Project Overview
One of the most personally rewarding aspects of interface design is the experience of empowering someone to accomplish their goal - so I was especially grateful for the opportunity (courtesy of the data wizards at Stamen) to help researchers at MPG Ranch develop a tool for exploring how ecosystem management affects populations of plants and animals.
By the time I was introduced to MPG, Stamen had already produced a robust set of interactive prototypes and interfaces to learn from MPG data. My work consisted primarily of building a workflow and interface around one of these prototypes, a product called Matrix.
Matrix initially existed as a draft UI wrapped around a network modeling approach called Fuzzy Cognitive Mapping. Even though the model's purpose and mechanism were already defined, there wasn't a specific workflow for exploring the elements of ecosystems or storing and sharing the results. I used flow diagrams, wireframes, prototypes, and visual design to help get Matrix into the hands of researchers and educators.
My Role
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Contract Interaction Designer
I was responsible for executing all visual designs shown in this case study. As inputs, I received project briefs and was responsible for further synthesizing requirements from team discussion and brainstorming. I also originated the UI styling for the interface. For feedback, I presented to the team at various levels, including design, engineering, and directly to the client.
