My Approach to User Centric Design.
Big Picture
I start by understanding “Why we are doing what we are doing?”. Arrive at current state pain points and establish the vision for the future state and functional objectives. Usually this is a brainstorming session with decision makers followed by a gap analysis with business analysts.
Personas
I then go on to identify the users of the application and formulate the personas. Internal, external, business, end users etc. based on the data available on the users or by research.
Ideate & Iterate
After getting a sense of the users, I start the ideation process by looking at how to present the information they need, to complete the tasks they want to, in a manner that makes the most sense to them. This is achieved by understanding the user’s mental model and architecting the information and technology to mimic their thinking. I start with wireframes, mockups, and progress to prototypes based on the task flow and Information Architecture (IA) while keeping an eye on technical feasibility and brand identity.
Evaluate
I evaluate the progress at each stage gathering feedback from users via Usability Testing(UT) and incorporate it in the next iteration until the stakeholders are satisfied given the time, resource and expertise assigned to the digital transformation objectives.
UX Design Process Artifacts
Other Creative Works…
Drawing
I enjoy the spontaneity of quick sketching. It helps me translate into art what I have in my thoughts.
When I get time, I enjoy creating detailed works. Color is something I explore regardless of the
art medium.
From my sketch book.
Gestures – 60 sec each / Black Wash on Paper / Nov 2001
From my sketch book.
From my sketch book.
“Monarchy” – Charcoal on Paper / 22″x18″ / Sep 2001.
“Weapon” – Charcoal, Conte on Paper / 22″ x 18″ / Nov, 2001.
Skeletal Analysis of the Human Form. Graphite on Paper / 22″ x 18″ / Nov 2001.
In my Space home with an Angel – Soft Pastels, Acrylic Paint on BFK Reeves / 30″ x 22″ /Oct 2001
keletal Analysis of the Human Form. Graphite on Paper / 22″ x 18″ / Nov 2001.
From my sketch book.
Painting
Photorealism and abstract modernism are my favourite styles.
I love to see a blank canvas turn into an expression that human senses can feel and appreciate.
“Journey of Life” – Acrylic on Panel / 22″ x 30″/ March 2002.
“A Space ” – Acrylic on Panel / 22″ x 18″/ April 2002.
” Broken Window ” – Acrylic on Panel / 30″ x 22″/ April 2001.
“Code Red” – Acrylic on Stonehenge / 30″ x 22″ / Feb 2001
“Lost in Blues” – Acrylic on Canvas / 40″ x 44″/ April 2001. This Painting was displayed in the USCS “Art Gallery”. After that I haven’t seen it yet.
“Melting” – Acrylic on Canvas / 50″ x 54″/ April 2002.
Sculpture
I make an attempt to trigger thoughts in the viewer’s mind with my art works. These sculptures are no exception.
“MechOrgan” – A sculpture in steel to experiment mechanical and organic qualities. I can’t forget the fun hours spent with welding gloves and red hot metal around.
“MechOrgan” – A sculpture in steel to experiment mechanical and organic qualities. I can’t forget the fun hours spent with welding gloves and red hot metal around.
A Computer Graphics model of a Sculpture for the Cosmic bowling area at Clemson University’s Union Underground.
” Save Earth!! ” – Social Sculpture/ April 2002.This is a sculpture I performed to make people realize how much they contaminate water, which in turn wipes out a major eco system.
” Save Earth!! ” – Social Sculpture/ April 2002. This is a sculpture I performed to make people realize how much they contaminate water, which in turn wipes out a major eco system where living beings go extinct. To my right and around me are dead salmons which are 97% extinct from the rivers of California. People watching the demonstartion in the Pictures are Dave, Head of The Department(Sculpture) Matt (Graduate Assistant) and my studiomates (Sculptrons). Prior to the demo I presented them with literature concerning the same issue. Materials: Oil, Grease, Dead salmons,White cloth and Myself in a natural creek bed.
“Human Suffering” – Installation: This piece is an installation of a collection of abandoned shoes. The placing of them in a central courtyard adds to a memorial kinda value to this installation. This symbolises the innocent lives lost in our world everyday,regardless of whether its Middle East, Far East, America or Africa.
