this process, I gained a better understanding of the client's requirements and was able to use the knowledge and skills I gained to create even more innovative and user-friendly design.
Ultimately, my key to success was being open to feedback, taking constructive criticism, and applying it to my work to continuously improve.
What outcome are you personally most proud of?
Personally, I am most proud of being able to update so much in such short time the next version of the user interface for the EasyTouch's operating system. Our plan was to divide the project into three sections, and luckily, everything was accepted in the each stage. That made me feel very pleased and satisfied with all the effort I put into the project.
First of all, I am proud of being able to deliver a high-quality product that met the client's expectations. As an outcome of our cooperation, I have improved a lot and gained a better understanding of the requirements and needs of the client. Through feedback, I learned the importance of focusing on the requirements and making sure everything was perfect. This helped me to streamline my design process and create a more efficient workflow.
In the big picture, the ultimate key to success for me was communication and acknowledgement.
It was important for me to meet the end user expectations and communicate effectively with the team members. I felt it was important to balance with my own knowledge and desires and yet make sure to take all the needs and priorities into consideration, while keeping in mind the end goal of improving the user experience of EasyTouch.
Ultimately, the success of the project relied on effective communication and collaboration between all parties involved. By doing so, I was actually able to deliver a product that not only met the client's requirements but also exceeded their expectations.
What do you feel we did accomplish as a team?
In terms of what we accomplished as a team, I believe that clear communication and straightforward feedback were key factors. Every feedback session was constructive and helpful, driving me to improve the project even further. I appreciate how every member of the team was committed to making the project a success, and how we were able to work together to achieve our goals. Every stage and every project was a learning experience, and I feel that as a team, we were able to grow and improve with each one. Ultimately, our success was a result of our collaborative efforts and our commitment to delivering a high-quality product.
What elements brought our team together towards a common goal?
One of the elements that brought our team together towards a common goal was transparency. From the beginning, I was given a clear task, the company's mission and views for development, and the project requirements. Effective communication was key, and we consistently updated each other on the progress of our work to ensure everyone was on the same page.
Another element that helped us achieve our goals was having a concrete plan. We broke down the project into steps, discussing how we could improve with each one and setting deadlines for the final prototype and demo.
Finally, the support I received from the team was invaluable. Whenever I had a problem or a question, I could turn to my colleagues for guidance and advice on how to execute the product and innovate my ideas to meet the client's requirements. In the end, it was our teamwork, communication, and support that allowed us to achieve our common goal.
How would you describe the team culture?
In terms of team culture, I really appreciated how collaborative and innovative everyone was. This encouraged me to share my diverse thoughts and ideas, which ultimately led to a better product outcome. There was a strong sense of teamwork and cooperation, and everyone was committed to achieving our common goal. Communication was open and honest, and feedback was always constructive and helpful. I felt supported by my colleagues, who were always willing to offer guidance and advice when needed. Overall, the team culture at Pro-Vision was one of collaboration, innovation, and support, which made for a positive and productive working environment.
Were you satisfied with your role in the project?
I was extremely satisfied with the role I played in the project. This was my very first project in user interface design, and I was fortunate to be able to build on an existing product that has been years used by hundreds of users.
This allowed me to use my knowledge and skills to enhance the product and make it more accessible and user-friendly. I feel I was able to contribute to the project in a meaningful way, and I am proud of the work that we accomplished as a team.
Overall, I feel that my role in the project was significant and that I was able to make a valuable contribution to its success.
From the point of view of the end user, what did change?
From the point of view of the end user, there were several concrete changes that we made to improve the device interface and usability.
The interface is now even more visual, which helps users to better understand the actions they were taking when interacting with their AV-environment.
To elaborate on the benefits for the users, I believe that the improvements made to the UI will make it easier and more intuitive for them to control and access the different features and functions of the sometime complicated AV-environment. The more visual elements and interactive buttons will also enhance their experience by providing them with a more engaging and enjoyable way to use the device.
Ultimately, the goal of this project was to make the EasyTouch more user-friendly, and I believe that the changes we implemented will definitely achieve that.
In terms of your own way of work, did anything concretely change?
I have my own rules and methods for implementing any project, and I applied those same principles to this project as well. In that sense, my own work process did not change that much during this project. However, I did gain a lot of experience and knowledge that helped me to improve my project management skills. Working with Pro-Vision gave me the opportunity to hone my skills in UX and UI design, and to learn more about working collaboratively with a team towards a common goal. Overall, I feel that this project helped me to grow both professionally and personally, and I am grateful for the experience.
