Project Galaxy: Turning Archives into a Living Intelligence
Project Galaxy: Turning Archives into a Living Intelligence
Project Galaxy: Turning Archives into a Living Intelligence
02
Galaxy
AI Product
AI Product
UX Design & Research
UX Design & Research
UI Design
UX Design & Research
UX Design & Research
Introduction
I worked as the UX intern at Schlumberger Software Technology Innovation Center (STIC), a research center with a goal of leading the oilfield digital transformation by taking advantage of technology trends driven by Silicon Valley companies.
On this project, I worked with a software engineer intern, and a senior UX designer (my mentor). I was responsible for the end-to-end design process, including user research, concept development, prototyping, and UI design/ hand-off documentation.
I worked as the UX intern at Schlumberger Software Technology Innovation Center (STIC), a research center with a goal of leading the oilfield digital transformation by taking advantage of technology trends driven by Silicon Valley companies.
On this project, I worked with a software engineer intern, and a senior UX designer (my mentor). I was responsible for the end-to-end design process, including user research, concept development, prototyping, and UI design/ hand-off documentation.
I worked as the UX intern at Schlumberger Software Technology Innovation Center (STIC), a research center with a goal of leading the oilfield digital transformation by taking advantage of technology trends driven by Silicon Valley companies.
On this project, I worked with a software engineer intern, and a senior UX designer (my mentor). I was responsible for the end-to-end design process, including user research, concept development, prototyping, and UI design/ hand-off documentation.
demo video
Reframed Problem
Buried insights in sea of research documentations
Buried insights in sea of research documentations
Buried insights in sea of research documentations
Today’s Radar often bury insights in static lists and fragmented pages, making it hard for users to explore, connect, or act on innovation meaningfully.
There’s no intuitive way to see the bigger picture, nor a personalized path to uncover what matters most.
Users need a system that supports both discovery and depth—one that sparks curiosity while adapting to their evolving goals.
Today’s Radar often bury insights in static lists and fragmented pages, making it hard for users to explore, connect, or act on innovation meaningfully.
There’s no intuitive way to see the bigger picture, nor a personalized path to uncover what matters most.
Users need a system that supports both discovery and depth—one that sparks curiosity while adapting to their evolving goals.
Today’s Radar often bury insights in static lists and fragmented pages, making it hard for users to explore, connect, or act on innovation meaningfully.
There’s no intuitive way to see the bigger picture, nor a personalized path to uncover what matters most.
Users need a system that supports both discovery and depth—one that sparks curiosity while adapting to their evolving goals.
On paper, it was a goldmine of innovation.
On paper, it was a goldmine of innovation.
On paper, it was a goldmine of innovation.
Diverging needs of Leaders, Engineers, and Researchers
Diverging needs of Leaders, Engineers, and Researchers
Diverging needs of Leaders, Engineers, and Researchers
Curiosity Unfolding
From data visualization problem to bigger picture
Why start with micropipette?
Diverging needs of Leaders, Engineers, and Researchers
At STIC, every year brings dozens of bold experiments — from applications for newest XR headsets to digital twins — all logged into the internal research repository, called Radar.
At first, my assignment seemed straightforward: redesign the data visualization of past research projects. The radar tool looked sleek, but in conversations around the center it was often dismissed as “just a cool presentation layer.”
But as I talked to more people, I began to see Radar differently — not as a static map, but as the key to a hidden sea of knowledge.
At STIC, every year brings dozens of bold experiments — from applications for newest XR headsets to digital twins — all logged into the internal research repository, called Radar.
At first, my assignment seemed straightforward: redesign the data visualization of past research projects. The radar tool looked sleek, but in conversations around the center it was often dismissed as “just a cool presentation layer.”
But as I talked to more people, I began to see Radar differently — not as a static map, but as the key to a hidden sea of knowledge.
At STIC, every year brings dozens of bold experiments — from applications for newest XR headsets to digital twins — all logged into the internal research repository, called Radar.
At first, my assignment seemed straightforward: redesign the data visualization of past research projects. The radar tool looked sleek, but in conversations around the center it was often dismissed as “just a cool presentation layer.”
But as I talked to more people, I began to see Radar differently — not as a static map, but as the key to a hidden sea of knowledge.
Exploration and personalization, working in tandem
Exploration and personalization, working in tandem
Exploration and personalization, working in tandem
For the MVP, we complied all the data from past radar pages into one, dynamic, interactive knowledge graph that allows users explore projects with flexibility and joy.
