IBM — Sim Sohanpal

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IBM

🌐 IBM Blockchain Platform

👩🏽‍💻 UX/UI Design Intern

For the duration of my 1 year placement as a UX/UI Design Intern at IBM Hursley, I contributed to 3 different offerings, each of which demand different competencies. All 3 offerings are part of the overall product that is the IBM Blockchain Platform SaaS (software as a service).

I worked with 3 divisions within the wider IBM Blockchain Platform team: • Hursley Studio Design team
• Hursley Labs Developer team • North Carolina (USA) Design & Development Team

What is blockchain?

A system of recording transactions, shared amongst permissioned members, eliminating the need to maintain separate records (ledgers). A blockchain network uses ‘smart contracts’ to provide controlled access to the shared ledger; this is an agreement between two parties in the form of code.

What is the IBM Blockchain Platform?

A development platform that allows users to build, operate and grow blockchain networks at an enterprise level.

The core tasks of my role consisted of the creation and iteration of user journey flows within UI’s, focusing on user needs and pain points to generate the ideal user experience. Creating features for the IBM Blockchain Platform Developer Tools and Operational Console involved reflecting on gathered feedback, working through prioritised issues and gaining insights from user research.

I contributed to the IBM Blockchain Platform Visual Studio Code extension, which helps developers create, test and debug smart contracts, as well as build applications that transact on their blockchain network. I worked alongside developers to ensure designs were implemented correcty, looking for any inconsistencies and acting as the point of contact between teams.

I was one of the key designers working on the IBM Blockchain Platform Developer Playground, a project that focused on improving the learning experience of writing smart contracts and developing Blockchain applications. A demo of this was shared at the Think 2019 Conference in San Francisco.

I helped in leading user testing sessions that identified how effective our solution had been. Using research practices, including data synthesis and Afinity Mapping, I gathered key insights which were presented to members of the Hursley and North Carolina team to lead the next steps for the project.

Synthesis of research findings

User testing

Outside of my role as a UX Designer, I explored my capabilities in Visual Design and illustration. I contributed to the creation of an interactive architecture diagram implemented into the IBM Blockchain Platform Operational Console. It is used as an education tool for users to understand the underlying technology and overarching platform. This work supported the team in winning a 2019 Red Dot: Brands and Communication Design Award (Interface Design)

As a designer and advocate for Design Thinking, my responsibilities included delivering and facilitating Design Thinking workshops. This involved performing in client-facing environments to support the application of the Design Thinking framework to enterprise solutions.

I delivered a workshop to a local girl’s school to promote STEM subjects and careers. This was a great opportunity to share the skills and knowledge I had gained from my time in industry in order to encourage younger generations to consider doing the same.

Workshops in IBM North Carolina and Hursley Labs

I gained IBM-awarded badges that are earned when completing courses to gain skills which grow and expand your knowledge. These badges are a certification of expertise that can be recognised and valued across a professional network. I earned badges in Enterprise Design Thinking, as well as Blockchain and accessible design.

Skills applied:

• Software proficiencies in Sketch, InVision, Adobe XD & Adobe Suite
• Using a Design System
• Methodologies of project delivery (Agile)
• GitHub
• Delivering and facilitating workshops