year
project
2023
Allow users to efficiently multi-select CAD entities and access various multi-selection tools.
Background
nTopology, or nTop, is a visual programming software for mechanical engineers to design geometrically complex parts for additive manufacturing.
the problem
The experience of multi-selecting objects in nTop was very inefficient and manual.
Users often have to move to other softwares to select 3D elements in bulk.
design goal
Design a cohesive way to use and find multi-selection tools
Introduce box selection, add selection, de-selection, and filters
Final Design
Design Process
early ideation
Taking data from the spreadsheet, I drafted wireframes to explore different design directions
Concierge-based service quickly became unsustainable for customer service, procurement, and business operation.
information hierachy
Taking data from the spreadsheet, I drafted wireframes to explore different design directions
Concierge-based service quickly became unsustainable for customer service, procurement, and business operation.
high fidelity mockup
Mocked up different UI designs to assess pros and cons of each design direction
Concierge-based service quickly became unsustainable for customer service, procurement, and business operation.
iteration
Improving on the docked bar design and resolving interaction details
Aside from open questions about feature scope, there are many details to consider: how often will users need to access this? How will users know what the current tool is? All of these questions impact where the bar be placed in relation to other UI and what UI states are necessary.
Final Prototype
Define the main interaction between dropdown selection and icon buttons
How often will users need to access this? How will users know what the current tool is? All of these questions impact where the bar be placed in relation to other UI and what UI states are necessary.
Retrospective
After thinking about development bandwidth for the next 6 months, we decided to start with quick win features like programmatic tools
Since our team's focus was on 3D scene interactivity, we leaned towards the more complex approach to stimulate strategic discussions and prototype solutions. This process surfaced key UX and architectural questions: how do users use a command after they multi select? how would a command work on different datatypes at once? This process ultimately guided our decisions around what to do now, later, versus the future.
Looking back, prioritizing strategic discussions over detailed design refinement could have been more beneficial. I wish I had spent more time discussing with product managers and other designers about different selection features, versus polishing this specific one.