OMNI Transmission Study Scenario Application

BACKGROUND

In April 2020, I took on the role of Lead UX Designer for the Transmission development team at NextEra Energy, tasked with automating the injection study process for the Transmission Business Unit. This initiative aimed to significantly enhance efficiency within the OMNI platform.

GOAL

The project's objective was to develop an application that could automate 75% of the manual tasks involved in updating transmission models, which are crucial for conducting injection studies. By implementing this solution, we projected a reduction in manual labor from 1,680 to 420 hours annually.

TIMELINE

My involvement spanned from April 2020 to September 2020, during which we launched the first phase of the application. Unfortunately, the project was abruptly halted due to a leadership decision.

STRATEGY

Prior to my joining, a Business Analyst had already conducted the initial user research and gathered comprehensive business requirements. This groundwork allowed us to quickly identify and prioritize features for development. Our primary strategy was to design an interface that mirrored the familiarity of Excel spreadsheets, thereby reducing the cognitive load for users adapting to the new system.

CHALLENGES

Transitioning tools mid-project presented a significant challenge. In April 2020, as the contract with Invision ended and our Sketch license was expiring, we shifted to using UXPin. This required quick adaptation and within a month, I was proficiently producing high-fidelity interactive prototypes that catered to the needs of both OMNI teams.

IDEATION AND DESIGN

The design focused on creating an intuitive user interface that streamlined the model updating process, allowing Transmission SMEs to conduct study scenarios efficiently on demand. Key features included:

• Filtering and Search Functionality: To swiftly locate and manage specific data points.
• Tooltips: Integrated throughout the application to provide context and guide user actions.
• Bulk Actions Capability: Enabling users to apply changes to multiple entries simultaneously, saving time and effort.

Considering the backend-heavy nature of the process, I integrated a progress indicator and feedback notifications to enhance the user experience during longer processing times. These visual cues were designed to reduce user stress and provide clarity on the system’s status.