UX PROBLEM
How might we design a novel bench top instrument that reduces friction in a scientist’s workflow?
BACKGROUND
AxionBioSystems is a leader in the biotech space for high-throughput assays of in-vitro pluripotent stem cells. The applications of their products range from immunotherapy assays to neural organoid development to uncovering treatments during the Covid-19 pandemic. In summer 2017, I was tasked with designing the touchscreen UI and branding the new flagship product, the Maestro Pro.
Researched and designed all UI for flagship multi-million dollar device.
Led branding and design efforts for flagship product.
Creative Lead
UI/UX Lead
UX Researcher
Lead Brand Designer
CEO: Tom O’Brien
CTO: Jim Ross
Senior Developer: Robert Thackston
Head of Product: Rob Grier
Start: May 2017
End: September 2017
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe XD
AutoCAD
Agile - Adaptive
A PRODUCT UPDATE 10 YEARS OVERDUE
The original Maestro system was a bench top tool for conducting and tracking multiple experiments at the same time. The Maestro system involved 3 parts: a CO2 hookup, an environment chamber, and a computer middleman that sent recorded data to our proprietary software, AxIS. We would launch two Maestro machines: a budget version, the Maestro Edge, and the performance version with a touchscreen, the Maestro Pro.
The original Maestro and EC mini environmental chamber [2008-2017].
SEEING DATA IN REAL-TIME
In addition to addressing scientists' needs, we would also be creating a unique touch screen that allowed scientists to toggle between their experiment screen and a map of live-cell activity. We would launch a completely novel experience that did not exist in the market.
Creating visibility: we would add the option for scientists to view the activity map on the system.
UX DISCOVERY
After almost a decade of scientists using the Maestro bench top tool, there was a long history of customer requests. I was given an archive of customer requests and feedback forms, and I interviewed multiple scientists about their workflow on the bench. I learned there were 2 pieces of information that every scientist had to consider before they started their experiment:
1) Are the conditions for my cells correct to run my experiment?
2) Are my experiment parameters correct in order to record all my data?
HYPOTHESIS
By designing a simplistic touchscreen interface, we will be able to create an innovative product that decreases the amount of time a scientist spends checking on vital information during their experiment.
UX CHALLENGES
The Maestro Pro would not only function as its own instrument, but it would also be the base upon which scientists could mix and match other products we sold. This made it extremely important to understand the existing workflow in order to make it compatible with existing products. I constructed a workflow that included system requirements.
I learned that recording time provided an interesting UX challenge. Scientists working on a cardiac pacing experiment time could complete an experiment in as little as 7 days. On the contrary, scientists monitoring neuronal network activity could be capturing data for as long as 120 days. How would I design a screen that conveyed important information to multiple people about the state of the experiment? I determined that a timer element would be crucial to the UI.
Neural characterization passes through more hands than CIPA Cardiotox. How might we convey where the experiment is to the next scientist through UI?
UX SOLUTIONS
Once the workflow had been established, I worked with the lead screen engineer to define technical constraints. From there, I began to mock up the potential screens.
I cross referenced the screens with the existing user flow and created a new UI screen flow that included the bare bones for a dosing and stimulation experiment.
UX SOLUTIONS
To resolve the issue of communication, I created a pop-up banner on the touchscreen. The banner would convey information from firmware updates to temperature and CO2 stabilization. This would also allow a team of scientists to seamlessly pass the experiment to each other.
Once we finalized the bones for the screen, we went ahead and began working on the icons. I created multiple unique assets for the screen that would also appear as software updates in the AxIS software.
After many rounds of iterations, we programmed the screen and passed the prototype screen to our field application scientists. They tested the screen for multiple weeks by running various experiments to provide feedback. We worked out the bugs and sent the prototype to our manufacturing team overseas. Within a few months, we launched the Maestro Pro.
LEARNINGS AND TAKEAWAYS
Not featured in this particular case study is the branding of the product. I worked alongside manufacturing and a Solidworks company to design the physical case of the Maestro Pro and Edge. Working on the Maestro systems was a cornerstone of my career with Axion. In 2018-19 I worked with Axion to launch two additional flagship products modeled off of the Maestro Pro and Edge in the immunotherapy space, the
Maestro Z and
Maestro ZHT. Since 2017, the Maestro Pro is still the most powerful multi-electrode array platform for bioelectronic assays. In 2019, the New York Times profiled Dr. Alysson Muotri's work using the Maestro system to grow
brain organoids on the International Space Station.
This project remains a favorite of mine as I was able to work with a multitude of scientists, engineers, manufacturing experts and industrial designers to pull off a product that launched Axion into incredible growth that attributed to Axion's purchase by Summa Equity in 2021. It also gave me ample experience as to what it takes to push a full scale product release. It equipped me with greater communication skills, a sharper eye to detail and a fuller understanding of design decisions.
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