Mixed Digital and Physical Interaction Design
As a Product design engineer and Prototyper of high-fidelity interactive prototypes I am in close collaborator with the hardware & software team to understand constraints & opportunities and deliver rapid value for the next generation of Smart Home Energy Management Systems and EV charging. During turbulent times, strict deadlines, lay offs and economic uncertainty, us in the product design team have managed to build bridges with the technology, growth and sales departments, while widening the dialogue about product vision and trying to define what success at Futurehome might look like. This way of thinking helped us stay positive and united, overcoming hardships and getting closer to the customer one prototype at a time.
The role of Product Design Prototyper
Software
Prototyped simulations of the product system, new features and experiments. Primarily prototypes are used to achieve cross-department alignment, conduct usability research, and reveal technical constraints early in the process. In collaboration with the design team we iterate effectively and through design critiques with cross-department participants, we evaluate the proposed solutions. By using ProtoPie we incorporate complex computational logic like functions and variables, giving the unique advantage of simulating the experience in closer proximity to reality. The following prototype was developed in 3 weeks and used strategically to reveal technical limitations and to align business, product and tech team. The outcome was to prioritise the evolution of the backend system.
Hardware
Prototyped low fidelity versions of hardware devices in form of digital simulators using ProtoPie or Figma or physical objects using Arduino & Fusion360. I was responsible for helping the product team visualise our vision and align with the business in Norway and our remote engineering team in Poland. The prototype of Futurehome Charge showcased how we can achieve rapid iterations with low fidelity prototypes of our product by taking it out in the field, letting users tinker and test our user stories before starting costly development alterations.
Company Meeting 2023
With the guidance of Jonathan Gall, our Chief Product Officer, I conducted a presentation on the value of prototyping with particular focus on creating mixed-experience prototypes that blend software and hardware at early stages of product discovery. The goal was to bridge the gap between product and technology teams, with visible results in the upcoming months. Tech team showed growing trust to the product team, and product team felt more confident giving feedback and participating in technical conversations such as, improving the EV charging led indications, resolving security issues through improved UX and restructuring parts of legacy code and its implications. It is a pride to be part of such a team of experts who don't take details lightly, but deeply care for bringing to the market a complete, functional experience every time.