Each view — Technology, Domain, or Team — serves as a lens through which users can explore and compare projects based on different organizing principles. While the underlying dataset remains the same, these views reorganize the relationships and clusters based on user priorities.
For the MVP, we complied all the data from past radar pages into one, dynamic, interactive knowledge graph that allows users explore projects with flexibility and joy.
Each view — Technology, Domain, or Team — serves as a lens through which users can explore and compare projects based on different organizing principles. While the underlying dataset remains the same, these views reorganize the relationships and clusters based on user priorities.
For the MVP, we complied all the data from past radar pages into one, dynamic, interactive knowledge graph that allows users explore projects with flexibility and joy.
Each view — Technology, Domain, or Team — serves as a lens through which users can explore and compare projects based on different organizing principles. While the underlying dataset remains the same, these views reorganize the relationships and clusters based on user priorities.
Academic Research
Effective learning methods for students with learning disabilities.
Expert Interview
The problem with traditional learning method for lab experiment.
Contextual Inquiry
First-hand observation of student's experience with lab experiments.
Different students find different modes of instruction useful, and the preferred mode may be dependent on experience
???
Following the experiment video required students to switch attention back and forth between multiple areas during steps.
Most errors occurred from forgetting steps or improper use of the equipment.
Immediate feedback is crucial to error reduction and learning.
Academic Research
Effective learning methods for students with learning disabilities.
Expert Interview
The problem with traditional learning method for lab experiment.
Contextual Inquiry
First-hand observation of student's experience with lab experiments.
Different students find different modes of instruction useful, and the preferred mode may be dependent on experience
???
Following the experiment video required students to switch attention back and forth between multiple areas during steps.
Most errors occurred from forgetting steps or improper use of the equipment.
Immediate feedback is crucial to error reduction and learning.
Academic Research
Effective learning methods for students with learning disabilities.
Expert Interview
The problem with traditional learning method for lab experiment.
Contextual Inquiry
First-hand observation of student's experience with lab experiments.
Different students find different modes of instruction useful, and the preferred mode may be dependent on experience
???
Following the experiment video required students to switch attention back and forth between multiple areas during steps.
Most errors occurred from forgetting steps or improper use of the equipment.
Immediate feedback is crucial to error reduction and learning.
Navigate the R&D landscape through an interactive galaxy visualization.
Navigate the R&D landscape through an interactive galaxy visualization.
Navigate the R&D landscape through an interactive galaxy visualization.
Solution
As we mapped abstract data into a spatial galaxy metaphor, we found many promising visual parameters that intuitively encode complex project characteristics. However, we also encountered limitations in data availability and granularity that prevent full implementation today.
To guide future development, I documented a roadmap of potential visual mappings that could unlock richer storytelling and decision-making once the underlying data becomes accessible:
As we mapped abstract data into a spatial galaxy metaphor, we found many promising visual parameters that intuitively encode complex project characteristics. However, we also encountered limitations in data availability and granularity that prevent full implementation today.
To guide future development, I documented a roadmap of potential visual mappings that could unlock richer storytelling and decision-making once the underlying data becomes accessible:
As we mapped abstract data into a spatial galaxy metaphor, we found many promising visual parameters that intuitively encode complex project characteristics. However, we also encountered limitations in data availability and granularity that prevent full implementation today.
To guide future development, I documented a roadmap of potential visual mappings that could unlock richer storytelling and decision-making once the underlying data becomes accessible:
An evolving, modular dashboard that personalizes to your role and intent.
An evolving, modular dashboard that personalizes to your role and intent.
An evolving, modular dashboard that personalizes to your role and intent.
Leap Motion
shareable, portable, & cost-effective, precise, open space
lack haptic feedback
Physical Interactive gadget
haptic feedback, shareable
expensive, not adaptable
VR
immersive
isolating, expensive
Wall Projection
open space, collaboration
expensive, hard to set up
Leap Motion Sensor
Leap Motion Sensor
Leap Motion
shareable, portable, & cost-effective, precise, open space
lack haptic feedback
Physical Interactive gadget
haptic feedback, shareable
expensive, not adaptable
VR
immersive
isolating, expensive
Wall Projection
open space, collaboration
expensive, hard to set up
Leap Motion
shareable, portable, & cost-effective, precise, open space
lack haptic feedback
Physical Interactive gadget
haptic feedback, shareable
expensive, not adaptable
VR
immersive
isolating, expensive
Wall Projection
open space, collaboration
expensive, hard to set up
Galaxy
Curate for clarity: I turned my workspace into a “source of truth” so anyone—PM, engineer, VP—could instantly understand the design story.
