PROJECTOR
UX DESIGN #Interface Design #User Flow #User Research #Data Analysis
Since 2020, I've spearheaded UX design initiatives for 8+ projector projects, with a primary focus on the portable projector product line. In this capacity, my responsibilities encompassed user research, user interface and flow design, and overseeing final product development and issue tracking. I implemented an end-to-end verification mechanism to ensure consistent product user experience and streamline cross-team communication.
In addition to qualitative research efforts, I co-led consumer research on portable projectors and collaborated with external consultants, leveraging Python for data analysis. This research not only facilitated the identification of potential customer segments and product value propositions but also served as a valuable reference for business units in shaping near-term product roadmaps and marketing strategies.
Time:
July. 2020 - May. 2023
(2 years and 10 months)
Team Size:
4 ( 2 designers, 2 PMs)
My Role:
UI/UX Designer, Researcher
Tools:
Interviews,
Quantitative Research,
User Interface & flow Design(Figma, Sketch)
Data Analysis (Python)
Portable Projector
Product Line
Unravel the journey's origin.
Uncover. Simplify. Customize.
The Problems
Project Goals
In light of the advancements in DLP technology, the surge in video streaming services, and the growing popularity of projectors as household appliances, BenQ embarked on the deployment of its portable projector product line in 2020.
However, lacking prior experience in this domain, we recognized the need to redefine user interfaces, information architecture, and visual styles tailored specifically for portable projectors.
The portable projector projects are driven by the mission to uncover user segments and their unmet needs, aiming to develop novice-friendly portable projectors and provide a superior viewing experience and digital entertainment. These projects adhere to three core principles:
1
Define User Segments and Product Position.
Conduct comprehensive user research to identify distinct user segments and demographics for portable projectors, defining a market-aligned product position that connects with target audience needs and preferences.
3
Tailored User Interface and Interaction Design.
Develop user interfaces and interactions tailored for portable projectors, ensuring they resonate with users and facilitate seamless interactions, ultimately enhancing the overall user experience.
2
Essential Functionality Focus.
Identify and prioritize the core functionalities of projectors, optimizing them to meet the needs of the majority of users while eliminating unnecessary complexity and enhancing overall usability.
Overview
Concurrently, our efforts extended to understanding the distinct needs and user demographics of both traditional and portable projector users, while defining and articulating a clear product value proposition aimed at addressing customer needs effectively.
The rise of Digital Light Processing (DLP) technology;
Streaming Has Taken the Home Video Market by Storm;
The Digital Transformation of Home EntertainmentHow Might We
Questions
"How might we define user interfaces and operational behaviors for portable projectors that align with user expectations and experiences, thereby delivering an intuitive and user-friendly interaction?"
"How might we streamline the intricate information architecture of traditional projectors, ensuring novice users can effortlessly grasp their operation without undue complexity?"
"How might we prioritize essential functions, focusing solely on those critical to the majority of users, to provide a seamless user experience tailored to their needs?"
What we learn
from users.
Distilled from Users and Data.
Data-Driven
Storytelling.
Interview & Persona
Research Findings
Data Analysis
Through extensive user interviews across diverse markets including Taiwan, China, the United States, and Europe, as well as various usage scenarios such as indoor movie watching, console gaming in game rooms, and outdoor camping, our research aimed to elucidate diverse user needs for projectors. This comprehensive approach enabled us to refine our product strategies and design concepts to cater to the varying usage needs of different user groups.
Through our research, we unearthed key motivations driving user engagement and recognized the profound impact of evolving information technology and digital entertainment trends.
Utilizing Python for data analysis,
we examined public opinion on major social media platforms such as Amazon, Reddit, and Twitter to delineate potential customer segments and refine the product value proposition.
I co-led a 9-month research initiative on Digital Light Processing (DLP) portable projectors, exploring the trend of projectors emerging as common household appliances amid the rapid growth of streaming services during the pandemic.
Moreover, our research served as a foundational reference for business units in shaping a 3-year product roadmap and devising keyword marketing strategies.
Research & Empathizing
Interviewee sharing thoughts about projector usage
Interviewees from the United States
Interviewees from Taiwan
We found a variety of equipment frequently paired with projectors, like bluetooth speakers, surround sound systems, etc.
We learned various usage scenarios from interviews, like indoor gaming, outdoor camping, and ceiling projection.
‘’ Immerse. That's mainly it. The big screen kind of makes it feel like you're in the game more than a smaller screen. Like when you look at Elden Ring, you just end up and look in the world, looks crazy, like there’s a glowing tree in the background, everything looks like you're in this gigantic world.‘’ (Interviewee - Richard)
1.
Immersive
Gaming Experience
Users leverage projectors for gaming to attain an immersive experience unattainable on small-screen devices.
