While creating MICA, a discussion arose about the design of the wearable, specifically the orientation and placement of the screen.

Earlier prototypes placed the screen on the inside of the wrist for privacy and allowed the form-factor to look more like jewelry than a tech device. It was decided through lots of design research and in user feedback.

Challenges

Collaborating with a newly assigned industrial design team, who was hungry to put their mark on the project and unfamiliar with the research previously conducted. They were getting ready to lock the hardware design, and I needed to act fast and compiled my data and my recommendation. The next day I would present my argument and try to influence the designers.

Approach

Instead of dredging up old decks, I decided to show not tell. I got a prototype and printed out different screens and taped them to it taking pictures to illustrate the usability problems we discovered. Once the aesthetic reasons were covered, I then moved the technical reasons for it to remain on the inside of the wrist. I mocked up different displays to show how we arrived at this conclusion.

Outcome

MICA shipped with the screen on the inside of the wrist, and it was a feature deemed to be a win in the eyes of the women who used it.

Here is the presentation that helped me explain my recommendation

Skills Used:

Managed
User Research
User Testing

Led
Persona Development
User Journeys
Concept Design

Contributed to
Hardware Design
Product Management
Partnership Relations