Zoom out of the designer box: I thought not just about the UI, but about how Radar fits into the company’s innovation strategy.
Design with evolution in mind: I didn’t stop at v1. I set up feedback loops and data pathways for future iterations.
Vision + execution: I learned how to dream big and build smart—anchoring a North Star in a concrete MVP.
Curate for clarity: I turned my workspace into a “source of truth” so anyone—PM, engineer, VP—could instantly understand the design story.
Zoom out of the designer box: I thought not just about the UI, but about how Radar fits into the company’s innovation strategy.
Design with evolution in mind: I didn’t stop at v1. I set up feedback loops and data pathways for future iterations.
Vision + execution: I learned how to dream big and build smart—anchoring a North Star in a concrete MVP.
Curate for clarity: I turned my workspace into a “source of truth” so anyone—PM, engineer, VP—could instantly understand the design story.
Zoom out of the designer box: I thought not just about the UI, but about how Radar fits into the company’s innovation strategy.
Design with evolution in mind: I didn’t stop at v1. I set up feedback loops and data pathways for future iterations.
Vision + execution: I learned how to dream big and build smart—anchoring a North Star in a concrete MVP.
Inspiration Prompts and Smart Search
Inspiration Prompts and Smart Search
Inspiration Prompts and Smart Search
Through 10 stakeholder interviews and 200+ notes, three distinct personas emerged, each with different goals and ways of navigating Radar.
Through 10 stakeholder interviews and 200+ notes, three distinct personas emerged, each with different goals and ways of navigating Radar.
Through 10 stakeholder interviews and 200+ notes, three distinct personas emerged, each with different goals and ways of navigating Radar.
Pressed
Released
Second Stop
First Stop
The first stop expels enough air from the pipette for an accurate measurement in the next step.
Release the plunger draws up the accurate measurement amount of liquid.
The second stop is meant to expel excess liquid from the tip.
1
Release
2
3
Cross-Cluster Links
Cross-Cluster Links
Cross-Cluster Links
In practice, it felt like a digital filing cabinet: documentation went in, but insights rarely came out.
In practice, it felt like a digital filing cabinet: documentation went in, but insights rarely came out.
In practice, it felt like a digital filing cabinet: documentation went in, but insights rarely came out.
Interactive Timeline
Interactive Timeline
Interactive Timeline
How did early user testing revealed this issue?
Our Approach
Future Vision
Future Vision
Future Vision
Key Motion 1: Pressing
Key Motion 2: Turning
“There’s a little bit of hesitation before you reach the first stop [but] I wouldn’t say I feel [the pressure] at this point..."
First Stop
Second Stop
Released
“Easy to press down”
“Harder to press down”
Personal Dashboard
persona-based layouts — better, but still too rigid. People's role can be fluid or a combination of many.
persona-based layouts — better, but still too rigid. People's role can be fluid or a combination of many.
persona-based layouts — better, but still too rigid. People's role can be fluid or a combination of many.
Then: I got ambitious. What if the dashboard could listen?
Conversational UI to detect user intent
Intent tagging to categorize queries
Modular UI components assembled in real-time based on those intents
Then: I got ambitious. What if the dashboard could listen?
Conversational UI to detect user intent
Intent tagging to categorize queries
Modular UI components assembled in real-time based on those intents
Then: I got ambitious. What if the dashboard could listen?
Conversational UI to detect user intent
Intent tagging to categorize queries
Modular UI components assembled in real-time based on those intents
Evaluation of potential third-party integration
Evaluation of potential third-party integration
Evaluation of potential third-party integration
price
immersion
accessibility
concept learning
engagement
hands-on practice
Motion Lab
price
immersion
accessibility
concept learning
engagement
hands-on practice
price
immersion
accessibility
concept learning
engagement
hands-on practice
Labster
price
immersion
accessibility
concept learning
engagement
hands-on practice
Gizmos
price
immersion
accessibility
concept learning
engagement
hands-on practice
HoloLab Champions
price
immersion
accessibility
concept learning
engagement
hands-on practice
AR Science Lab
Designing beyond the interface
Designing beyond the interface
Designing beyond the interface
Users successfully transfer conceptual learning from digital to real micropipette.
Users utilize gestural learning to help them remember experiment steps.
Users successfully transfer conceptual learning from digital to real micropipette.
Users utilize gestural learning to help them remember experiment steps.
Users would benefit from better communication of realistic interaction.
If the result is satisfactory, user can pin or collect the UI component for future to gradually customize their dashboard to be most useful.
If the result is satisfactory, user can pin or collect the UI component for future to gradually customize their dashboard to be most useful.
Reflection