Role: UX Researcher & Designer

Duration: August 2023 to April 2025 (8 months)

Objective: To identify usability issues in digital storage systems and design an AI-assisted solution, Willow, to improve file organization and user experience for diverse users, including digital professionals, students, and casual users.

Research Questions

• What do people experience when digitally organizing items?
• Do digital storage systems provide users with adequate support?
• Can an AI assistant improve the user experience of digital storage systems?

Process

My approach followed a human-centered design methodology, grounded in UX principles like Don Norman’s seven fundamental principles (discoverability, feedback, conceptual model, affordances, signifiers, mappings, constraints) and theories such as Miller’s Law, Jakob’s Law, Hick’s Law, and the Principle of Least Effort. The process included:

1. Literature Review & Competitor Analysis

• Design Theory: Studied UX principles to understand cognitive and procedural burdens in digital systems.
• Competitor Analysis: Evaluated Google Drive, identifying redundancies (e.g., Home vs. Recents pages), cumbersome file organization, and lack of in-context support.

2. Scenario-Based Design

• User Persona: Created Sage, an HPU student facing challenges with power outages, offline access, and group collaboration.
• User Journey: Mapped Sage’s struggles with Google Drive and Blackboard, highlighting issues like version inconsistencies and manual file management.
• Problem Scenarios: Developed scenarios to contextualize pain points, such as offline work disruptions and disorganized group projects.

3. Low-Fidelity Wireframes

• Sketched initial wireframes for Willow, focusing on simplicity and AI integration to streamline file organization.
• Designed to minimize user inputs and align with familiar content management system functions.

4. Quantitative Survey

• Conducted a survey with 220 participants using an adapted Learner Empowerment Scale to measure perceptions of control, autonomy, and competence.
• Key findings:
  • 62.2% felt they had a choice in organization methods; 71.4% felt freedom in organizing files.
  • 64.6% reported limited support for alternative approaches, indicating system rigidity.
  • 17.7% felt intimidated by system requirements, highlighting accessibility gaps.

5. Usability Testing

• Tested Willow’s high-fidelity prototype with three participants using the System Usability Scale (SUS).
• Tasks included accessing accounts, connecting Google Drive, and organizing files.
• SUS scores: 82.5, 62.5, 80 (average 75, above the benchmark of 68).
• Feedback praised the AI’s proactive file organization but noted ambiguities (e.g., unclear “Exit Willow” label) and missing features like file previews.

6. User Interviews

• Conducted semi-structured interviews with three users to explore experiences with digital storage systems.
• Findings:
  • Users valued cross-device access and collaboration but struggled with complex settings and navigational inefficiencies.
  • Desired automation (e.g., AI-driven organization) to reduce manual effort.
  • Less tech-savvy users prioritized simplicity and clear instructions.

7. High-Fidelity Prototype

• Developed Willow, a system integrating with Google Drive, featuring:
  • AI Assistant: Uses natural language processing to suggest folder structures, with user control to accept/reject suggestions.
  • Guided Onboarding: Overlays guide first-time users to connect drives and use the AI.
  • Unified Interface: Simplifies file management across platforms.
• Iterated from the first prototype, adding a splash screen, animated transitions, and clearer AI interaction cues.

Design Principles Applied

Willow’s design adhered to Norman’s principles:

• Discoverability: Clear start screen and onboarding overlays guide users.
• Feedback: Loading spinners and highlighted selections confirm actions.
• Conceptual Model: Single-page interface aligns with user expectations.
• Affordances: High-contrast buttons and the Willow logo signal actions.
• Signifiers: Color-coded buttons and icons indicate functionality.
• Mappings: Simple navigation reduces complexity.
• Constraints: Limits actions to prevent errors, though some constraints (e.g., single-drive integration) need refinement.

Key Findings

• RQ1: User Experiences: Users feel empowered (62.8% impact organization) but face frustrations from slow uploads, unclear errors, and rigid systems. Less tech-savvy users struggle with complex navigation.
• RQ2: System Support: Most users (69.1%) feel supported in decision-making, but 64.6% note limited support for alternative approaches. A minority (17.7%) feel intimidated, indicating accessibility gaps.
• RQ3: AI Potential: Willow’s AI assistant reduced cognitive load by suggesting folder structures, praised by all testers. However, ambiguities and missing features (e.g., file previews) suggest refinement needs.

Outcomes

• Willow Prototype: A functional high-fidelity prototype integrating AI to streamline file organization, with a focus on accessibility and simplicity.
• User Insights: Identified a minority (17.7%) with low confidence, emphasizing the need to design for disadvantaged users to benefit all.
• Design Iterations: Addressed initial prototype flaws (e.g., static transitions, unclear overlays) and incorporated user feedback for future improvements.
• Impact: Demonstrated AI’s potential to enhance digital storage systems by reducing manual effort and improving usability, particularly for diverse user groups.

Press “R” to restart animation flow.

Limitations

• Prototype Constraints: Designed for iPhone 15 Pro and laptops, not responsive for older devices or other brands.
• Survey Limitations: Lacked demographic data, limiting insights into user group differences.
• Sample Size: Time constraints limited usability tests and interviews to three participants, though aligned with industry standards (Nielsen, 2000).
• Ambiguities: Unclear buttons (e.g., “Exit Willow”) and overlay bypass issues confused users.