Reality Displacement:
Game screens envelop the user's visual field, accompanied by game sound permeating the entire room.
Simulation of Reality:
Game effects blur the boundaries between virtual and real environments, heightening the sense of immersion.
2.
Dynamic
Adjustments in Portable Projector Settings
The settings of portable projectors require frequent adjustments to suit diverse scenarios.
Unlike traditional projectors, which remain stationary, portable projectors are highly mobile and often utilized in varying environments. As a result, users must continually adjust the settings of portable projectors to optimize performance for different usage scenarios.
Portable projectors offer high mobility and are used in diverse environments, ranging from indoor settings such as living rooms and bedrooms to outdoor spaces like garages and yards.
3.
Rise of Projectors for
Streaming
TV Content
With the surge of streaming platforms, an increasing number of novice users are opting for projectors to enjoy streaming TV content and enhance their viewing experiences.
The pandemic-driven surge in streaming services sees projectors gaining traction as household appliances. Many novice users are now considering projectors to create home theaters, despite their limited experience with such devices.
Hence, ensuring that watching streaming content is akin to personal devices like mobile phones and tablets becomes one of the primary concerns for these novice users.
4.
Shift towards Smart Home
Control Integration
Users increasingly favor smart home systems for device management over traditional remote controls.
Compared to traditional remote controls, users are increasingly comfortable using mobile phones, tablets, or voice control to manage devices.
Additionally, they leverage smart home platforms like Google Home and HomeKit to control a range of internet-connected smart home accessories. This enables them to curate an immersive gaming environment, facilitating seamless transitions between setups for various usage scenarios.
The projector should be stable and compatible with the control of gaming devices, and then the environment setting for the game would be set in one step.
Support CEC function which is compatible with the control of next-generation game consoles
Compatible with smart home systems which have a high market share
5.
Projectors are
Practical Alternative
to TVs
Projectors emerge as a viable and cost-effective alternative to TVs, especially for renters and budget-conscious users.
Among novice users, a significant proportion are renters, including new graduates or college students. They often opt for a projector as their first TV due to its space-saving nature and ease of storage. Additionally, projectors offer a larger screen experience at a lower cost compared to TVs, making them an attractive choice for budget-conscious individuals.
1)Visualizing Amazon review data into Dashboard; 2)Keyword-to-Brand ratio analysis; 3)Intertopic Distance Map and Top-30 most relevant terms for topic; 4)Cluster diagram for different types of usage contexts
Consistency.
Iteration. Affordance.
User Experience Verification(UXV)
To uphold product user experience standards and enhance communication efficiency among our design, project management, and engineering teams, we implemented an end-to-end verification mechanism for projector development.
Product Development
This mechanism facilitated comprehensive testing of product usability and quality, allowing us to identify and address potential user experience issues proactively. Additionally, we integrated user feedback from various markets as the foundation for optimizing next-generation products.
UXV Focus
Consistency
Affordance
Iteration
Redesigned for
Remarkable.
8+ Products on Market, 4.5 ⭐️ on Amazon
Style Guide
/ UI Icon Design
Design Deliverable
Visual and Interface Design
Home
Entertainment
Business
Minimalism
We made it.
Shine in the spotlight.
Design Award
Achievement
2021・GOOD DESIGN AWARD (G-Mark)Product Design, GV30 Smart Portable LED Projector 2021・Taiwan’s GOLDEN PIN Design Award
The Best of Product Design, GV30 Smart Portable LED Projector
In its first year on the market, the GV30 has enjoyed robust sales and garnered numerous positive reviews from users across the internet. We will leverage this success as a foundation for our next product, aspiring to continue crafting products that deliver tangible value to our users.
The development journey of the GV30 projector spanned 15 months, commencing in July 2020 and culminating in its market launch in September 2021. Throughout this endeavor, I played a pivotal role, engaging in various aspects such as user research, data analysis, product planning, UX design, and overseeing final product development and issue tracking.
Despite encountering significant challenges along the way, it is immensely gratifying to witness the recognition our efforts have received from judges.
This award belongs to all of us.
Even though the project is challenging, we have learned a lot. Under these limitations, we have delivered the best result.
We will stay true to our belief, listen to consumers, and keep designing great products. ”
Lesson from this journey.
Takeaways
Through my involvement in portable projector projects, I learned a variety of knowledge and skills, encompassing qualitative user research, user experience and interface design, quantitative analysis, and most importantly, product planning.
These experiences underscored the importance of adopting an iterative mindset and leveraging quantitative data analysis to define product position, bolster design credibility and enhance product quality, even within the realm of consumer electronics hardware. This holistic approach enabled me to adopt a more comprehensive outlook when devising product strategies.
Moving forward, I am committed to maintaining this data-driven perspective and harnessing the power of data analysis to inform more objective and persuasive design and product decisions in future design endeavors.