PixelSugar is an editing software targeted to pro photographers who want all the effects without all the effort. My challenge was to design a stand-alone application which offers non-destructive photo editing capabilities that would make professionals feel right at home, while also providing a welcoming experience for beginners.

 

 

I designed the user interface to appeal to a much larger audience by working with a primarily black and white palette. This gave the interface a more modern, lighter feel. While developing the batch editing and filter recipe features, I wanted to make the experience seamless and intuitive. Several versions were tested until it formed into its final version. I gave the iconography the same minimal design treatment in order to give it a sophisticated feel without having to over-explain its features.

 

 

To create a moodboard for the visual aesthetics, I turned to fashion and black/white graphics to find clean and minimal design approaches. A similar style you would perhaps see in a designer kitchen (given the name PixelSugar.)

 

The interface style is designed to be clean and minimal, while keeping it’s intuitive feel. Pops of subtle gray tones over a white/light gray canvas gives the interface an inviting appearance.

 

I approached the layout by creating a minimal canvas for the user to easily search and edit their photos. The app’s main features and tools are placed in floating, semi-transparent panels, allowing the user to focus primarily on editing. The top navigation toolbar is invisible, which allows the maximum area for the image to be worked on.

Each panel is permanently set in place, allowing the user to easily switch between features without disrupting the user’s workspace.

 

After rigorous user testing, editing of the main features, creating different variations of the layout and user flow, the style and simplicity of the original concepts remained relatively the same. I am proud to say I had a large hand in crafting what makes this program so unique. With modern design features, a light weight functionality system, and a one-time purchase price, PixelSugar is now considered by many to be a fantastic alternative to other comparable stand-alone programs available on the market.