Vuforia Instruct
A CAD based, augmented reality work instructions authoring tool.
PTC
Product Design
Problem space
Authors in manufacturing environments needed a way to visually explain how to inspect an object and define what types of input they need from their frontline workers. We focused initially on their inspection scenarios.
4 C’s of Inspection: Context, Comparison, Communication, Confirmation. Illustrated by Than Lane.
Process
Pre-Beta discovery user research
Our team interviewed industrial frontline worker and translated our learnings into the 4 C’s of Inspection, our core product principals.
I created user flows and wireframes to explore early concepts.
Point and part markers
I worked with engineering to create visual specs for point and part markers, allowing an author to clearly communicate where to inspect in their instructions.
I worked with engineering to create visual specs for point and part markers, allowing an author to clearly communicate where to inspect in their instructions.
Post-Beta user research
We tested the Instruct Beta and learned about the need for re-using parts in instructions, technical difficulties with AR on large objects, and assembly scenarios.
Part sets
Part sets allow an author to define a group of parts and quickly reference them in different steps of their instructions.
Part sets allow an author to define a group of parts and quickly reference them in different steps of their instructions.
Custom views
Initially a technical problem, users were having difficuties initiating AR tracking on large objects. I created designs that would allow a user to create a custom view per step in their instructions, solving the inital technical problem for large objects as well as improving the authoring experience for other use cases.
Initially a technical problem, users were having difficuties initiating AR tracking on large objects. I created designs that would allow a user to create a custom view per step in their instructions, solving the inital technical problem for large objects as well as improving the authoring experience for other use cases.
State-based instructions
I worked on a small disciplinary team to explore assembly use cases. We learned that an object would change states while being assembled, and we needed a way for the author to define these states in a lightweight way.
I worked on a small disciplinary team to explore assembly use cases. We learned that an object would change states while being assembled, and we needed a way for the author to define these states in a lightweight way.
UI refresh and design system
While designing new technical features that would significantly impact the current authoring environment, I rethought the UI of Instruct. My goals were to improve contrast, create a clear call to action, better align visually with other vuforia apps, improve consistancy between design and engineering, and update the legacy 2D centric UI to better support Instruct’s 3D based authoring experience.
I circulated the new designs with design members to get feedback, and shared broadly with engineering and business partners to develop it in a phased approach.
While designing new technical features that would significantly impact the current authoring environment, I rethought the UI of Instruct. My goals were to improve contrast, create a clear call to action, better align visually with other vuforia apps, improve consistancy between design and engineering, and update the legacy 2D centric UI to better support Instruct’s 3D based authoring experience.
I circulated the new designs with design members to get feedback, and shared broadly with engineering and business partners to develop it in a phased approach.