Client
Microsoft Research Asia
When
2009
Team
Research team of 2 Psychologists and 2 User Experience Designers and Researchers in the MSRA HCI Group
Role
User Experience Designer and Researcher
Microsoft Research Asia Enterprise Social Networking Platform
In the Summer of 2009, I moved to Beijing, China to work for Microsoft Research Asia (MSRA) as a User Experience Design intern. I worked on a team of two Psychologists and two User Experience Designers/Researchers.
My time at MSRA was divided into two primary projects: Cross-Cultural Design Research and designing an Enterprise Social Networking Platform.
Cross-Cultural Design Research
With our design research, we strove to understand how to design better digital experiences for a Chinese audience. Using qualitative and quantitative research methodologies and usability studies, we honed in on elements that resonated with our target audience. Specifically, we conducted market research and competitive analysis, surveys, interviews, A/B testing, card sorting, walkthroughs, task analysis, facilitated brainstorming, and participatory design.
We conducted much of our research with our Enterprise Social Networking Platform, the Twinkle Project, which in turn informed our design choices and directed our next iterations.
Enterprise Social Networking Platform
Social networks are a fantastic way to generate and share knowledge among large groups of people. Social software has the potential to build and maintain strong communication and collaboration channels. Yet, why do enterprise social software solutions still leave something to be desired?
There is a huge opportunity to apply social software within the Enterprise. The Twinkle Project explores exactly that. Could we redesign and reinvigorate Social Enterprise Software? How can we enable users to connect, collaborate, share content, knowledge, and expertise, manage information, and increase productivity across an enterprise?
As a designer for Twinkle, I was responsible for design research and strategy and UX and UI design.
A blurb about our work on Twinkle was featured in the 10 Year Anniversary MSRA Book.
