As part of a larger initiative to redesign the DeltaV Distributed Control System (DCS) Logbook and support the launch of a new dashboard, I was tasked with designing an intuitive, user-friendly dashboard experience.
The DeltaV DCS is a powerful automation system designed to reduce operational complexity and minimize project risk. Its Logbook feature plays a critical role in helping operations teams collaborate effectively during shifts and ensuring smooth, reliable shift handovers.
My goal was to reimagine this experience—making it more seamless, accessible, and aligned with user needs.
ROLE UX Designer, UX Visualizer
TIMELINE December 2022 - March 2023
TEAM 1 (UX Manager)
1 (Data Analyst)
1 (UX Designer)
ACTIVITIES PERFORMED Contextual inquiry, User interviews, User-flows, Mid-Hi Fidelity prototypes, Usability Testing
Design a visually engaging and intuitive interface for Logbooks that enables users to easily record daily operations, access a prioritized task list, and view a comprehensive shift change dashboard—including shift status and summary reports.
The goal is to present this information in a clear, actionable format that encourages engagement without overwhelming the user.
The user flow diagram was a key tool in visualizing the interactions between operators and the DeltaV Logbook, providing a clear and intuitive representation of the process and helping to identify areas for improvement.
One common pitfall I often see in dashboard designs is the overload of information. When too much is displayed at once, the key, actionable insights can easily get lost. A graph without thoughtful design, poor color choices, or simply adding a graph for the sake of it, can be confusing and counterproductive. It’s crucial that each element serves a clear purpose and highlights what truly matters.
The primary objective during the testing phase was to evaluate users' ability to quickly grasp task statuses and seamlessly apply filters to view updated changes.
Following valuable feedback from six operators during the usability testing phase, I conducted a second round of design iterations and implemented key improvements. The major modifications made to the design are outlined below, reflecting the users' insights and needs.
Choosing the right color palette
I found my data sets were simple and therefore didn’t require the complex palettes of 12 or more colors or the mathematical approaches of some of the other resources I looked into. I ended up creating the palettes for our visualizations from scratch as they needed to include brand colors as well as consider color blindness and accessibility.
Prototypes play a crucial role in the design process
Prototypes helped to bridge a gap between conceptualization and implementation allowing me to refine the ideas and create user-centered solutions.
My research into data visualization was eye opening, and I learnt a lot, especially about how hard choosing what graphs for data viz is.