03 - Retrofits for Sustainable Building Management
Construction industry is responsible for up to 50% of climate change.
Retrofits (refurbishment) was a new tool that building managers could use to see how certain changes would affect their carbon emissions, stranding risk, and energy consumption.
Details of the project
Company
ESG data management company for digital real estate.
Project dates
August-September 2021
Role
Main Product Designer
I designed a new feature to help assess the impact that building modifications could have on carbon emissions, stranding risk, and energy consumption. The solution aimed to equip building managers with the necessary tools to make informed decisions and reduce the environmental footprint of their buildings.
The challenge
Challenges of designing this tool retrofit tool: users sought simple interface; business wanted environmental insights. Tech challenges included real-time graphics, adaptive forms, manual data input in desktop-only setup.
Process
- Looked into other platforms like Edge to understand common market practices.
- Conducted user testing with university recruits and external managers due to limited access to real users.
- Prototyped in Sketch/Invision, optimizing hierarchy for user focus.
- Leveraged stakeholder feedback to enhance simulation button autonomy & visual hierarchy. Six iterations informed by feedback emphasized inclusivity with tooltip integration.
Start & FinishSolution and results
Our final design streamlined retrofit analysis for building managers, integrating real-time graphics, adaptive form sections, and tooltips for inclusivity. User feedback drove enhancements, resulting in improved autonomy and clarity.
The design successfully addressed the challenge of empowering building managers to make informed decisions, evidenced by sustained use over a year after I was no longer at the company.
Reflecting on the project, I would advocate for clearer scope definition, considering technical constraints and user workload. Nonetheless, the project's alignment with sustainability goals remains a source of pride, highlighting the potential impact of UX in addressing pressing global challenges.
