Branding & Identity / User Experience (UX) / User Interface (UI) / Web Development
Limbitless Solutions Bionic Arm Customization Portal
Giving users the control to create the prosthetic that represents them
Limbitless empowerment classes are the four spectrums of expression bionic users can embody when designing and ultimately wearing their prosthetic device. Sleeves are designed to be interchangeable, attached by magnets on top and underneath the bionic device. Developing these personality identifiers give users endless options to personalize their device multiple times throughout each day.
Who was involved?
My role: Design and develop front end interface, user flow, and experience, assist in programming front end website
John Sparkman, Vice President, Co-founder, computer science interns: Programming front end and backend functionality and database management
Entire team: Brainstorming ideal user flow process to determine freedom versus guidance in designing bionic arms
John Sparkman, Vice President, Co-founder, computer science interns: Programming front end and backend functionality and database management
Entire team: Brainstorming ideal user flow process to determine freedom versus guidance in designing bionic arms
What software and tools were used?
Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe XD, Visual Studio Code, HTML and CSS, Bootstrap, JavaScript
G O A L S
1.
Empower individuals with limb difference by giving them control
Giving the user the control to easily navigate an interface and be presented with seemingly unlimited options to create the ideal bionic arm for themselves instead of choosing from a small list of predetermined designs transforms the confidence and sense of empowerment they feel.
2.
Co-creating by allowing users to design encourages attachment and ownership of bionic device = reducing rejection rates
Allowing trial participants to be involved in the conversation and design their bionic creations alongside us give them the opportunity to truly personalize their device. Personalization has shown to be effective in increasing likelihood of purchase or reducing rate of rejection or abandonment. Participants truly feel the bionic device is an extension of themselves, therefore do not want to get rid of it.
The process: How to design a user-driven customization interface while reducing decision fatigue?
The biggest challenge during the brainstorming process for the customization portal was answering the question: how much freedom is too much freedom? Decision fatigue is when a user is given unlimited options, which sounds nice at first, but can be equally as dangerous as restricting freedom. Too many options is exhausting for the brain to decide between, thus resulting in a negative experience for the user. This balance was sometimes fiercely debated within our own team. We looked to popular customizers ranging from Nike's famous Nike by you shoe customizer to classic dress up games and character customizers in video games to find our perfect balance of guidance versus freedom.
The result
1.
Intentionally segmenting the steps and dropdowns helps guide the user from broad categories down to the narrowest selection (individual colors on the sleeve).
While in the end users can use whatever colors they want, taking them through this process first removed cognitive load they would've had to bear had they been thrown into any color combination possible right from the start.
