Problem Discovery

Client feedback sessions

Usability testing
How might we enable users to easily upload, organize, and navigate massive amount of files.

Design process overview
With those issues in mind, I go through 2 brainstorm sessions, map out some crucial user flows, and went through 3 design iterations to land the final design outcome.
Whiteboard brainstorm session

Figjam brainstorm session

User flow
Solution 1
Flattened File Hierarchy → Nested File Hierarchy
Before: All the files shown in the middle panel.

Users canswitch between structured and unstructured data from the left panel.
Since unstructured data now have a more complex hierarchy, a folder navigation system is added to the left panel, allowing users to see the folder structure and open folders.
After: Left panel for navigation

Users can navigate using the top navigation bar. It shows the folder path and its subfolders.
Middle panel shows current level
Another way to enter a folder is by clicking on its name in the list view.
After: Middle panel for showing current level

Users can navigate using the top navigation bar. It shows the folder path and its subfolders.
Middle panel shows current level
Another way to enter a folder is by clicking on its name in the list view.
After: Right panel for showing meta data

The right panel provides a preview of the selected file or folder.
If select a meta data, users can preview the content of the meta data to get a brief idea of what's it about.
Solution 2
Difficulty in Modifying Files → Allow Modifying Files on the Right Panel and on Hover
Before: Limited Modifying features


Manage sharing permissions.
Switch the file’s language model.
After: Motify through hover actions

Hover also reveals a More Actions menu that contains all additional file operations.
Hover reveals quick-access icons for Change Permission and Delete, the two most common used features.
After: Motify through the top toolbar

Solution 3
Limited Sorting Features → Enable Searching in Range; Enable Sorting by Date, Owner, and Type
Before: limited sorting and filtering capabilities

No options for sorting or filtering.
Can't control the search scope.
Difficult to locate files within a large and complex data structure.
After: Filter by date, owner, and type
Filter by date, owner, and type.
Result auto-updated.
After: Sort by date, owner, and type

By default, files are listed from newest to oldest, but clicking the Date column header reverses the order.
Users can also sort by Owner, organizing files in the alphabetical sequence of the owner's name.
They can also sort by type.
After: Search with scope

The search function applies to within or beyond the current level, along with their locations.
Users can click a location link to directly navigate to that folder.
Solution 4
Hard to select without keyboards → Use checkbox

introduced a checkbox selection system.
Users can do multi-selection simply with the checkbox in-front of the file.
Users can deselect multiple files using the tool bar at the top.
Solution 5
Redesign the unintuitive file uploading experience
Before: Unintuitive uploading experience

located in the bottom-right corner, occupying the same space as the meta data section. Interferencing the already information-heavied meta data section.
No indication of upload progress.
Upload interface is inconsistent with what users are used to.
After: Redesign the uploading experience

Move uploading section below the top navigation
Add progress indicator
Align the upload interface with what users are used to.
Result
Increase Usage and Improve User Experience
Usage rate increase from
54%
to
72%
During 2 client feedbacks session,
Clients report that it's easier to upload and organize 2000+ files
Reflection
How to improve Human-AI Interaction given the nuance of human languages and avoid AI’s hallucinations?
Side Projects
Icon System Update



Animated Logo Design
Concept - Star
Rationality
Anti-hallucination
Concept - Cube
Creativity
Generativity
Selected Version
Cleaness
Mechanism

Animated logo with generation process
























