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Advanced Panel Organization System
Over 4.5 million customers rely on Fusion 360, a cloud-based 3D design and manufacturing software, to create everything from toys and furniture to intricate machine parts. However, the continuously increasing number of features led to an overload of panels, making it challenging for users to navigate the electronics workspace and find specific features. In response, I re-imagined the panel organization system and overall user experience, resulting in a more streamlined and intuitive 2D/3D electronics workspace that enhances users' creative potential.
Timeline
May 2021 - July 2021
My Role
UX Design, Research, QA, Project Management
Tools
Figma, Qualtrics
Project Background
*The highlighted areas indicate the individual panels available in the Electronics workspace.
In an effort to enhance the Electronics workspace in Fusion 360 with additional functionalities, we faced the challenge of integrating new panels into a system confined to vertical or horizontal stacking. This limitation resulted in a cluttered interface and difficulty in locating specific panels.
As part of the platform design team, my task was to devise a user-friendly way to manage and organize multiple panels within the Electronics workspace. Furthermore, my role required developing a versatile solution applicable across the entire Fusion 360 platform, encompassing various workspaces such as Drawing and Simulation, in addition to Electronics.
Problem Discovery
Before embarking on developing solutions, I led an extensive audit of Fusion 360's existing panel system, followed by a survey involving 72 users. The objective was to thoroughly understand the users' pain points and needs. Specifically, I focused on discerning between desirable and undesirable panel behaviors, identifying which aspects to retain and which to eliminate in the redesign.
Insights
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1
Undesirable panel layout wastes space on the screen and causes performance issues:
Despite having the option to fold panels sideways and stack them all horizontally OR fold all of them upwards, users seldom used these configurations as they take up unnecessary horizontal space. Maintaining these arrangement options could also impact responsiveness.
2
Challenges with Panel Attachment Behavior:
While users could attach panels in various locations for flexibility, this often resulted in accidental panel resizing. Mistakenly dragging and dropping panels into unintended locations was a common issue.
3
Issues with Limited Panel Resizing Options:
The survey highlighted that while most users were content with the current panel behavior, a significant number expressed frustration with the panel resizing process. The resizing option was limited to a small hotspot at the bottom corners, making it challenging to adjust panel sizes precisely.
Work Prioritization
After brainstorming new features for the panel system redesign in Fusion 360, I needed to wear the PM’s hat and prioritize them for immediate implementation (MVP) or future release, considering time constraints. I organized a meeting with key stakeholders, including an engineering lead, an engineer, and a product design manager from the Electronics team. During this session, we employed a 2×2 Prioritization Matrix to effectively categorize each feature idea. This method helped us clearly distinguish between essential MVP features and those suitable for later development, ensuring a focused and value-driven approach within our project timeline.
Final Solutions
1.
Tabbed Panel Grouping: We introduced a tab system for grouping multiple panels, significantly improving organization and ease of navigation.
2.
Designated Attachment Locations: Panels now attach only at specific, strategically chosen locations, enhancing usability and preventing unintentional behavior.
3.
New, improved ways of organizing panels: A new right-click menu, also accessible via a three-dot icon, allows users to manage panels effortlessly, reducing the need for manual drag-and-drop. This feature is particularly beneficial as the number of panels in the workspace increases.
4.
Enhanced Panel Resizing Flexibility: Addressing user feedback on panel resizing limitations, we enabled resizing from multiple sides, excluding the top to prevent conflicts with panel dragging interactions.
Impact/Results
13K
Active Users
58+
Panels
8
Iterations
This new feature has changed the behavior of all panels within the Fusion 360 Electronics workspace, affecting over 13,000 monthly active users. The ultimate goal of the project was to extend this panel behavior to other workspaces in Fusion. However, it required further research and validation, and this effort is still ongoing. Up to this point, we went through 8 design iterations based on customer feedback and technical constraints.
Impact
The rollout of the new panel experience in Fusion 360 was a resounding success, reaching all users of the platform. I received positive feedback, not only from users but also from design partners within the Electronics team, particularly praising the ease of navigation and the enhanced panel organization. Encouraged by this reception, the team is now considering expanding these improvements to other workspaces within the platform.
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