Connected Spaces
Platform and OKO
A platform that connects the digital and physical worlds.
Overview: At Magnopus, a pioneering design and product studio celebrated for its groundbreaking work in XR (extended reality), I had the privilege of leading the UX architecture for the "Connected Spaces Platform" and its Web/Mobile App “OKO”. Our ambitious mission was to seamlessly blend physical and digital spaces, facilitating interactions that transcended traditional spatial boundaries. Developers could create and interact in 3D experiences in the physical and digital world. This innovative endeavor earned us the distinction of TIME’s 2022 Most Innovative Platform, a testament to our commitment to pushing the boundaries of digital engagement. Our first case study using the platform was World Expo Xplorer.
Design Problem: The rise of spatial computing introduced complexities in interoperability and user navigation across mobile, web, and Unreal Engine platforms. The challenge was to create an intuitive and cohesive user experience that addressed fragmented workflows and inconsistent interactions across these environments. Additionally, there was a need to reduce design debt by providing a comprehensive overview of the current state of the web and mobile applications, while simultaneously defining the vision for future development.
The design problem also extended to identifying and addressing the unique needs of early adopters, ensuring that features like onboarding and space creation experiences were not only functional but also engaging and accessible for diverse user groups.
Solution: To address these challenges, I led the broader UX for the "Connected Spaces Platform," a cross-reality ecosystem that bridged physical and digital spaces to foster connection and community.
We used advanced technologies to build a platform that emphasized usability, immersion, and connection while addressing interoperability and navigation challenges across devices and platforms.
Organization: Magnopus
Role: UX Architect - Web, iOS, Unreal Engine
Team: Head of Product, C-Level, Director of Engineering, Product Managers, Product Designers, Front-End and Back-End Engineers, Program Manager, Product Marketing Manager.
Timeline: 2021-2023
Connected Spaces Platform allow people to connect physical and digital worlds - it’s creating the building blocks of the next internet.
What is OKO?
OKO is the web editor of Connected Spaces Platform. Building on the open-source Connected Spaces Platform (and as many other open source and industry standards as possible) we created a platform of apps and plugins that operate across game engines, connected to a comprehensive set of cloud services, accessible across many devices.
What Squarespace & Wordpress are to websites…
OKO is to social 3D spaces. Watch this video to learn more!
The Challenge
Having successfully launched World Expo Dubai, the first use case of Connected Spaces Platform, I was tasked to build out the user experience architecture of the platform, primarily focused on a digital XR creator tool.
Goals
Leveraging insights from Expo 2020 to inform generalized product features that could scale across platforms.
Conducting customer discovery and research to inform features and onboard our first customers, identifying key pain points and opportunities for innovation.
Delivering a high-level overview of the user experience through information architecture, principles and design systems to reduce design debt, enhance collaboration, and align the current state of web and mobile applications with future goals.
Developing end-to-end wireframes and multiple iterations of prototypes across interfaces through user scenarios and real-world use cases.
Partnering with the Customer Solutions team to represent the voice of the customer through demos, pilot program insights, onboarding processes, product requirements and market research.
UX Research
To prepare for our Alpha and Beta launches, we conducted extensive research across various industries, focusing on those aligned with Magnopus’s mission. This involved both primary research, through interviews and demos, and secondary research, through market analysis. This phase was crucial for identifying potential revenue streams and less crowded markets, setting a clear direction for our product.
An example of a user’s generative design research where we worked with the user to bring an experience to life is demonstrated here. This process directed the designers to test assumptions.
Expo Archetypes for Guests. In order to socialize the archetypes, we simplified them and focused on primary targeted users. We dove into a sea of user data, gathering insights from interviews and usability tests. The goal was to understand our diverse user base and enhance their experience.
Developing a scalable process for creators to join our platform using human-centered design principles.
5 Principles
In order to achieve a holistic plan, I led an effort between product managers, research, engineering, and design to develop concrete design principles, the goals were to create consistency in decision-making between cross-functional teams, build confidence in the decisions and eliminate fruitless debates.
5 principles of our product
Here I am
Our products enable connected spaces; breaking the walls between digital and physical experiences.
We aim to facilitate sense of presence through various methods including real-world metaphors, immersion, and a compelling wayfinding system.
We empower creators
Our product makes connected spaces accessible to everyone, and makes users feel supported and more confident in their ability to build with autonomy.
Make it comfortably familiar
We foster fluency by being consistent with past heuristics, metaphors, and industry standards, in order to make it easy for people quickly understand the language of spatial experiences.
Keep it lean
We aim to learn fast, and act fast. Both our process and our product focus on the pursuit of simpler and faster solutions; for our teams and our users.
Be reliable
No matter the complexity and scale, we prevent errors from happening. Our user experience is predictable and robust. We prioritize our efforts to ensure a there are appropriate constraints that will create a positive user experience.
Interaction Design
I spearheaded the development of user flows, information architecture, and various interaction design elements across the platform, ensuring a seamless and intuitive experience for users and blueprint of the platform.
Final Web Editor, Mobile, and Unreal Editor experiences
Build once, deploy everywhere.
Outcomes
The Connected Spaces Platform and OKO, the web-based interface, has been a resounding success, evidenced by its recognition as one of TIME's Best Inventions of 2022. The platform has not only set new standards in immersive experiences but has also become a learning ground for continuous improvement. The technology has been open-sourced on Github, inviting developers to build upon our foundation.
Limited Beta release:
Learn more about the web and mobile applications of the platform.
For more detailed insights or inquiries abour this project, get in touch. I can share more on a case-by-case basis.