Future Work

• Enhance responsiveness for diverse devices.
• Refine ambiguous design elements (e.g., clearer button labels, full-screen overlays).
• Integrate multiple cloud drives and local files.
• Add features like file previews, search bars, and offline access.
• Conduct larger-scale testing with demographic data to deepen insights.

Conclusion

Willow demonstrates the power of AI to transform digital storage systems into intuitive, user-centric tools. By addressing the needs of a struggling minority, the design improves accessibility and efficiency for all users. This project underscores the importance of iterative design, balancing functionality with simplicity, and leveraging AI to reduce cognitive load, paving the way for more inclusive digital organization solutions

In Hawaiian culture, oral tradition and genealogy creates a living tapestry of our history. Growing up surrounded by genealogists, I learned early on that our stories and lineage are threads in a larger tapestry, connecting us to our past and to each other. So, when I had the chance to join the Mo’okū’auhau & Mo’olelo Hackathon from July 29-31, 2022, I felt like I’d won the lottery. Over three whirlwind days, 120 participants—including software developers, UX researchers, UI designers, storytellers, project managers, community members, and genealogists—came together to explore our identities through the lens of Native Hawaiian genealogy and oral tradition. Our mission? To design a digital prototype for a modern genealogical tool rooted in the practices and values of Native Hawaiian culture.

Here’s the snapshot:

• Completed: July 29-31, 2022
• Duration: 3 days
• Client: Hawaiians in Technology
• My Role: Data Visualization UX Designer
• Collaborators: A vibrant mix of tech experts, cultural practitioners, and community voices

This case study dives into how we got there, what we built, and what’s next for this passion project.

Research & Discovery: Listening to the Past, Designing for the Future

Setting the Stage

From the outset, our goal was clear: create an accessible mo’okū’auhau (genealogy) tool that leverages technology while honoring Native Hawaiian traditions and culture. But genealogy isn’t just names and dates—it’s a living, breathing narrative. How could we translate that into a digital experience? To answer that, we framed our research around some big questions:

• What’s essential when researching genealogy in a Hawaiian context?
• Who’s this for, and why will they use it?
• How do we mirror the intricate family systems of ancient Hawai’i—and modern ones—in a database?
• How do we validate the “truth” in oral traditions, which often evolve with each telling?
• And perhaps most excitingly: How can we turn raw data into visualized stories?

Digging In

We hit the ground running with a two-pronged approach:

1. User Interviews & Community Discussions
   We sat down (virtually and in-person) with cultural practitioners, genealogists, and Native Hawaiian community members. We heard about the deep significance of mo’olelo (stories) and how genealogy isn’t just a record but a way to understand identity, land, and relationships.
2. Ethnographic Research
   We pored over historical Hawaiian genealogy records—some written, some passed down orally—and studied documentation of oral traditions. We identified recurring themes: the centrality of family connections, the layering of stories across generations, and the importance of place. These weren’t just data points; they were clues to designing something meaningful.

Key Features & Solutions: Bringing Genealogy to Life

Armed with insights, our team brainstormed, sketched, and coded our way to a prototype with two standout features:

Family Tree Map Visualization

We didn’t want a static, linear family tree—Hawaiian genealogy is too dynamic for that. Instead, we designed an interactive map structure that blends census data with family oral traditions. Picture this: a user clicks a node (say, a great-grandparent), and the map unfurls to show not just names but places they lived, stories tied to them, and connections to others. It’s less a chart and more a living landscape of heritage.

Mo’olelo Database

Stories are the heartbeat of this project, so we built a searchable database where users can upload, share, and compare their family mo’olelo. Whether it’s a tale of an ancestor’s voyage or a snippet of a lullaby passed down, this system preserves them digitally while letting users see how their stories intersect with others’. It’s a digital campfire—everyone gathers, shares, and listens.

Outcomes & Reflections: A Seed Planted

By the end of the hackathon, we had a working prototype that turned raw genealogical data into something vibrant and engaging. The Family Tree Map Visualization and Mo’olelo Database aren’t just tools—they’re bridges between generations, strengthening cultural connections for Native Hawaiian users.

But this is just the beginning. These design artifacts are a foundation, a starting point for future data visualization products. The hackathon was a sprint; now, we’re gearing up for the marathon.

Reflecting on this, I’m struck by how much I learned—not just about UX design but about the power of technology to preserve what matters. As someone with genealogists in my family, I felt a personal pull to get this right. Seeing community members light up as they explored the prototype was a reminder: this isn’t just about pixels and code. It’s about identity.

Next Steps: Growing the Vision

The project’s still in its early stages, but the roadmap is exciting:

• User Testing: We’ll keep working with Native Hawaiian communities to refine the features—ensuring they’re intuitive, respectful, and useful.
• Multimedia Expansion: Imagine the Mo’olelo Database with audio recordings, video clips, or even virtual reality elements—storytelling in full color.
• Accessibility: Broadening the tool’s reach so more people can connect with their roots, digitally and culturally.

Participating in this hackathon didn’t just sharpen my skills as a Data Visualization UX Designer—it deepened my appreciation for how tech can celebrate heritage. I’m eager to see this concept evolve and to keep pushing the boundaries of what digital genealogy can be.