Problem

As 3D models continue to grow in popularity, the process of creating them remains complex, requiring significant expertise and specialized skills. Additionally, many 3D construction software platforms, such as Blender and SketchUp, lack support for real-time collaborative editing. Our team aims to make 3D construction more accessible and enjoyable for users of all skill levels, enabling them to collaborate seamlessly and create in real time.

• How might we make 3D construction easy and accessible for users of all skill levels?
• How might we enable users to collaborate seamlessly and create in real time?

User Research

Our target users are students and young adults who are beginners in 3D creation or just curious about 3D construction process. We conducted interviews with the potential users and created the persona.

Ideation

Since this is a construction tool designed to give users ample space for creativity, we aim to adhere to the principle of minimalism by including only essential buttons and features in the design.

Additionally, we strive to ensure users can interact seamlessly with the interface using either a keyboard or a mouse, independently or in combination.

Prototype

Visual Design

The welcome page only requires a username, as all users collaborate on the same project, eliminating the need for individual user accounts. To reinforce our product identity, placing cubes to build 3D objects, and align with our brand, the design incorporates blue and pink cubes, reflecting the color palette of our organization’s logo.

The main page consists of five key elements:

1. Menu Buttons: Options for default view, zoom in, and zoom out.

2. Toggle Button: Allows users to switch between 'Build Mode' and 'Move Mode.'

3. Quick Guide: Provides mouse and keyboard control instructions.

4. Color Palette: Enables color selection and cube deletion.

5. Feedback Button: Facilitates user feedback submission.

In 'Build Mode' , users can select colors and place cubes to construct their models.

In 'Move Mode', users can navigate the models from different views, as well as zoom in and zoom out using the mouse and keyboard.

Interaction Design

Users can utilize the keyboard and mouse independently or in combination to complete the construction:

Accessibility

We created the mobile version as well to make our product accessible to more users. The mobile version is optimized for touch screen devices, allowing users to interact with the interface using gestures and taps.

Test and Refine

The toggle button was added because we don’t want the build and move feature intervening with each other. We designed different versions of toggle button to differentiate the two modes and finalized the last version.

I suggested simplifying the user flow when switching from 'Move Mode' to 'Build Mode' by allowing users to select a color and switch modes automatically, significantly reducing the time spent on mode transitions:

Marketing

I designed the marketing material design of different size for banners, flyers and other viewpoint.

After release, we gained over 370 users and attracted more than 32000 times of interactions, winning the 'Best Project' of the Penn Spark.

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Key Takeaways

• Less is more: A meaningful tool platform is intuitive, requiring minimal guidance for users to navigate effortlessly. The design should enable users to interact seamlessly with all tools while finding the experience enjoyable.
• Eliminating unnecessary steps is crucial: testing the user flow helps identify and remove redundancies, ultimately saving users valuable time.
• Successful UX design thrives on collaboration. Teamwork fosters diverse perspectives, ensuring more well-rounded solutions. By sharing ideas, testing concepts together, and incorporating feedback, teams create user-centered designs that truly meet users' needs.

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