Democratizing Sustainable Solutions
Project Overview
PSI supports large organizations in implementing process engineering technology for managing energy, water, and waste. However, small to mid-sized companies face barriers such as high costs, manual processes, and the need for expert knowledge, making sustainability harder to achieve. To bridge this gap, PSI is developing an AI-driven, web-based tool that streamlines process optimization, making sustainable solutions more accessible and cost-effective.
My Role
Founding
Product Designer
Client
John Wind
PSI Founder and CEO
Tools & Methods
User Persona, User Flow, Sketching, Wireframing, Component Building, Design System, Prototyping, Adobe XD, Zeroheight
Understanding the Accessibility Challenge
The Problem
Process engineering solutions are expensive, manual, and require professional expertise, making sustainable practices inaccessible to small and mid-sized companies.
The Solution
Developing an AI-driven, affordable, and automated tool to simplify process engineering and eliminate the need for expert knowledge, making sustainability more accessible.
User Persona
Empowering Eco-Conscious Business Leaders to Adopt Cost-Effective, Sustainable Solutions
PSI’s potential users are eco-conscious small to mid-size business owners and decision-makers committed to reducing their environmental impact. They seek cost-effective, cutting-edge technology to optimize operations, conserve energy and water, reduce waste, and lower their carbon footprint.
User Flow
Helping Users Integrate AI-Driven Sustainable Solutions into Their Operations
To automate the process engineering workflow, we first analyzed the existing manual process, including data collection, expert analysis, and customized solution recommendations tailored to each business’s needs. These insights allowed us to design a guided experience that helps users align AI-powered sustainable solutions with their operational goals.
UX Sketching
How Can AI Enhance Process Engineering for Sustainability?
After mapping out the user flow, I started with pen and paper to create UX sketches. This allowed me to quickly visualize the process engineering steps and iterate on ideas efficiently, ensuring the flow aligned with the project’s goals.
Lo-fi Wireframing
Initial Mockups for Stakeholder Feedback
I created low-fidelity wireframes to gather early stakeholder feedback, focusing on intuitive data presentation for non-experts. The goal was to provide both high-level overviews and detailed insights for informed decision-making.
Analyzing dashboard data needs
Clear problem visualization
Reviewing AI-based solutions
Design System
Crafting Visual Guidelines and Component Library
After establishing a preliminary understanding of the product’s workflow, I began crafting visual guidelines to ensure a cohesive user experience consistent with PSI’s branding and best practices. This process began with defining color schemes and typography. It then expanded to creating a comprehensive component library encompassing essential UI elements such as buttons, icons, form fields, and data visualization. Below is a snapshot of the visual guidelines and component library.
Hi-fi Wireframes
Crafting Product Demo
We developed initial hi-fi designs for an MVP, focusing on functionality to secure funding and conduct usability testing. Throughout this process, we worked closely with stakeholders on color choices and gradient usage. While the gradients are visually appealing, we plan to iterate on them to ensure a balanced and accessible user experience, refining based on feedback for continuous improvement.
Rapid Prototyping
Adding Goals
Our goal was to create intuitive software that analyzes and presents data in an easily digestible way, empowering users of all expertise levels to make informed decisions for a more sustainable business. Below is the happy path of the product MVP.