Savi Office UI | Plantronics | 2008
- Savi Office UI Plantronics, 2008
Savi Office provides the convenience of managing calls on a PC and landline through a single wireless headset. Plantronics utilized a PC GUI for software that would enhance call control as well as provide a portal for managing device settings. Working with Method, an interaction design agency in San Francisco, it was my responsibility to manage and co-develop this software for Plantronics.
The software had 2 pieces: Call Control and Settings. The Modes, or system states (diagramed on left) defined the parameters and functionality required for managing PC and Landline calls. The system Settings defined all user configurable settings of the Savi Office system.
The Modes were translated into Use Cases, shown above in Excel format.
Each Use Case was analyzed in higher resolution, breaking out each task into step-by-step logic tree diagrams, or Functional Maps. These maps show all possible decision making options within a task. (Method created the above work-in-progress example, my edits are in green).
A living document throughout the program, the Interaction Matrix was created by John Gerhardt, Sr. Director Electrical Engineering at Plantronics. I reviewed and co-developed it with John so that the Engineering and UI development were in sync. Along with the PC GUI, the device UI (all LED indicators and buttons on the Savi Office base) was part of my design responsibility. All UI inputs and feedback indicators were tracked and managed through the Interaction Matrix.
Method generated these early Wireframes for the PC GUI.- The PC Call Control interface was the largest unknown in terms of user acceptance. The idea of managing "directional muting" and flash between a PC and Landline calls, on the PC, was a new paradigm for both users and the telecom industry. Method conducted usability testing with an interactive Flash prototype. Two graphical concepts were introduced to profile users for their feedback.
- Based on insights from Method's usability testing, wireframe directions were chosen and refined for the Call Control and Settings GUIs.
- Soohyun Ham, Director of Industrial Design, B2B at Plantronics, and I conducted further paper prototype design testing to refine the Call Control GUI logic.
- I refined and documented the final Call Control GUI behavior. These illustrations served as a useful reference as part of my dialogue with Barkha Shah, Application Software Engineer at Plantronics.
- The UI Specification Document, along with all graphical file assets, were my final deliverables to Plantronics' SW Engineering team.
- Nearing the end of the program, final visual design became my responsibility: tweaking icon design, graphic layout and color palette. Final screen designs shown above: Call Control UI on left (Green/Red triangle diagrams) and Settings screens center and right.
- Credits
- User Interface Design Method
Andy Richardson, Plantronics
Soohyun Ham, Plantronics
System Engineering John Gerhardt, Plantronics
SW Engineering Barkha Shah, Plantronics