“Human Suffering” – Installation: This piece is an installation of a collection of abandoned shoes. The placing of them in a central courtyard adds to a memorial kinda value to this installation. This symbolises the innocent lives lost in our world everyday,regardless of whether its Middle East, Far East, America or Africa.
“Cornana” – Artifact: This bronze metal casting is an artifact dedicated to the movement of Science, in the history of Mankind that deals with cross-breeding, hybridization, Mutation..etc This imaginary child was born by crossing a Corn with Banana. 🙂 note the cornana sticker on it like any fruits sold in the market today.
“Cornana” – Artifact: This bronze metal casting is an artifact dedicated to the movement of Science, in the history of Mankind that deals with cross-breeding, hybridization, Mutation..etc This imaginary child was born by crossing a Corn with Banana. 🙂 note the cornana sticker on it like any fruits sold in the market today.
“Cornana” – Artifact: This bronze metal casting is an artifact dedicated to the movement of Science, in the history of Mankind that deals with cross-breeding, hybridization, Mutation..etc This imaginary child was born by crossing a Corn with Banana. 🙂 note the cornana sticker on it like any fruits sold in the market today.
Architecture
Commercial rendering – Water Color on Leather Cartridge / 16″ x 22″/ Aug 1998. Perspective done by me and rendered by Prakash.
Commercial rendering – Water Color on Leather Cartridge / 16″ x 22″/ Oct 1998. I used to do these to earn some money for my tution expenses. Most of the time I constructed the perspectives and a friend of mine Prakash would render it, as back then my rendering skills weren’t any professional as his.
Perspective Rendering of a Bank/PostOffice Design Project. Water color Wash on Handmade. Aug 1995
Perspective Rendering of “School of Architecture and Planning”- Design Project. Watercolor Wash on Leather Cartridge. Jan 1996
One of my Real life Projects: I Cosmetically redesigned the front of the Building on the left to make it look better after it was built by Arihant’s Builders, Madras, India. Once again, There were a lot of constraints and the weird one was I couldn’t do a cantilever of any more than 9″ as it would enter the City area and violate a rule.
Photography
In this project I am experimenting with capturing the illusions I see embedded in nature.
” Crab Shore ” – Oct 2002
” Frozen Lovers ” – Oct 2002
” Untitled ” – Oct 2002
” Untitled ” – Oct 2002
” Sleeping Alligator ” – Oct 2002
” Snake ” – Oct 2002
A few samples of my print design projects.
Cover page Design for a Book Series.
Brochure design for a hypothetical Advertising Media Company – “Sun Micro Media”.
Inner side of the brochure.
Outer side of the brochure.
Type as Action – “Flood”.
A Recruitment Poster Design for the Department of “Inter Disciplinary Studies” at USCS.
Type as Image – “Necklace”
Web Design and Development
I work closely with my clients to provide them with what they precisely need, both in terms of functionality and aesthetics to cater to their target audience.
A “Hunting Theme” design for the Hunting Packs seller – Quest Hunting Paks. A full fledged e-commerce site with nice graphics. June 2000.
A corporate site design for e~Surf Solutions. Internet Startup Venture. May 2000
A Versatile design for e-shopping “The Sweetery” with Functionality and Simplicity. July 2000
A project for one of MATRF’s client at Clemson University. Oct 2002
A project for one of MATRF’s client at Clemson University. Nov 2002
ICA FLUOR – A leading industrial construction company in Mexico. Oct 2007
Fabrisource.com – A B2B sourcing platform for the textile and related industries. March 2010
Smokefreespartanburg.org – An educational website on the ill effects of smoking and how to quit. June 2010 (Under Construction)
3D Graphics
I focus most on my concept/theme. I have a keen interest in environment design/modeling. I really enjoy lighting and compositing. I look forward to mastering the art of animation.
Complementery contrast lighting study. Warm structure/ Cold background.
Bad Guys Vs. Good Guys – Design of the game pieces for Chess.
A close view of the chess pieces. My design is based on the concept of “Indus Valley Civilization” as that was the origin for this ancient game.
I wanted to see how my pieces fit in an ancient environment. Thanks to Craig Mullins for his digital paintings.
View of a water angel from within the aquatorium.
View of a Mermaid while entering a castle tower.
A glimpse of the habitat within one of the water castle towers.
View of my Shuttle while on flight.